Why 3D?

Professionals from many different industries often use three-dimensional diagrams to visualize scenes and to make presentations. It helps them understand how an object will appear from different angles. If all you have are 2D sketches on paper, visualizing a scene as it really looked can be difficult.

 

3D gives you a new perspective on the simpler plan-view drawings that you create in 2D. It allows you to view your diagrams in a dynamic rather than static state and look at them from different viewpoints. You can rotate a drawing on the screen just like you would an actual model, and display views from different angles. In a 3D program you can look across a room, look from one vehicle into another, and “walk” through your scene.

 

The CAD Zone’s new 3D Viewer generates a 3D model of a 2D drawing. Lines, text, dimensions, hatches and fills, are all automatically converted to 3D. Most CAD Zone symbols will also automatically convert to 3D in the Viewer. Line types with 3D definitions will also convert to 3D objects. For example, the cone, barrel, fence, and concrete divider line types all show up in the 3D Viewer as 3D objects, automatically!

 

To keep the process simple and easy to learn, there is no editing or modifications done to the drawing while you are in the 3D Viewer. You make changes by switching back to the 2D plan diagram. When you finish editing your diagram, you open it in the 3D Viewer again. This process can be repeated as many times as you like - working back and forth between 2D and 3D until your 3D view is perfect.

 

Compatibility

While the 3D Viewer was designed primarily for the viewing of drawings that were created Quick Scene 2.0, it can also be used with many other software applications. You can import drawings from other 3D CAD programs including AutoCAD 2000®, as well as 3D data from Total Station systems and Laser Technology’s Quick Map program.

 

Any .DXF, .DWG, and .RAW (Laser Technology) files that contain 3D data (point and line elevations) can be imported and viewed in the 3D Viewer. All of the 3D data is retained and displayed in the 3D Viewer. Side views will quickly show points and lines that are above or below other points in the drawing, which is very useful when displaying elevations and slopes in a scene.

 

CAD Zone diagrams with all their 3D data can also be exported to other 3D programs, such as AutoCAD, and any program that supports the DXF file format. To export a diagram to another application, use the “Save As” command with the “Files of Type” option set to .DXF or .DWG. These files are compatible with AutoCAD and require no conversion or other preparation. Many other software applications allow for direct importing of DXF files as well, making your CAD Zone diagrams very flexible.

 

On the following pages you will find a “quick tour” of the 3D Viewer. This tour is intended to get you familiar with the basic tools and concepts you need to understand in order to use the program efficiently. When finished with this chapter, move on to Chapter 3 to see how to apply these commands to create an actual 3D model from a 2D diagram.

 

It All Starts In 2D

As mentioned above, the 3D Viewer runs side-by-side with the 2D Quick Scene Program. Let’s first look at the tools that you will use in the 2D Program prior to launching the 3D Viewer.

 

3D View  - Clicking this button takes you from the 2D program into the 3D Viewer. The 2D program is not shut down, but remains active with the 2D plan view drawing still open. From the 3D Viewer, simply click the 2D button on the speedbar to return to the 2D program. After making any additional changes to your diagram, you may open it in the 3D Viewer again. This process can be repeated as many times as you like, working back and forth between Quick Scene and the 3D Viewer until your diagram is perfect.

 

Snapshot Manager  - this brings up a dialog box which contains previews of all the snapshots taken in the 3D Viewer. Snapshots can be taken from any position in the 3D view. These snapshots are automatically numbered and saved as .JPG images to a special snapshots folder on your hard disk. The Snapshots dialog box displays thumbnail sketches of all the snapshots you have taken in the 3D Viewer. Any snapshot can also be placed back into a 2D drawing. Because they are .JPG files, these images can easily be inserted into reports or attached to email.

 

The 3D Viewer

Once you launch the 3D Viewer you will see your diagram with custom line types and symbols converted to a 3D model. You’ll also see the 3D result of any objects to which you assigned 3D data using the 3D Builder. There are three things that you can accomplish in the 3D Viewer:

 

1) Manipulate the view of the scene using the various navigation tools available.

2) Take Snapshots, or images, of the scene.

3) Return to the 2D diagram program for further editing and viewing of snapshots.

 

The 3D Viewer Speedbar

At the top of the screen is the Speedbar which contains icons for all the commands needed to manipulate the 3D view, take snapshots, set preferences, and go back to 2D. Starting from the left, the speedbar commands are as follows

 

Move Buttons

Used to move forward, left, right, and backward. One click moves in that direction a length specified in the 3D Viewer preferences dialog. These buttons give the impression of walking or driving through the scene depending on the stepping distance. Using the Move buttons to move through the diagram maintains the current perspective set up with the camera and target, that is, the space between the camera and the target remains constant.

 

Flat View Buttons

Used to generate a flat (2D) view from one of five specified sides: front, top, left, right, and back.

 

Isometric View Buttons

Used to display different sides of the diagram tilted at 30 degree angles.

 

Zooms

Used to quickly change the view on the screen, positioning you closer or farther away from objects in the diagram.

 

Snapshot Button

Takes a snapshot “photo” or image of the current view in .JPG format.

 

Close And Return To 2D Program

Use this button to go back into the 2D program and close the 3D Viewer. All editing is performed in the 2D program. You must return to the 2D program in order to edit or change any of the elements of the 3D scene.

 

Navigating With The Speedbar Commands

There are Move, Rotate, and Zoom command icons on the speedbar, along with various flat view and isometric view buttons. You can use any of these commands to manipulate your 3D View.

 

Zoom Commands

Just like in the 2D program, the Zoom commands are used to change the portion of the drawing that is displayed on the screen. While view commands change how objects are displayed on the screen, they do not change the actual measurement or location of any object in the drawing.

 

The isometric view commands can be very helpful if you ever “get lost” in your model, or are having a hard time getting the view you want. Click on one of the isometric view icons to return to that “baseline” view and start your navigating again.

 

You perform any of the Zoom commands just like in the 2D diagram program, as follows:

 

Zoom Out  - This command is the opposite of Zoom In; it decreases your view in a stepwise manner. Each time you perform this command you move a step further back from the previous view.

 

Zoom In  - This command increases your view of the scene in a stepwise manner. Each time you perform this command you move in a step closer. The default Zoom In/Zoom Out factor is 20% although you can change this value in 3D Preferences.

 

Taking A Snapshot

The Snapshot command simulates taking a “photo,” by saving an image of the current view in .JPG format. Snapshots can be taken from any position in the drawing. These snapshots are automatically numbered and saved as JPG’s to a snapshots folder. The 2D program Snapshots Manager displays thumbnails of all the snapshots you take in the 3D Viewer. Any snapshot can be viewed and placed back into the 2D drawing. Because they’re .JPG’s they can easily be inserted into reports and Power Point presentations, or included as an attachment in an email.

 

To use snapshots:

1. Switch to the 3D Viewer  and use any of the navigation methods to change the view of the drawing.

 

2. When the desired view is achieved, click the Snapshot  icon. A snapshot of the current view will be saved to the snapshot folder of your hard disk.

 

3. Click the “Return to 2D”  icon  from the speedbar.

 

4. Upon returning to the 2D program, click the camera  icon on the speedbar to open the Snapshot Manager toolbox.

 

All 3D snapshots taken of the current drawing will be displayed as thumbnail images in the preview window.

 

5. Click on any snapshot icon to see a larger view of it in the preview window as shown here.

 

 

6. Place a snapshot in the current drawing by clicking on the snapshot thumbnail and then clicking the Place  button.

 

Snapshots are automatically scaled to 1/8 the overall size of the drawing on the screen. Once placed, a snapshot can be selected in the diagram and then moved and re-sized.

 

7. Click on the Close  button to exit the Snapshots dialog.

 

Note: Check the Show All box   to see all snapshots currently in the snapshots folder. These would include snapshots of the current drawing as well as any snapshots taken of other drawings. Select any snapshots you want to delete and click

 

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