MHBrown Posted December 31, 2015 Share Posted December 31, 2015 In VW 2016, I pull down the "Screen Plane Only" from the menu, but it keeps changing. I'll be working along when things start going a little crazy, objects don't snap, rectangles and drawn and disappear, etc. I look and notice that the selection has changed to one of the others: "Working Plane only" or "Screen Plane or Working Plane." I do not nor will I ever want to use anything other than Screen Plane Only in Vectorworks. Is there a way to erase the other two options or otherwise lock it in to Screen Plane only? Thanks for any help on this. MH Quote Link to comment
AlanW Posted January 1, 2016 Share Posted January 1, 2016 I'm intrigued as to why you only want screen plane. Don't you want to draw anything in 3D? Quote Link to comment
Kevin McAllister Posted January 1, 2016 Share Posted January 1, 2016 MH, You can lock it on a per document basis under File>Document Settings>Document Preferences on the Plane Mode tab. Alan, I work almost exclusively in 3d and mostly use Screen Plane only. The snaps are just too unpredictable in 2d views (Front / Side / Back etc.) in any other mode. Until this gets fixed, Layer Plane and Working Plane are really only useful in 3d perspective views. Kevin Quote Link to comment
zoomer Posted January 1, 2016 Share Posted January 1, 2016 ^ You mean that screen plane only will reliably keep you from accidentally drift in the third Dimension when snapping in 2D views - even with move by point or tape measure tool ? Edit : That seems to work. In 100% of cases I want "Screen" Plane mode in Top/Front/Back/Left/Right View. In 100% of cases I will never ever have a "Screen" Plane in any non planar Views like Isometrics/Perspektive/Custom Views but Layer or Work Plane. Where Layer Plane for 2D Elements in 80% means that I want Z-Depth where I start drawing and 20% only on "optional" Layer Z=0,00 As for snapping problems, could be that Z Depth snap is deactivated in snapping settings. Quote Link to comment
Kevin McAllister Posted January 1, 2016 Share Posted January 1, 2016 You mean that screen plane only will reliably keep you from accidentally drift in the third Dimension when snapping in 2D views - even with move by point or tape measure tool ? Yes. In 100% of cases I want "Screen" Plane mode in Top/Front/Back/Left/Right View. Pretty much in my case. If I'm working in this view I often draw 2d construction lines using 2d tools to lay things out. Then I want to snap between existing 3d geometry and these 2d guides. Its because VW "Planar Objects" are essentially a workaround (documented in other threads. they used their existing 2d tools and added the ability to assign the geometry to a plane so they could implement it quickly and keep up with the market). VW is also missing 2.5D snapping that many other packages have and does what I need. I would have been much happier if VW had made a full transition away from 2d geometry (i.e.. so lines, rectangles etc. were 3d curves like in Rhino). My workflow works fine but I'm essentially working around the VW workaround. In other packages (ie. Rhino, C4D) snapping works predictably and as expected. Kevin Quote Link to comment
zoomer Posted January 1, 2016 Share Posted January 1, 2016 Then I want to snap between existing 3d geometry and these 2d guides. Which does not work for me as VW Snap refuses to use mixed 2D/3D intersection points. Pretty much in my case. If I'm working in this view I often draw 2d construction lines using 2d tools to lay things out. Its because VW "Planar Objects" are essentially a workaround (documented in other threads. they used their existing 2d tools and added the ability to assign the geometry to a plane so they could implement it quickly and keep up with the market). VW is also missing 2.5D snapping that many other packages have and does what I need. I would have been much happier if VW had made a full transition away from 2d geometry (i.e.. so lines, rectangles etc. were 3d curves like in Rhino). My workflow works fine but I'm essentially working around the VW workaround. In other packages (ie. Rhino, C4D) snapping works predictably and as expected. Kevin ++++++1 Quote Link to comment
MHBrown Posted January 1, 2016 Author Share Posted January 1, 2016 Alan, I work exclusively in 3D, but working in 2D is the easiest way to keep things precise. I work pretty much like Kevin, drawing data lines to help me keep things neat. Also, like Kevin, I'm stumped by the inability to snap at ALL intersection points: 2D and 3D "hybrid" snaps, included. Everyone has different ways, I suppose, but Vectorworks's strength for me has always been to work in 3D by carefully limiting one's self to using two dimensions at a time. That doesn't mean I don't use some of the added features. Some of them are great. Since I've been using this app for over 20 years, however, I've gotten picky about which "features" I feel are worthy. Thanks for the tips! MHBrown Quote Link to comment
AlanW Posted January 2, 2016 Share Posted January 2, 2016 Thanks for the explanation Kevin & MH. I see what you are saying and come to mention it one guy at work has trouble snapping to items so I will investigate this and see. Thanks Quote Link to comment
grant_PD Posted January 3, 2016 Share Posted January 3, 2016 I wish there could be a setting whereby 2d objects showed up as a different color than 3d objects. Because there is no indication other than the pulldown menu for screen plane/working plane, often times the user inadvertently builds in the wrong plane. If users felt comfortable as to what plane they were in 100% of the time, then they would manage the transition between 2d and 3d much better. Quote Link to comment
Kevin McAllister Posted January 3, 2016 Share Posted January 3, 2016 I wish there could be a setting whereby 2d objects showed up as a different color than 3d objects. Because there is no indication other than the pulldown menu for screen plane/working plane, often times the user inadvertently builds in the wrong plane. If users felt comfortable as to what plane they were in 100% of the time, then they would manage the transition between 2d and 3d much better. Another reason why I have my drop to Screen Plane only unless I intentionally set it to something else. (I wish there was a setting for Screen Plane unless I choose an Automatic Working Plane. I think using Screen Plane and being able to select/release an Automatic Working Plane on the fly would be my ideal.) KM Quote Link to comment
MHBrown Posted January 8, 2016 Author Share Posted January 8, 2016 Regardless of how I set my preferences, it still switches from Screen Plane into other planes without my doing anything. This is looking like a bug since the Document Prefs clearly says "Screen Plane Only," yet it changes anyway. I sometimes glance to the info palette and it will say 3D instead of Screen. Then I know I'm in trouble. I think the poor snapping of VW2016 is partially attributable to this, but it's hard to say for sure. MHBrown Quote Link to comment
Josh K Posted January 20, 2016 Share Posted January 20, 2016 Same issue here..randomly switching over to layer plane when I need to keep text objects in screen plane. The ability to set a class to conform to a particular plane would be nice. Half the time I'm copying text around I find it has switched to become layer plane and becomes mirrored after flipping a plan. I then need to use the select similar tool to select all the text and change the plane, in object info, to screen plan to prevent the text from printing mirrored/as a 3D object. Quote Link to comment
rDesign Posted January 20, 2016 Share Posted January 20, 2016 I have yet to figure out why I seem to get randomly switched from Layer to Screen plane, or vice-versa. I don't know if it's a keyboard shortcut or tool selection, but I am always having to turn back on Automatic working plane. (This is in both Vw2015 and 2016). Quote Link to comment
P Retondo Posted January 20, 2016 Share Posted January 20, 2016 (edited) rDesign, this is a bug that occurs whenever you edit a crop in a viewport. You have to toggle the preference back to "Screen plane only" whenever you edit a crop. Already reported as a bug, and there may be other operations that cause this. Alan, I've been doing 3d in VW for 25 years, and I NEVER use layer plane objects. Never saw the need for them, given that we can create 3d polys that are much more versatile, except for not being able to show 2d graphical qualities. I can't foresee ever needing that. Screen objects are much more useful, given that they are aligned to the screen regardless of your point of view, and as I've pointed out before, screen plane 2d objects are part of the original unique genius of VW when it was MiniCAD. Edited January 20, 2016 by P Retondo Quote Link to comment
rDesign Posted January 20, 2016 Share Posted January 20, 2016 rDesign, this is a bug that occurs whenever you edit a crop in a viewport. You have to toggle the preference back to "Screen plane only" whenever you edit a crop. Already reported as a bug, and there may be other operations that cause this. P Retondo: thanks for clarifying this as I did not know about this bug. I'm glad to hear that it's not just me. All of this layer -vs- screen confusion just leaves us with uncertainty about correct object snapping. Hopefully Vw gets it sorted out. Quote Link to comment
MHBrown Posted March 28, 2016 Author Share Posted March 28, 2016 Why was this not fixed in the latest so-called "service pack"? Really. And I'm still waiting for a double-line polygon tool (that works like the wall tool, but doesn't create walls. Seems pretty simple.) MHBrown Quote Link to comment
AlanW Posted March 28, 2016 Share Posted March 28, 2016 Hi, Have you tried using the double line polygon tool? Creates 2d open or closed polygons or parallel lines, or you can use it to create walls. Quote Link to comment
MHBrown Posted March 30, 2016 Author Share Posted March 30, 2016 Thanks, Alan, but it doesn't make curved solids, as the wall tool does (the curved wall tool). My request is a basic, basic tool that has never been added. I make curved solids all the time. There are clumsy workarounds that I use, but a tool that can make linked curved and straight "double line" solids is way overdue. I'm unimpressed with the unnecessary features that bloat VW and other software while fundamental tools are ignored. Oh, well, I'll keep asking. It took a couple of years to have a "distribute objects" button added to the align feature way back when. Quote Link to comment
Kevin McAllister Posted March 31, 2016 Share Posted March 31, 2016 So you're wanting a double-line polyline tool..... +1 for that. (Its not clear to me why the 2d polygon and 2d polyline tools aren't merged. Frankly they could be merged with the NURBS curve tool as well since they're just curves with either a degree of 1 or 2. The double-line polygon and a new double line polyline-tool could be merged as well.) KM Quote Link to comment
AlanW Posted March 31, 2016 Share Posted March 31, 2016 (edited) MH, These shapes have been created with the 2d polygon tool, extruded and used the 3D deform tool only. This can give you a lot of scope with curved shapes.I know its not as good as 3D max or other 3D programs but this is probably the simplest way to make these shapes in VW. Each were created by the same double polygon parallel line. Deform tool is great for doing curved door and drawer fronts. HTH Edited March 31, 2016 by Alan Woodwell Quote Link to comment
Benson Shaw Posted March 31, 2016 Share Posted March 31, 2016 Those are fun, Alan! Just curious about Capture.PNG. Is the left hand object all bends or is it bends plus bulges, or other? -B Quote Link to comment
AlanW Posted March 31, 2016 Share Posted March 31, 2016 (edited) Capture.PNG are all bends and I used the bulge of the Deform tool for the squashed one on Capture-1 the left then deformed it again on the right. Edited March 31, 2016 by Alan Woodwell Quote Link to comment
MHBrown Posted April 5, 2016 Author Share Posted April 5, 2016 Cool, but I need something a little more precise. I'd want to follow an arc with know radius, for example. Is that possible with the 3D deform tool? MH Quote Link to comment
Benson Shaw Posted April 5, 2016 Share Posted April 5, 2016 Yes - You can use a guide arc. The Deform>Bend also has numeric controls for bend angle and length of spine. And user can define whether to bend the entire object or just a portion of it. Takes some experimenting to learn it. Work on a copy object, maybe even in a new file. -B Quote Link to comment
David S Posted February 8, 2018 Share Posted February 8, 2018 OK everybody. I am still on the case with this one and have just re contacted VW UK about it. The reason I do not want VW opening in layer plane as a default is because you don't notice or dont notice when it switches from screen to layer and end up having eg 2d lines and dimensions created as layer plane or 3d plane objects. It clogs the files up when you are doing 2d detailing work. It's quite annoying! What I have discovered in the last week is that if I open VW (even if I open our template) it opens in Layer plane.( I dont remember it always doing this btw. ) If i go to File/document settings & preferences/Plane mode and switching to screen plane it maintains the file/ top plan/ revert to screen plane: If I spin a model it will revert to layer, but revert back to screen in top plan. Phew, Yay! BUT if you do this from the command below it is less stable and still switches…..bizarre as it’s the same command! I would be interested if anyone else has the same experience. There are quite a few discussions on this topic I think Cheers David Quote Link to comment
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