1. Viewing Tools
V106.02 part 3

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. 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.

6. 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.

7. 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.

8. 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.

9. 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.

10. Exporting
 Exporting allows