Viewing Tools

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Viewing Tools

• V106.02 part C

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Viewing Tools

• Different programs have different ways of
  displaying objects in real-time while the scenes
  are being created within the workspace. Some
  common real-time drawing/display modes include
• Wireframe - draws objects as edges and vertices.
• Can look through the object, which sometimes has
  advantages, but can also be confusing when many
  lines at various depths are all seen at one time.
• Images are produced quickly using few computing
  resources.

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Viewing Tools

• Solid mode -- allows the object to appear as a
  solid.
• You can see colors (and some surface properties)
  and the impact that lights might have on the
  scene.
• Object construction using deformations and
  sculpting are easier to visualize in solid mode
  than in wireframe.
• Solid mode takes more RAM than wireframe.
• Miscellaneous other displays are available
  depending upon the software. They might include
  transparent, transparent wireframe, etc.

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Viewing Tools

• View navigation tools allow you to control how
  you view the scene.
• Zoom controls the amount of magnification of
  the active viewport.
• Rotate allows objects to remain in their
  correct, relative positions within the scene
  while you rotate your point of view around them.
• Panning (Eye Move) allows you to drag the scene
  vertically and horizontally within the viewport
  (window), changing your viewing point but not
  changing the positions of the objects within the
  scene or your viewing angle.

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Viewing Tools

• Object selection must take place before
  transformation or deformation operations can
  occur on objects.
• Multiple selections of objects can be made
  depending upon the software being used.
• Keyboard commands, such as holding down the Ctrl
  key, are often used to make multiple selections.
• Selection windows can be generated using the
  cursor. For example, selecting a point within the
  window and dragging the mouse will generate a
  selection rectangle whose limits define the
  selection area.

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Viewing Tools

• Filters available in some programs allow
  selection by name or other characteristics such
  as shape.
• Parts of single objects (such as vertices or
  polygon faces) may be selected for modification.
• When an object is chosen, it typically changes
  color to identify itself as the selected object.

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Plug-ins

• Plug-ins are independent programs or components
  usually supplied by third-party vendors that
  supplement the features of the original 3D
  program.
• The software architecture must be designed to
  make it possible for other companies (or
  individuals) to write add-ons to the original
  program.
• Plug-ins includes everything from specialized
  tools that can be added to the program menu, to
  special-effects packages.

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Exporting

• Individual objects and scenes (or copies) created
  in one software package may be exported or placed
  into another software program.
• Exporting allows users to take advantage of
  certain features that might be available in one
  program that are not as refined as they are in
  another package.

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Exporting

• File extensions are used to define exports. For
  example
• An object created in Rhinoceros may be saved as a
  .3ds (3D Studio Max) image and then opened
  (imported) into trueSpace where it would become
  part of the scene being created.
• A scene created in 3D Studio Max might be
  exported into Lightwave where textures and
  lighting are added to the scene.
• Software specifications must be checked to
  determine which file extensions are available for
  saving and opening objects and scenes.