Define a View

Commands: DVIEW and CAMERA

The Define View command dynamically defines parallel perspective or visual perspective views of your 3D models.

The Camera command creates perspective views.

The projection method of a view is controlled by the Perspective property of the view:

• If ON, the view is a visual perspective view.

• If OFF, the view is a parallel perspective view.

The following parameters are used in the Define View procedure:

• Target Point: Defines the center of the view (1)

• Camera Point: Defines the view point and view direction (2).

• Distance to Target: Distance between the camera position an the target point (3).

Defining a camera view

The Camera command creates a named view.

1. Do one of the following:

• Click the Camera tool button () on the View toolbar.
• Choose Camera  in the View menu.
• Type Camera  in the command bar.

The command bar reads: Specify camera location:

2. Do one of the following:

• Click a point in the drawing.
• Type the coordinates of the camera location in the command bar and press Enter.

The command bar reads: Specify target location:

3. Do one of the following:

• Click a point in the drawing.
• Type the coordinates of the target location in the command bar and press Enter.

The command bar reads: Enter an option: ?/Name/LOcation/Height/Target/LEns/Clipping/View/<eXit>:

4. Do one of the following:

• Press Enter to create the camera view using a default name (e.g. Camera1).
• Enter an option:
• • Name:
    Prompts you: Enter name for new camera <Camera1>:
    Type a name at the command prompt, then press Enter.
  • Location:
    Prompts you: Specify camera location <current location>:
    Click a point or enter new coordinates of the camera location, then press Enter.
  • Height:
    Prompts you: Specify camera height <current height>:
    Enter a new height (Z-coordinate) for the camera location.
  • Target:
    Prompts you: Specify target location <current location>:
    Click a point or enter new coordinates of the target location, then press Enter.
  • Lens:
    Prompts you: Specify lens length in mm <50.00>:
    Enter an new lens length, then press Enter.
  • Clipping:
    Prompts you: Enable front clipping plane? <Yes>/No:
    Choose Yes to define the front clipping plane.
    Prompts you: Specify front clipping plane offset from target plane <0.00>:
    Type value in the command bare or specify the distance by clicking two points.
    
    Prompts you: Enable back clipping plane? Yes/<No>:
    Choose Yes to define the front clipping plane.
    Prompts you: Specify front clipping plane offset from target plane <0.00>:
    Type value in the command bare or specify the distance by clicking two points.
  • View:
    Prompts you: Switch to camera view? Yes/<No>:
    Choose Yes to display the camera view.
    This option concludes the Camera command.

To toggle the perspective property of view

Do one of the following

• Click the Perspective tool button () on the View toolbar.
  The state of the tool button, pressed or not, indicates the current value of the PERSPECTIVE system variable.
• Choose Perspective in the View menu.
• Type perspective in the command bar.
  The command bar reads: New current value for PERSPECTIVE (Off or On) <On>:
  A prompt menu displays.
  Do one of the following:
• • Type off or on in the command bar, then press Enter.
  • Choose Off or On in the prompt menu.