No Light Position Obj. Label

[blahoobadyhoo]

No matter what I try, I can't get any of my light position objects to get a name label next to them. I have scoured the interwebs high and low (including these forums) for the answer, but to no avail.

Any help would be greatly appreciated

[bcd]

In the Object Info Palette when you select your Light Position Object there is a field for Position Name. Just below this is a checkbox Position Summary that you need to check for the LP name to appear.

It may be a distance away and the scale may make it difficult to read but its handle will be visible

Select the LP and Text>Size if needed.

[blahoobadyhoo]

Assuming that is the problem, would anyone know how to fix it or find my labels? I left my scale at 1:1 when making my theatre. I tried selecting my objects and set the font to 2000pt, but I still don't see anything. The position summary is definitely checked and there is text in the position box. I've zoomed in ridiculous amounts, and I've zoomed out ridiculous amounts, but still nothing. Truly puzzling.

[blahoobadyhoo]

Nevermind, they were there, I just never checked top/plan.

Thanks for your help bcd

[JBenghiat]

Just a guess, but are you coming from experience in AutoCAD? VW was designed as a WYSIWYG application, so the assumption is that you will be drawing in scale with desired line weights, colors, etc. With viewports and sheet layers, that's no longer required, but you may find yourself swimming upstream at times. There have been a few threads on the pros and cons of working in scale that you may want to look up.

VW also has the capacity for hybrid objects, meaning the 2D and 3D appearance will be completely different. This is usually quite useful. Any object with hybrid behavior, like the light positions, will draw its text in the 2D component.

HTH,

Josh

[blahoobadyhoo]

I am actually coming off an AutoCAD binge, but I was using VW before I ever used AutoCAD. I still find it dumb that the text for hybrid objects appears only on top/plan, while no other part of it appears there, giving you nearly useless floating text.

I've "gotten around" this by drawing 2d versions of the object on top/plan, but the flaw still bugs me.

[bcd]

Lighting Positions like to be Hybrid Symbols, you don't need to leave the text floating there - rather draw a line or rectangle etc. to represent your LP in Top/Plan view, select both and create a symbol. Leave Instance in place and convert 2d Layer Plane objects to Screen Plane objects.

Then Spotlight>Object Conversion>Convert to Lighting Position.

'twould be nice if you could bypass the create Symbol step, seems logical.

I take your point however that when no 2d geometry is present or desired the label should still be visible in 3d views, and the 3d gemoetry should be visible if there is no 2d geometry available. This should now be possible with the new Layer Plane functionality of VW2011. A wish list wish might make it so.

Edited May 16, 2011 by bcd