topic Re: how to save a 3D view in Modeling

how to save a 3D view

Anonymous — Fri, 26 May 2023 12:28:24 GMT

I could use some help.
I'm working in the 3d window and using the orbit and pan tools as well as the mouse scroll wheel to zoom in and out until I get my view just the way I want it.
I'd like to be able to save the view that I'm looking at but I don't seem to be able to figure out how to do that. Please tell me how I can save a view as I'm looking at it on my monitor.
Thank you,
John

Re: how to save a 3D view

TMA_80 — Sat, 10 Mar 2012 11:01:34 GMT

Hi,

I generally create a camera first. modify my view to the desired angle then:

Navigator/Path/save current projection.

This will add a new camera with the new position...

There is however a cleaner way ...

once the modified angle is OK

Navigator/Generic perspective/save current view

this will create a view that you'll find on the "view map" part of the navigator

Re: how to save a 3D view

Chazz — Sat, 10 Mar 2012 14:53:06 GMT

But let's be honest about this. There are MAJOR bugs with this area of the software. In fact, in my work, camera/view hassles are the number one most consistent, most annoying, most disruptive and most time-wasting issue in ArchiCAD.

Specifically:

1) Camera numbering is inconsistent and illogical
2) Cameras cannot be named in the project map. This is a huge and illogical inconsistency compared to every other element in the 'map (stories, elevations, sections, 3D Docs, etc)
3) Copy-pasting cameras yields odd results (particularly to numbering)
4) "Place a Camera" command yields inconsistent results.
5) "Insert A New Camera After The Selected One" command yields inconsistent results.
6) Saved 3D views placed in layouts often get corrupted or altered by subsequent changes to the marquee.

Please GS, fix these LONGSTANDING bugs and inconsistencies. The 3D Documents looked like a step in the right direction but the limitations with materials makes that tool too crippled in lots of situations. V15 did make some progress to the corruption in layouts issue but camera/views is an area of the program that, after more than a decade of no change, needs to be completely rethought.

Re: how to save a 3D view

Chazz — Sat, 10 Mar 2012 15:15:56 GMT

Of course, in my rant, i never directly addressed John's issue. In truth, I think that if your sig is up to date and you still are using V11, you may be in for a world of hurt.

In either case I would differ with TMA_80 in that just adding views to the view map is OK for Axon projections but for perspectives you really want to add a camera because that way you are supposed to be able to move the camera and have it update the saved view itself. This does not always work, but it is supposed to. It is complicated further because the name of the saved view may not bear any relationship to the name camera in the Project map (this is the reason it is so annoying that camera names cannot be changed).

Re: how to save a 3D view

Karl Ottenstein — Sat, 10 Mar 2012 17:30:14 GMT

I find saving views to be the easiest solution. Create just like any other view - either right click/save view from navigator, or drag camera to view map in Organizer.

No problem updating views either - just open the view, modify as desired, then from open the view settings and get current window settings.

If you do need a camera for a saved view, then open the view use the place camera on path command (or insert after command if a different camera is selected in plan).

Aside: I do agree 100% with Chazz on the hassle and inconsistencies of cameras. I haven't touched this area in years, using Artlantis instead, but was looking at it with a friend yesterday who doesn't have Artlantis and was shocked to see no improvements since version 6.5 and all of the issues (and more) that Chazz mentions. We were looking at animations, and the ArchiCAD solution is just ridiculous, providing a fixed number of frames between cameras, forcing you to introduce extra cameras to control the speed, and with the number of frames in the Path dialog and the frames per second in the animation compression settings dialog. Absolutely clunky.

Cheers,
Karl

Re: how to save a 3D view

Anonymous — Sat, 10 Mar 2012 17:35:52 GMT

Chazz wrote:
But let's be honest about this. There are MAJOR bugs with this area of the software. In fact, in my work, camera/view hassles are the number one most consistent, most annoying, most disruptive and most time-wasting issue in ArchiCAD.

Please GS, fix these LONGSTANDING bugs and inconsistencies. The 3D Documents looked like a step in the right direction but the limitations with materials makes that tool too crippled in lots of situations. V15 did make some progress to the corruption in layouts issue but camera/views is an area of the program that, after more than a decade of no change, needs to be completely rethought.

Chazz,
I think that this is a great issue for a forum poll to see if we can get some attention to this issue from Graphisoft. If you post the poll I will vote essential. As I am still in v11 and not using the latest software I think it would be a stronger message coming from you.
Aloha,
John

Re: how to save a 3D view

Karl Ottenstein — Sat, 10 Mar 2012 17:43:20 GMT

PS Note that saved 3D views can be set to open the 3D window or to generate a photorendering (with the settings saved with the view).

This is nice, but also awkward. Suppose you want a working 3D view as you've set up, and also a view that would generate a Sketch rendering (with desired settings / size) for placement on a layout, and a view that would generate a photorendering (with specified LW settings/etc)... so 3 views with the same "camera".

You might duplicated the OpenGL view, set up the sketch settings, save that as a view, then set up the LW settings and save that as a view.

Now suppose you want to change things a bit, pan the camera, zoom/etc. There is no easy mechanism to change just that aspect of these three saved views. The "Redefine Image Settings with Current" box in the 3D View Settings, will replace not just the 3D projection (desired) but also all photorendering settings etc (not desired). There is no ability to choose which settings to update!

The only workaround for this case that I know of (?) is to start with the OpenGL view, then place a camera (temporarily) on plan using the menu View > 3D Navigation Extras > Put a camera into the path

Now, open the Sketch render view - really only to reset the photorendering settings to those saved with that view. Go back to the 2D window, select the placed camera, open the 3D window - which will now be your new 3D viewpoint/projection - and finally update the Sketch render view - which will now retain the sketch photorendering settings, but update the projection. Same process with the example LW render view.

If you imagine that you have different rendering settings saved with views for different target output sizes (pixels), then this update hassle can involve a lot of steps for each change in 3D projection-view.

Cheers,
Karl

Re: how to save a 3D view

Anonymous — Sat, 10 Mar 2012 17:50:44 GMT

Karl wrote:
I find saving views to be the easiest solution. Create just like any other view - either right click/save view from navigator, or drag camera to view map in Organizer.

No problem updating views either - just open the view, modify as desired, then from open the view settings and get current window settings.

Aloha Karl,
When I do create the View as you suggest the zoom and extents of the image aren't saved. The angle yes, the zoom and extents no. Do you know why that is happening? Do you know how I can save a view so the zoom and extents of the image are saved in the view?

Karl wrote:
I haven't touched this area in years, using Artlantis instead,

What is the learning curve on Artlantis. I am working on a project today for a simple presentation tomorrow where I want to show two or three simple hidden line 3D interior views and maybe 8 simple line drawing style interior elevations for a small 700sf house. I have the house and features modeled.
Is Artlantis plug and play?
One other feature that I'm considering Artlantis for is that in a week I'll want to show the clients these same simple views with colors and textures representing the wall colors, tile layouts, appliances, fixtures and cabinets with all of the colors and textures represented in my drawings. Normally, I would just hand color (with pencil, pen and paper) the CAD drawings that I created in ArchiCAD. Do you think Artlantis is easy enough to learn quickly so I can do these colored views using Artlantis with just a few days of learning?
I am not looking for photo rendering images. More just images that replicate my hand colored drawings or water color and colored pencil drawings. It's what I'm used to. I feel like my hand drawings get good response from my clients. I also think it would be easier and quicker to do with a software package like Artlantis.
What can you tell me about the learning curve for Artlantis?
Thanks,
John

Re: how to save a 3D view

Karl Ottenstein — Sat, 10 Mar 2012 18:02:07 GMT

Chazz wrote:
Of course, in my rant, i never directly addressed John's issue. In truth, I think that if your sig is up to date and you still are using V11, you may be in for a world of hurt.

Not sure I understand, Chazz. AFAIK, nothing has been improved/changed about 3D views or cameras since v11. But, my coffee hasn't kicked in yet today. 😉

Cheers,
Karl

Re: how to save a 3D view

Anonymous — Sat, 10 Mar 2012 18:07:03 GMT

TMA_80 wrote:
There is however a cleaner way ...

once the modified angle is OK

Navigator/Generic perspective/save current view

this will create a view that you'll find on the "view map" part of the navigator

This works exactly, perfectly.
Thank you,
John

Re: how to save a 3D view

Karl Ottenstein — Sat, 10 Mar 2012 18:29:20 GMT

johncassel wrote:
Aloha Karl,
When I do create the View as you suggest the zoom and extents of the image aren't saved. The angle yes, the zoom and extents no. Do you know why that is happening? Do you know how I can save a view so the zoom and extents of the image are saved in the view?

Good (early) morning, John,

Strange... no problems here. I was in 15, but just launched 11 and both axo and perspective views are saved (and restore) exactly as I have them in the 3D window. From your last post responding to TMA_80, I gather you've got this working now, though?

johncassel wrote:

Karl wrote:
I haven't touched this area in years, using Artlantis instead,

What is the learning curve on Artlantis. I am working on a project today for a simple presentation tomorrow where I want to show two or three simple hidden line 3D interior views and maybe 8 simple line drawing style interior elevations for a small 700sf house. I have the house and features modeled.

Sorry that I wasn't clear. I meant that I use Artlantis for animations vs dealing with the camera/path tools in ArchiCAD.

(I do use it also for renderings to avoid dealing with LW setting - particularly for lighting - but that wasn't what I was going off topic about earlier.)

johncassel wrote:
Is Artlantis plug and play?
One other feature that I'm considering Artlantis for is that in a week I'll want to show the clients these same simple views with colors and textures representing the wall colors, tile layouts, appliances, fixtures and cabinets with all of the colors and textures represented in my drawings. Normally, I would just hand color (with pencil, pen and paper) the CAD drawings that I created in ArchiCAD. Do you think Artlantis is easy enough to learn quickly so I can do these colored views using Artlantis with just a few days of learning?
...
What can you tell me about the learning curve for Artlantis?

I think Artlantis is pretty easy to learn in a couple of hours to one day depending on the person. The help manual is very skimpy, but there are a variety of videos to watch to see how things are done. The most poorly documented feature is the animation timeline functionality which will take some experimentation to understand I think.

Models exported from ArchiCAD open perfectly. There is a 'reference' function so that even after you have set up views, materials, etc in Artlantis, you can still export an altered ArchiCAD model and have it updated with the prior Artlantis work (reference).

Material/shader assignment is just a visual drag and drop into the 3D window which is a real-time preview of the render, including lighting and reflections. Render quality is far superior to ArchiCAD.

But, would I look at this for some images that you need in one week? Guess it depends on what else you have to do this week. 😉 There is a free trial version. But, I just checked and the current version of Artlantis (4) only has export modules for AC 14 and 15. It can open older version files - but you loose too much power, I think. AC 11 can only export to Artlantis 2, which is before layers were introduced into the Artlantis file format. So, I guess I'd hold off on Artlantis until after you're able to upgrade ArchiCAD. Doesn't hurt to mess around with the free demo though.

Since the images don't need to be marketing-level quality, your present hand-coloring of linework drawings from AC seems the most time efficient. Certainly, you can set up all of the saved 3D views for those colored sketches in ArchiCAD. Either render as Sketch, or create a 3D Document for each view (linework only)...

johncassel wrote:
I am not looking for photo rendering images. More just images that replicate my hand colored drawings or water color and colored pencil drawings. It's what I'm used to. I feel like my hand drawings get good response from my clients. I also think it would be easier and quicker to do with a software package like Artlantis.
What can you tell me about the learning curve for Artlantis?
Thanks,
John

Oops. Finally read this part. Artlantis is all about photorendering - whether just stills (Render version), or stills, VR and animation (Studio version). For hand colored looks, many people use Piranesi ... but for people who are talented with pencils and brush (not me!), they can do the work on top of a line drawing themselves faster than painting in Piranesi, I think.

Cheers,
Karl

Re: how to save a 3D view

Anonymous — Sat, 10 Mar 2012 19:46:22 GMT

Thanks Karl,
That is just what I needed to know about Artlantis and Piranesi.

I enjoy the finished product when I trace my 3D views with pencil. The final product looks like I can draw in 3D which is a skill that the dean of my architecture school told me that I needed. I scoffed at his suggestion and said that I can do it quicker in formZ than I could hand draw a 3D view. What I missed was how valuable a skill it is for an architect to be able to draw quickly in 3D. I'm still paying the price for not putting in the time to practice the skill more when I was in school--when I had the time.

That said, I'm here on a Saturday morning starting to trace 3D views so tomorrow I can show my clients my ideas for the interior renovation of their home.

One of the big reasons that I don't just show them the ArchiCAD 3D view is because I need to add a lot of detail to the cabinets faces and other details in the room. It would take me a long time to model these details.

Do you have a suggestion for how to quickly (or easily) model details using like the ones in this photo so they would show up in a 3D hidden line view?

Re: how to save a 3D view

Anonymous — Sat, 10 Mar 2012 20:03:36 GMT

How could I quickly and easily model details like these?

Re: how to save a 3D view

Anonymous — Sat, 10 Mar 2012 20:27:26 GMT

Or model easily model cabinet details like this. This type of detail is why I hand draw the details in my 3D views. I just cannot figure out a way to quickly and easily model a house full of details like this using ArchiCAD so they show up in a 3D view.
I am open to any suggestions or thoughts on how to model this level of detail in ArchiCAD so the details show up in the 3D views.
Mahalo,
John

Re: how to save a 3D view

Anonymous — Sat, 10 Mar 2012 20:30:07 GMT

Or design and model details like this using ArchiCAD?

Re: how to save a 3D view

Anonymous — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 18:53:16 GMT

ArchiCAD Help: Virtual Building : Parametric Objects : Graphic Creation of Custom Objects : Saving Custom Shape Doors and Windows from the Project File

Anyway, I'm giving it a try to see if I can model custom doors for the cabinets and doors similar to the ones shown above.. If I can it will be great to be able to generate a 3D rendering of my designs as a tool for communicating with my clients.

I'm going to wind up using these custom parts repeated many times throughout the house. Is there anything that anyone wants to share with me about keeping the custom parts as small (parameterically) as possible so my PLN stays manageable?

Re: how to save a 3D view

Anonymous — Sun, 28 Oct 2012 17:04:44 GMT

This maybe already an answered question, but I am saving my 3d views with:

View -> 3D Navigation Extras -> Put a camera into the path.