Modeling Scenic Space - Cornell University · * Modeling Scenic Space * written by Kent Goetz revised ... Print the template above on heavy paper and affix it to a convenient

VectorWorks 2008 Tutorial #2

* * * * * * M o d e l i n g S c e n i c S p a c e * * * * * *written by Kent Goetz

revised 8/11/2008http://instruct1.cit.cornell.edu/courses/thetr263/index.html

This tutorial contains a set of instructions designed to lead the user through a series of activities that one may encounter when designing a scenic space. An example of the completed tutorial project is provided on the last page. The tutorial project does not represent a design for any specific play. The project is simply a composition of basic units composed in a theatrical situation designed to introduce the user to the basic tools and commands of VectorWorks.

The tutorial assumes that the user has a basic knowledge of either Macintosh or Windows operating systems and a general understanding of stage terminology, i.e. stage left is actually the audiences right, upstage is farther away from the audience, etc. If the tutorial is successful, then upon completion the user should feel both motivated and sufficiently skilled to continue exploring more complex and creative ways to employ this application.

On the next page is a diagram of the VectorWorks interface, followed by an illustration showing VectorWorks keyboard shortcuts. Please familiarize yourself with these pages before you begin the tutorial instructions which follow. It is advisable to execute each step of the tutorial sequentially and to read through each activity completely before executing. Referring often to the example of the completed project can also be helpful. Please note that as you progress through the tutorial the instructions become less specific assuming that you have been acquiring skills as you execute the various tutorial activities. For increased retention of skills, it is suggested that after executing 5-10 actions by reading the tutorial instructions, you Undo those actions and execute them again without reading the instructions.

This tutorial was written using the Macintosh operating system. Some illustrations may have a different appearance for those using Windows, and some menu commands and keyboard shortcuts may be different, i.e., on the Mac the , or Command key, is the Control key in Windows, Option = Alt , Delete = Backspace, Return = Enter, et al.

Note: -- To execute this tutorial completely you will need: 1) the Spotlight version of VectorWorks; 2) a completed project from the “Drafting the Floorplan” tutorial or the sample file “VWTutrlPlan.vwx”; and 3) the file “VW08TutrlItems.vwx”. Both files are available through the tutorial website.

Applications used to create tutorial:VectorWorks 2008 by Nemetschek, North America, Pages ‘08 by Apple.

Snapz Pro X by Ambrosia Software Inc. For permission to copy and distribute this document contact:Kent Goetz, 937 Harford Slaterville Rd., Dryden , NY 13053

http://instruct1.cit.cornell.edu/courses/thetr263/index.html

http://instruct1.cit.cornell.edu/courses/thetr263/index.html

phone - (607)254-2707 email - [email protected]

View Bar

Print Area Border

Tool Bar

Message Bar

Constraints

Attributes

VectorWorks 2008 Tutorial - Modeling Scenic Space 2

mailto:[email protected]

mailto:[email protected]

Print the template above on heavy paper and affix it to a convenient surface in your work area.

There are many other standard keyboard shortcuts using the Shift and Option-Shift modifiers. To get a list of all keyboard shortcuts, open the Workspace Editor under Tool > Workspace, select “Edit Current Workspace” and click "Export Workspace to Text File..." A text file will be created showing all shortcuts for all Menu Commands, Tools, Tool Sets, Context Menus, Arrow Key Prefs and View Settings. Icons on lower the left of key use the Option modifier. The above shortcuts were posted by David LaBarbera AIA on the Vectorworks TechBoard 2008: http://techboard.nemetschek.net/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=98927 .

1) PREPARE DRAWING ENVIRONMENT◇ In this tutorial you will be building upon the floorplan you created in the “Drafting the Floorplan” tutorial.◇ Under File > Open. Find your file “VWTutrlPlan.vwx” and open it. If you have not created a file of your own you can use the

sample file, “VWTutrlPlan.vwx” downloaded from the tutorial website. ◇ Under File > Save As and rename your file “VWTutrlModeling(your initials).vwx”.◇ Under Tools > Workspace > Spotlight (not Spotlight Classic). Workspaces establish the organization and visibility of industry

specific menu commands and palettes. ◇ Under Windows > Palettes select or deselect to make only the following palettes visible: Constraints, Attributes, Object Info,

Resource Browser, Navigation, Basic and Tool Sets. The other palettes aren’t necessary for this project and screen space is precious.

◇ Under VectorWorks > Preferences ( , in MacOS [Control , in Windows]). Format each of the four windows as illustrated in {Fig. 1a-d} on the next page and click OK. These settings will remain every time you use VectorWorks on this computer until you change them. The settings can be readjusted anytime to best suit your drawing style and the specific needs of a project.

9

6

7 8

4 5

3 1 2

0 .

page up home

page dn end

help/fn

delete>

Z

9

X C V B N M , . /

A S D F G H J K L ; '

Q W E R T Y U I O P [ ]

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 0 – =

\

`

VectorWorks 2008 Architect – Standard Keyboard Shortcuts

Right Rear Iso

Rear Left Rear Iso

Front LeftIso

Right Top Left

Top/Plan

Right Iso

LayerDown

ClassUp

LayerUp

ClassDown

T

Group 1 Group 2 Group 3 Group 4 Group 5 Group 6Screen Hints

Set Edge Snap

Set Datum

*3

*2*2*2

*2 *2

*4

*1 *1 *1 *1 *1

*2

*2

*1 *1 *1 *1


http://techboard.nemetschek.net/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=98927




Fig 1a

Fig. 1b

Fig. 1c

Fig. 1d

Turn off Auto save if it is not helpful to you.


◇ Under File > Page Setup [Print Setup] and orient your page horizontally. How you do this will depend upon your printer and printer driver.

◇ In the View Bar click the Fit to Page Area button ( 4)

◇ In the View Bar at the top of the page, click on the Save View button and save this as “2dPlan” view .

◇ In the Navigation palette, click the Design Layers button . Control/click on “2dPlan”, or double-click on the Design Layer button to bring up the Organization window. Select New. Name the new design layer “3dModel” and click OK. {Fig. 2} You might notice that the your floorplan has either grayed or disappeared.

Fig. 2

◇ Select the “2dPlan” layer in the Navigation palette. Control/click on “2dPlan”, or double-click on the Design Layer button to bring up the Organization window, and select Edit. Click the Colors button. Change the Pen Foreground to a bright red and click OK. {Fig. 3a & b}

Fig. 3a Fig. 3b


◇ In the Navigation palette, click in the column next to the “3dModel” layer to make it the active layer, and in the Layer Options pop-up menu select Show/Snap Others. {Fig. 4} The floorplan layer should now be visible.

Fig. 4

◇ Under File > Document Settings > Document Preferences. Check the Use Layer Colors button and click OK. You should notice

your 2d plan is now bright red. The Use Layer Colors setting means all objects will have the fill and pen color you assign in the Layer’s Color button, no matter what color you assign an object in the Attributes Palette. This should help you better distinguish the 3d model as you build it on top of the 2d plan.

◇ Click the Save View button to save this new view as “3dPlanw/2dPlan”.

2) BUILD THE 3D PLATFORM◇ Use the Save View button to go to the “2d Plan” view. In this saved view the “2dPlan” design layer is the active layer.

◇ Select the 2d Selection tool (X key) and click on the edge of the main platform polygon to select it, preferably the downstage edge where you can be certain are you selecting only the platform and not one of the walls by mistake. Under Edit > Copy ( [Cntrl] C). ◇ Go to the “3d Plan w/2d Plan” view. Under Edit > Paste in Place ( /Option V) [ Cntrl/Alt V]) You should notice a black outline of

the platform superimposed over the red one. You have copied the object from the 2dPlan layer and pasted into the 3dModel layer. {Fig. 5a} ◇ In the Navigation palette change the Layers Options for the 3dModel design layer to “Active Only”. {Fig. 5b} You should see only

the platform now in the “3d” layer. {Fig. 5c}◇ Use the Save View button to save this view as “3dPlan”.


Fig. 5a Fig. 5b Fig. 5c

◇ With the platform polygon still selected, under Model > Extrude ( [Cntrl] E). Enter Extrusion = 8“ and click OK. You have just added a third (Z) dimension to a 2d shape. However, it doesn’t look different because you are viewing the object in top/plan view.

You can navigate among 3d orthographic views of your drawings three different ways: 1) under View > Standard Views; 2) using the

button in the View Bar; or 3) using the Numeric Keypad with 5 = top view, 2 = front view, 8 = back view, 4 &6 = side views, and 1,3,7,9 = isometric views. Experiment with these options.

◇ Go to the Front view. Save this view as “3dFront”.{Fig. 6a} ◇ Go to the Right view. Save this view as “3dRight”.{Fig. 6b} ◇ Go to the Right Isometric view. Save this view as “3dIsoRt”.{Fig. 6c} These saved views will be used as shortcuts to visualizing your

model from different points of views as you construct it. The names of the saved views are user defined and have no direct affect on the actual view.

Fig. 6b Right Side View

Fig. 6c Right Isometric ViewFig. 6a Front View


2) ADD 3D WALLS◇ Return to the “3d Plan w/2d Plan” view.

◇ In the View Bar click the Zoom In button to magnify window. Then hold down the Space Bar to activate the Pan tool ,

and click/drag to center a close-up view of the upstage center wall. Or select the Zoom In tool (C key) and draw a marquee around the wall.

◇ In the Tool Sets palette select .. Select the Wall tool (9 key). In the Tool Bar click the Wall

Preferences button . Change the Overall Thickness to 4“. Click on Insertion Options and change Set Height to 12‘0“. Leave the rest as default, and click OK.◇ Start with the straight walls. Click where the upstage wall meets the curved wall and drag stage left. You might have to use the U key

to toggle the double-lines so they fall outside the platform, like you did when creating the 2d plan. Click again at the up left corner of the platform, then drag down the stage left edge of the platform. Hit Tab and in the floating Data Bar enter L= 6‘0“, hit Return[Enter] and double-click to finish wall . {Fig. 7a}

◇ Select the Curved Wall tool and in the Tool Bar select the Arc by Radius mode . Click on the existing locus as the center point of the curved wall and continue just like you did with the Arc tool in the 2d plan. You might need to use the U key again to adjust the double-line reference. The wall thickness should still be set to 4“. {Fig. 7b}

Fig. 7b

1st 2nd3rd & double-click

1st 2nd

3rd & double-click

Fig. 7a


◇ Go to the “3dIsoRt” view to view the 3d walls. {Fig. 8a}You might have to resize and reposition your page to view the entire drawing. Do so and save view again with exactly the same name. You will be asked to replace existing view. Click OK.◇ With the curved wall still selected, in the Object Info palette change the ∆ Z to 14‘0“ and hit Return[Enter].{Fig. 8b}

Fig. 8a Fig. 8b edge of page

◇ Go to the “2dPlan” view.◇ Use the 2d Selection tool (X key) to select the two rectangles that represent the plan view of the 6‘0“ wide, offstage walls. Under

Edit > Copy ( C).◇ Go to the “3dPlan”view. Under Edit > Paste in Place ( /Option V). {Fig. 9a}◇ With the wall rectangles still selected, extrude them 10‘0“. Model > Extrude ( E) You could have also used the Wall tool to create

these walls, but for demonstration purposes you are using a different method of modeling these units.◇ Go to the “3dIsoRt” view to see the change. {Fig. 9b} If needed, resize/reposition page to include these walls and rename the view.


Fig. 9a Fig. 9b

◇ If the blue reference grid is visible, and you are finding it annoying, turn it off for now. Under Tools > Set Grid. ( 8) and deselect Show Grid Lines.

3) CREATE PERSPECTIVE VIEW◇ Go to the “3dPlan” view.◇ Under View > Set 3D View ( 0 [zero]). Click at the bottom of your page on the approximate centerline, then again at about the

center of the platform. {Fig. 10a} The Set 3D Window will appear. Enter View Height = 6‘0“, Look Toward Height = 6‘0“, select Normal Perspective and click OK.{Fig. 10b} A close-up front perspective view of your set will appear. {Fig. 10c}

1st

2nd



◇ Zoom out by holding the Option key and clicking the Zoom button in the View Bar . A box bounded by black corner brackets will contain your perspective view. {Fig. 11a} These brackets indicate the boundary of your perspective view, like a view finder in camera. ◇ Use the 2d Selection tool (X key) to click and drag these brackets to resize the perspective window, so it fits inside the boundaries of

the printed page, which is indicated by a grayed rectangle.{Fig. 11b}

◇ In the View Bar click the Fit to Page Area button ( 4). Save this view as “3dPerspWire”.

Fig. 11a Fig. 11b

◇ In the Tool Sets palette select . Select the Walkthrough tool (Shift U). Place the cursor in the very center of your drawing area, click/hold and drag slowly downward. You should notice the perspective view growing smaller as if the observer were walking away. Now move the cursor towards the top of the drawing to simulate the observer walking toward the objects. Try moving right and left. If you loose your image, or it becomes distorted as you explore with the Walkthrough tool, start over by going to the “3dPerspWire” saved view.

◇ Next select the Translate View tool (Shift V). Place the cursor in the center of your drawing area, click/hold and drag slowly up/down/right/left to reposition the view on the page. The translate tool moves the observer while maintaining the distance between the observer and the object being viewed.◇ Size and position your perspective view so it almost fills the area within the brackets.{Fig. 12}◇ Save the revised view as “3dPerspWire” to replace the existing saved view.


Fig. 12

If you end up with duplicate saved views, in the View Bar click on the Save View button , choose Edit View, select the unwanted view and click Delete. Or, in the Navigation palette, control/click on the Saved Views button and select delete.

4) ADD DOORS AND WINDOWS ◇ Got to the “3dPlan w/2dPlan” view. and zoom in to detail the walls.

◇ In the Tool Sets palette select .

◇ Select the Simple Door tool (Shift/Option D). Place cursor in the approximate center of the upstage wall until you see the dotted outline of a door symbol snap onto the wall, and double-click. The position doesn’t have to match the 2d plan exactly at this time. Accept the defaults in Doors Settings window and click OK. ◇ Select the 2d Selection tool or hit the X key to exit out of the Door tool.◇ Select the new door symbol. In the Object Info palette, click the Flip button until the swing of the door symbol matches the 2d Plan.

and confirm the door width is 3‘0“. {Fig. 13a} If you do not see these options in the Object Info palette, then the door symbol was not properly inserted into the wall. Select the door symbol, delete it, and try again.◇ Click on the door symbol within the wall and drag it horizontally to reposition it, so it matches the 2d plan. Or, in the Object Info

palette click the Position button, choose the corner point on the wall from which you wish to measure, then type in the desired offset distance. {Fig. 13b}


Fig. 13a Fig. 13b

◇ Go to the the “3dFront” view. Notice that the door sits on the ground plane rather than on the platform. Select the door and in the Object Info palette change the height to 8“ and hit Return[Enter]. The door should move up to sit on the 8“ platform.{Fig.14a-c}


◇ Zoom in to detail the door. In the Object Info palette scroll down (or enlarge the palette) and change select “Include Interior Trim”, make the Leaf Type = Panel with; Mid Stile Width = 4“; Bottom Rail Width = 9“; Num V Panels = 2; and Num H Panels = 2. Select the Set Top Panel and make its Height = 3‘3“. Hit Tab after each field entry to view the change in your drawing. {Fig.15} Save your drawing and experiment with the other settings, then return to the setting above.


Fig. 15

◇ Go to the “3dPerspWire” view. If your screen is wide enough, in the View Bar at the very right top corner you will see the

Rendering Mode button . Use it to choose Polygon > Unshaded. If you can’t locate that button, under View > Rendering > Unshaded Polygon to opaque all surfaces. {Fig.16} ◇ Save this view as “3dPerspSolid”. If your main platform remains in wireframe, select it and in the Attributes palette change its fill to

Solid white.


Fig. 16

◇ Go to the “3dPlan” view. In the Navigation palette, click the Classes button and make the Sills class visible. {Fig.17a} You should see the door and its swing arc. Components of the door are assigned to different classes so their visibility can be controlled. ◇ Select the door. Under Modify > Create Symbol. Name it “DoorOne”, check Leave Instance In-Place and Insertion Point at Plug-

in Origin. {Fig.17b}

Classes

Visible

Fig. 17a Fig. 17b

◇ To repeat this door style in the stage left wall over the landing, in the Resources Browser ( R) in the top pop-up menu make sure

the “VWTutrlModeling(your initials)” file is selected. {Fig.18a} In the browser window find and double-click on the “DoorOne” symbol to make it active. {Fig.18b} The icon will be highlighted and the symbol name will appear at the bottom corner of the Resource Browser.


Fig. 18a Fig. 18b

◇ Go to the“3dPlan w/2dPlan” plan.

◇ Select the 2D Symbol Insertion tool (0 key). Place the cursor in the center of the stage left door opening until the symbol snaps into the wall. Click to insert the symbol, then click again to set. Hit the X key to exit the 2D Symbol Insertion tool. Flip the door to match the 2d plan. You may need to make the Sills class visible again to see the door swing. {Fig. 19a}

◇ This DoorOne symbol is 3‘0“ wide, but the stage left door needs to be 2‘6“ wide. To repeat the same door style, but edit only its width, select (X key) the stage left door symbol and under Modify > Convert > Convert to Plug-in Object . In the Convert to Group Options window select “Don’t convert sub-objects to groups” and click OK. This door has been disassociated from any other instance of this symbol and is now editable as an individual entity. Now in the Object Info palette change the Door Width to 2‘6“ and hit Return.◇ Reposition the symbol in the wall so it lines up with the 2d plan. {Fig.19b}

Fig. 19a Fig. 19b


◇ Go to the“3dPerspSolid” view to see the doors added to the walls.◇ To prepare for adding the landing platform, select the stage left door and in the Object Info palette change its height to 3‘0“. {Fig.

20} You will be asked to rerender. Click OK.

Fig. 20

◇ To create a custom window in the curved wall, go to the “3dFront” view and zoom in around the curved wall.

◇ Select the Inscribed Polygon tool . In the Tool Bar click the Preferences button , enter Number of Sides = 8 and click OK.◇ Click in the approximate center of the curved wall and draw an octagon approximately 2‘0“ wide. {Fig. 21a}◇ With the octagon selected, in the Object Info palette, check the center button in the Alignment Matrix and resize the octagon

vertically ∆Y=3‘0“. {21b}


Fig. 21a Fig. 21b

◇ With the octagon still selected, under Modify > Convert > Convert to Lines.◇ With lines still selected, under Model > Extrude ( E). Enter Extrusion = 8“ and click OK. In the Attributes palette change the

object fill to None. You have created a hollow shape, or hole, that will be the window opening.◇ Under Modify > Create Symbol. Name the symbol “WindowOct”, deselect “Leave Instance in Place”, make Insertion Point: 3D

Object Center, and click OK. The window will disappear because it has been placed in the symbol library in your file. ◇ Go to the “3dPlan w/2dPlan” view and zoom in around the curved wall.

◇ In the Resource Browser, find the “ symbol and double-click to make it active.

◇ Use the 2d Symbol Insertion tool (0 key) to insert the window into the center of the curved wall. Watch for the screen hint “Object” which indicates you are inserting into, rather than onto, the wall. If the insertion is successful, the curved wall should become transparent with the window rectangle showing the red lines of the 2d plan beneath.{Fig. 22} Hit the X key to exit the Symbol tool.


Fig. 22

◇ Go to the “3dFront” view. Notice that the window is centered on the ground plane. {Fig. 23a}◇ With the “WindowOct” symbol selected, Modify > Edit Symbol ( [)◇ Under Tool s> Set Grid ( 8). Check Show Grid Lines and click OK. {Fig. 23b} This will make visible the intersection between the

ground plane and vertical axis.◇ Select the window object. Under Modify > Move > Move...( M). Enter Y Offset = 8‘0“ and click OK.{Fig. 23c}◇ Under Modify > Exit Symbol ( ]) or click the Exit Symbol button in top right corner of the window. {Fig. 23d}

Fig. 23a Fig. 23b Fig. 23c Fig. 23d

◇ Turn the grid off, under Tools > Set Grid ( 8) ◇ Go again to the “3dPerspSolid” view to see changes. {Fig. 24}


Fig. 24

◇ To add trim and mullions to the window, use the 2d Selection tool and click on the edge of the window in the wall to select it (if it isn’t already)◇ Under View > Standard Views > Front, or hit the 2 key in the numeric pad.◇ Under Modify > Edit Symbol ( [).

◇ Zoom In on the window. Select the Double-Line Polygon tool . In the Tool Bar click the Preferences button , set the Separation to 4“ and choose Create Polygons. Click OK. Start at a corner and use the screen hints to help draw a 4“ wide border around the outside of the window (you may have to use the U key to toggle the reference of the double-line to fall on the outside.) {Fig. 25a}◇ With the border selected, extrude it to 1”. ◇ Under View > Standard Views > Top [5 key in numeric pad].

◇ In the Tool Bar hit the Fit to Objects button to zoom in on a close up top view of the window. ◇ With the window border selected, hold down the Shift key and use the Up or Down Arrows to nudge the border to the front (or

bottom) of the window to become window trim. {Fig. 25b}◇ Return to a front view (2 key)of the window and zoom in.

◇ Use the Double-Line tool set to draw 1” wide polygons. Create a vertical and a horizontal mullion through the center of the

window. (Check the center reference in the Tool Bar before drawing the double-lines or use the I Key to toggle to the desired reference line).{Fig. 25c}


◇ Extrude the mullions 1”.◇ Go to a top view to make sure the mullions fall at the approximate center of the window. {Fig. 26d}◇ Check to make sure that both the trim and mullions have a Solid fill. However, the window opening needs to have a fill of None so it

is to remain hollow.

Fig. 25a

Fig. 25b

Fig. 25c

Fig. 25d

◇ Exit Symbol ( ] ) and go to the “3dPerspSolid” view to see changes.{Fig. 26}Fig. 26


5) ADD LANDING AND STAIRS◇ Go to the“3dPlanw/2dPlan” view. Zoom in around the landing.

◇ Select the Polygon tool and trace the landing to create an enclosed polygon. {Fig. 27a} Be sure the end point snaps to the beginning point. The final screen hint should read “Point” rather than “Object” This will ensure that the polygon will fill solid when

it is extruded. Use the 2d Reshape tool to adjust the vertices. Hint - double-click on the polygon to activate the 2d Reshape tool. Draw a marquee around an individual vertex to utilize nudge capabilities [Shift/arrow keys].◇ Extrude the landing polygon 2‘4“.◇ Go to the “3dFront” view and move ( M ) the landing platform up Y = 8“. {Fig.27b}

Fig. 27a Fig. 27b

◇ Return to the “3dPlanw/2 Plan” view and zoom in again on the landing, or in the View Bar at the top left corner of the window use

the to move back and forth among your ten most recent views.

◇ In the Tool Set palette, select and the Tape Measure tool . Use it to determine the width of the stairs by reading the distance between two clicks in the Floating Data Bar. The width should be approximately 2’-6”.

◇ Return to the Tool Set and select the Stairs tool . In the Tool Bar click the Preferences button

. Accept the default Straight Stair symbol and click OK.


◇ In the Stair Preferences window under General, change Overall Height: Specify = 2‘4“; Max Riser Height = 7“ and deselect “Draw Top Tread”. Under Flights and Platforms, change the Width to 2‘6“ and click OK. A dashed line outline of your stair unit should be following your cursor.◇ Click at the bottom center of the plan view to anchor the stair symbol and rotate up (60˚) until the symbol aligns with the plan view

and click to set. Hit the X key to exit the Stair tool.{Fig. 28}

Fig. 28

click to anchor

rotate up & click to set

◇ While the stair unit is still selected, in the Object Info palette, make sure it is set to the Class “None”. Some of the Object Tools create objects assigned to new classes. The visibility of new classes may be turned off by default. You then would have to change the visibility of the new classes in all your saved views.◇ Go to the“3dFront”view. Move the stair unit up so it sits on top of the 8“ high platform. {Fig. 29}

Fig. 29


◇ Select both the landing and stair unit. Under Modify > Group ( G). Then under Modify > Edit Group ( [ ) to isolate the stair/landing from the rest of the drawing. If the group is not isolated, check that in VectorWorks Prerences, under Display, “Show other objects while in groups” is deselected.◇ Under View > Standard Views > Top/Plan view ( 5)◇ Zoom in around both landing and stair units.

◇ Use the Locus tool to place a locus at the upstage right corner of the stair unit. {Fig. 30a} Select both locus and stair unit.

Under Modify > Rotate > Rotate (or double-click on the 2d Rotate tool ), enter Angle = -60 and click OK. {Fig. 30b}The locus acts as the pivot point instead of the center of the object which is the default .

locus

Fig. 30a Fig. 30b

◇ Under View > Standard Views > Top view (5 key in Numeric Pad). This will eliminate the UP and arrow, which is the 2d component of the 2d/3d hybrid stair symbol. Top/Plan ( 5) view shows both 2d and 3d objects in a hybrid symbol. Top view (5 key) only shows 3d objects.◇ Draw a 3 ½“ square at the bottom and top of the upstage side of the stairs. {Fig. 30a}◇ Extrude the bottom (left) square 7“+ 32“ and the top (right) square 28“+ 32“. VectorWorks will do the math.◇ Under View > Standard Views > Front view (2 key). Select both posts, and while holding down the Shift key to constrain

movement to 90˚, drag the posts up so their bottoms match the bottom of the stair unit.{Fig. 30b}


◇ Select the Rectangle tool and in the Tool Bar switch to Rotated Rectangle . Draw a 2 ½“ wide railing connecting the two posts and touching the stair treads. Move the rail up 30“ {Fig.30c}. Under Modify > Convert > Convert to Polygon and use

the 2d Reshape tool to adjust the points of the rail ends so they butt cleanly into the posts.{Fig.30d}


◇ Extrude the rail 2“. Go to a top view. Move the extruded rail so it falls in the middle of the posts.{Fig. 31a}◇ Select both posts and the rail (careful not to select the locus.) Under Edit > Duplicate ( D) and drag the duplicate railing unit to the

other side of the stair unit.{Fig. 31b}◇ Select the entire stair unit with the locus. Under View > Standard Views > Top/Plan ( 5) Double-click on the 2d Rotate tool

, enter Angle = 60, and click OK. {Fig. 31c}



◇ Draw a 2” wide rectangle as a rail along the downstage edge of landing. Extrude it to 2 ½“. {Fig. 32a} Change back to the regular

Rectangle Mode to draw rectangles constrained to 90˚. ◇ Go to a front view and move the rail up so it is 30“ above the landing.{Fig. 32b} ◇ Go to a top view. Duplicate the rail and under Modify > Rotate > Rotate Left 90˚ ( L). Reposition rail to the other side of the

landing. Place the cursor at end of the rail, when it changes to , click/drag to resize length of the railing.{Fig. 32c}You might have to hit the X key to activate the resize cursor.



◇ Add a platform deck with overhang by going to a front view. Select the platform. Duplicate it and in the Object Info palette change its extrusion to 1“. {Fig. 33a} Move it up 2‘3“. {Fig. 33b} Select the original platform and subtract 1“ from its extrusion. {Fig. 33c}◇ Reselect the 1“ thick platform top. Go to a top view and add 2“ to its width and depth in the Object Info palette. {Fig. 33d}


◇ Under Organize > Exit Group ( ] ) and go to the “3dPerspSolid” view to see changes. {Fig. 34}

Fig. 34

6) RESHAPE WALLS

◇ Select the 3d Reshape tool . Double-click on the top edge of the stage left wall to select the wall and activate the resize

vertices. You will notice the cursor changes to a when placed over one of these vertices. Click/drag the top downstage corner down to meet the top of the stage left return wall. {Fig. 35a}


◇ In the Tool Bar select the Add 3D Wall Peaks button . Click on the top of the center wall to select it, then place cursor on the top, stage left corner of the center wall until the cursor changes to a . Click/drag a new point up to just above the door and click

to set. {Fig. 35b} In the Tool Bar return to the Reshape 3d Walls button and adjust the new wall peak as desired. The cursor will change to a . You can reshape 3d walls by adding or subtracting an unlimited number of points in this way.

1st

2nd1st

2ndFig. 35a Fig. 35b

◇ Go to the “3dFront” view. ◇ With the 2d Select tool, click on one of the offstage walls select them, and under Organize > Ungroup ( U) The two wall units

were automatically grouped because you originally extruded them together.

Note: The return walls were created earlier by extruding a polygon rather than using the Create Wall tool. Editing the shape of extruded objects requires a different strategy than editing Walls.

◇ Draw a rectangle that intersects the offstage left wall.{Fig. 36a}◇ Under Modify > Convert to Polygons.◇ Under Modify > Poly Smoothing > Bezier Spline Smoothing. {Fig. 36b}

◇ Select the 2d Reshape tool . In the Tool Bar select “Change Vertex Mode” and “Change Vertex to Corner Point” . Click on the top stage right and bottom stage left handles to convert them back to corners. {Fig. 36c} In the Tool Bar select the


“Move Polygon Handles Mode” and drag the handles to reshape the polygon, so it intersects the return wall as an elliptical curve. {Fig. 36d}


◇ Extrude this polygon 1’0”.◇ Got to the “3dPlan” view and nudge (Shift/arrow keys) the polygon, so it intersects the offstage wall {Fig.37a}. ◇ Return to the “3dFront” view. Select both the polygon and the offstage wall. Under Model > Subtract Solids. Click on the Back

arrow to “highlight the backmost selected object” or the rectangular wall, the object to be subtracted from. {Fig. 37b & c} You may not notice the wall being highlighted because the highlight line is obscured by the colored selection line. Try the Front arrow just to see how the ellipse shape looks when highlighted. Click OK. {Fig. 37d}

Fig.37a Fig.37b Fig.37c Fig.37d


◇ If you wished to edit the shape of the wall, select it and under Organize > Edit Group ( [ ). Then select the elliptical shape and Edit Group again. Now you can use the 2d Reshape tool to edit the shape, then Exit Group ( ] ).◇ To the top of the offstage right wall add a 3‘0“ high rectangle. Rely on the screen hints making sure its bottom joins the top of the

wall.{Fig. 38a}

◇ Convert the rectangle to polygons. In the Tool Bar select “Change Vertex Mode” and “Change vertex to Bezier control point”

. Click on the top left corner to convert it to a Bezier vertex. {Fig. 38b}

◇ Return to “Move Polygon Handles Mode” and click/drag the top left vertex to create a concave shape.{Fig. 38c}


◇ Extrude the polygon 4”.◇ Go to the “3d Plan” view. Zoom in around the new polygon and wall. {Fig. 39a} Drag the polygon so it snaps precisely on top of the

wall. {Fig. 39b} ◇ Return to the “3dFront” view. With both objects selected, under Model > Add Solids.{Fig. 39c} If you don’t see the line between the

two objects disappear, then they weren’t aligned. To be certain that the polygon and wall are aligning, use the 2d Selection tool to draw a marquee around both objects to select them. Then under Modify > Align > Align/Distribute ( =), and choose Align and Centers on both axis. ◇ Now make a window opening in the stage right offstage wall by subtracting a 1‘0“ x 4‘0“ rectangle from it using similar actions as

shaping the stage left offstage wall. {Fig. 39d}



◇ Go to the “3d PerspSolid” view to see changes. {Fig. 40}Fig. 40

6) ADD ROCK◇ Go to the “2dPlan” view. Select all 5 polygons that were created to represent the downstage right rock and copy them.◇ Go to the “3dPlan” view and under Edit > Paste in Place (/Option/V) {Fig. 41a}◇ With all polygons still selected, under Model > Multiple Extrude (/Option/E) and make the extrusion 2‘6“ high. {Fig. 41b}◇ Under Modify > Edit Group ( [ ). You can now make the rock look more organic by using the 2d Reshape tool to double-click on

the individual polygon profiles and reposition the individual vertices.{Fig. 41c} When finished Exit Group ( ] ){Fig. 41d }



◇ Go to the “3dPerspSolid” view to see changes.{Fig. 42}

Fig. 42

7) ADD CUPOLA ON CURVED WALL◇ Go to the “3dFront” view. Select the curved wall, Group it then Edit Group to isolate it. Zoom in on the top half of the wall.

◇ Use the 2d Polygon tool to draw a four line polygon in the shape of a step starting at about 3‘ above the center of the wall.

◇ Use the 2d Reshape tool to convert the two interior corners to Bezier vertices. {Fig.43b} Reshape the polygon to an attractive ogee shape.{Fig. 43c}}

◇ Place a locus at the top, left point of polygon, which will act as a pivot point. Select the polygon and locus and under Model > Sweep. Enter Start Angle = 90, the Arc Angle =180, and Segment Angle = 22.5. Leave the rest as is and click OK. {Fig.43d} If your cupola doesn’t match precisely with the tower wall, in the Object Info palette you can change its radius to 3‘0“ (the same as the wall)


and nudge it into place.

locusFig. 43a Fig. 43b Fig. 43c Fig. 43d

◇ Go to a top view. Rotate the cupola ( L) so it points downstage and position it directly over the curved wall. {Fig. 44a} ◇ Go to a front view to check that the cupola is centered on the wall.

◇ In the Tools Sets palette, select and the Sphere tool . Create a sphere with an appropriate proportion that sits on the top of the cupola. {Fig. 44b}◇ Go to a plan view to reposition it over the center of the cupola. {44c.}


◇ Exit Group and go to the “3dPerspSolid” view to see changes.{Fig. 45}


Fig. 45

8) ADD BENCH AND BACKDROP◇ Go to the“2dPlan” saved view. ◇ Select the curved bench group. Copy it. Return to the “3dPlan” saved view and paste it in place.◇ Edit Group and zoom in on bench.◇ Select only the four perimeter lines of the bench. You may have to ungroup the bench objects. Under Modify > Combine into

Surface. The cursor will change to . Click inside the bench to create a bench top filled solid. {Fig. 46a} If this action is not successful, zoom in closely and check to make sure the ends of the arcs and the lines at the ends of the bench either cross or share the same points. This action only works if the the lines selected completely enclose a space. Also make sure you do not select the locus along with the lines.◇ Click on blank space to deselect all objects, then click in the middle of the bench to select the top without the perimeter lines.

Extrude the top to 2”◇ Select both bench leg rectangles and extrude them to 15”.{Fig. 46b}◇ Go to a front view. Select the bench top and move it up to sit on the legs. {Fig. 46c}Delete the original 2d perimeter lines and the

locus.



◇ Exit Group and go to the “3dFront”. Move the bench up 8“ so it sits on top of the platform.◇ Go to the “2dPlan” view. Copy the backdrop rectangle. Return to the “3dPlan” view and paste it in place. Extrude it 24‘0“.◇ Go to the “3d Persp Solid” view to see changes.{Fig. 47}

Fig. 47

8) IMPORT THRONE AND FIGURE◇ Under File > Open. Locate the file “VW08TutrItems.vwx” and open it.

◇ Either in the Tool Bar or Navigation palette, click the Layers button and make the 3d Objects layer active by clicking in the column next to the layer name. {Fig. 48}


Fig.48

◇ Select both the throne and figure and copy them.◇ Under Window > “ VW08TutrlModleling. . .”.◇ Go to the “3dFront” view and paste the objects.. ◇ Move throne and figure, so they sit on top of the platform.◇ Duplicate the figure, place it on the landing and under Modify > Rotate > Flip Horizontal, so it faces the opposite direction.◇ Go to the “3dPlan” view and reposition the figures, so one is just stage left of the rock and the other is in the center of the landing. ◇ Reposition and rotate the throne so it matches the 2d plan.◇ Go to the “3dPerspSolid” view to view your completed project.

9) ADD SCONCE LIGHT◇ Under File > New and Create Blank Document.◇ Create an octagon with a 4 ½“ radius. {Fig. 49a}◇ With the octagon selected, under Model > Tapered Extrude. Enter Height (Z) = 9“ and Taper Angle = 10. Click OK. {Fig. 49b}◇ Go to an isometric view to see the tapered shape of the sconce light. {Fig. 49c}



◇ Under View > Rendering > OpenGL to view the sconce light as a solid. {Fig. 50a}

◇ With the sconce selected, in the Tool Set select the Shell Solid tool . Click on the bottom (larger) octagon shape to select it. {Fig. 50b} If one of the side faces is selected instead, you should be able to click the next button to toggle

to the bottom octagon face.

◇ In the Tool Bar click the Preference button and make the shell inside thickness ¼“. Click OK.

◇ In the Tool Bar click the Complete Operation button , or hit Return, and the tapered shape will now be hollow with a ¼“ shell. {Fig. 50c}

◇ Deselect the sconce. Select the Flyover tool , click in the center of your drawing and drag up to tilt the view, so you can see inside the new hollow shape. {Fig. 50d}



◇ Copy the sconce. Return to your “VWTutrlModeling” file. Go to the “3dPlan” view and paste the sconce towards the back, stage right side of the landing. {Fig. 51a} Go to the “3dFront” view and move the sconce up about 6‘0“ above the landing. {Fig. 51b}

Fig. 51a Fig. 51b

10) CREATE VARIOUS VIEWS OF MODEL FOR PRINT

◇ Return to the “3dPerspSolid” saved view ◇ Under View > Create Viewport. Name it “vpPerspective” and Create on Layer: New Sheet Layer. Name the new sheet layer

“ShtPerspSolid” and click OK. In the Object Info palette, click on to rerender the view.◇ Go to the “Sht2dPlan1_4” view. Copy your title block, return to the “ShtPerspSolid” view, paste it in place and retitle it, “Modeling

Project.” {Fig. 52a}

◇ In the Navigation palette, click on the Sheet Layers button , control/click“ShtPerspSolid” and select Duplicate.◇ With “ShtPerspSolid-2” now active, click on an object in your drawing to select the viewport, and in the Object Info palette, set

Background Render to OpenGL and Foreground Render to Sketch. Click Update to rerender. {Fig. 52b}◇ In the Navigation palette, Edit this sheet layer and rename it “ShtPerspSketch” with the DPI=300. {Fig. 52c}


◇ Duplicate this sheet and experiment with other rendering options. You have to Update after editing a viewport or its design layer to see changes


Congratulations! You have completed this tutorial.

You are encouraged to experiment with the creating and editing other 3d objects in the 3d Modeling Tools set. There are a series of Quicktime movies on the Nemetschek website that demonstrate more fully how to use Vectorworks’ 3d modeling capabilities. Go to: http://www.nemetschek.net/ > Training > Online Video Library > Advanced 3D Modeling to download.

If you have RenderWorks installed, then you are invited to proceed to tutorial #3, “Lighting, Texturing and Rendering the 3D Model” where you will be able to add lighting and surface textures to your 3d model to create a more realistic rendering.


http://www.nemetschek.net

http://www.nemetschek.net

sample not to scale

MODELING PROJECTSCALE: 1/4"=1'-0"DWG BY: KENT GOETZ

JULY 7,2008


Documents

Modeling Scenic Space - Cornell University · ***** Modeling Scenic Space ***** written by Kent Goetz revised ... Print the template above on heavy paper and affix it to a convenient

Modeling Scenic Space - Cornell University · * Modeling Scenic Space * written by Kent Goetz revised ... Print the template above on heavy paper and affix it to a convenient