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Friday, August 29, 2014

Vectorworks Tip # 134 - Interactive settings - Pre-Selection Colour

2014-08-23_12-40-54The standard Vectorworks preselection colour is orange. The standard Vectorworks colour for selected objects is also orange, Which makes it hard to see when object is selected and when it is preselected. This can cause some confusion. If you change the preselection colour it to make it easier to see the difference between selected and preselected objects.


The leader in Vectorworks training and manuals: http://learn.archoncad.com

Thursday, August 28, 2014

Vectorworks Tip #133 - 3D Modelling - Project Tool 1

2014-08-23_12-23-50The projection tool has three modes. In the first mode you can use a planar object to split a NURBS curve. In the picture I have used a rectangle to split a curving NURBS surface. In the final image you can see that I have separated the original NURBS surface from the split one. Notice how the rectangle has split the NURBS surface so that the plan view is still a rectangle but in 3-D it's still a curving surface.


The leader in Vectorworks training and manuals: http://learn.archoncad.com

Wednesday, August 27, 2014

Vectorworks Tip #132- Visualisation- Animationworks - Create Moving Object

2014-08-23_12-15-35Unlike the standard Vectorworks animation, Animationworks allows you to create moving objects inside your Vectorworks files. This means that you can create a walk-through movie where objects move as you walk through. There are several options for this, the first option is when you get an object to move along a path. For example in this scene there is a truck that moves across the front of the building just before the walk-through starts.
Check out this web site..

Tuesday, August 26, 2014

Vectorworks Tip #131 - Snaps - Smart Edge

2014-08-23_12-00-28 The Smart edge snap is very powerful, but it is not one of the snaps that you should leave on most of the time. The Smart Edge allows you to create objects that are parallel to an edge, allows you to create offsets from that smart edge.


The leader in Vectorworks training and manuals: http://learn.archoncad.com


Monday, August 25, 2014

podcast 191 Working in OpenGL with Perspective Projection

The normal way of looking at 3-D views and Vectorworks has been to use wireframe with orthogonal projection. Lately I have been trying Vectorworks with OpenGL rendering and perspective projection, and it works very well. when you use it in this method you can see a false ground and false sky which gives the impression of your height above the object. The color of the ground in the sky is adjustable through the interactive appearance settings.

Saturday, August 23, 2014

Vectorworks Tip #130 - Interactive Settings - Snap Box

The snap box is the area around your cursor that allows Vectorworks to snap onto objects. If you go to your Vectorworks preferences you will find that you can change the size of the snap box and change the size of the selection box(this is the area around the cursor allows you to select objects). Changing the snap and selection boxes can make it easier to draw, but you must try these out, because changing them too much can make it more difficult to draw.

The leader in Vectorworks training and manuals: http://learn.archoncad.com

Friday, August 22, 2014

Vectorworks Tip #129 - 3D Modelling - Extract Tool - Faces

I use the Extract Tool to extract the faces of 3-D models. You can then use the extracted face to apply planar graphics. In this image you can see that I have applied hatching to the walls and roof of the building. This is using the extract face option from the extract tool.

The leader in Vectorworks training and manuals: http://learn.archoncad.com

Thursday, August 21, 2014

Vectorworks Tip #128 - Visualisation - Animationworks - Use Multiple Cameras

One of the things that I really like about animation works is the ability to use multiple cameras along the path. This allows you to set some cameras that look along the path and some cameras the focus on a particular point. For example, you could create a walk through a project where you followed the path for some distance then changed to a camera that focused on a particular part of the design as you flew around this part, then change back to a camera that followed the path again.

The leader in Vectorworks training and manuals: http://learn.archoncad.com

Wednesday, August 20, 2014

Vectorworks Tip #127 - Basic Tools - Smart Cursor



Learning to use the Smart Cursor is fundamental to learning to use Vectorworks effectively. The Smart Cursor allows you to find adjacent points to line up with, it allows you to find us that point between two other points on screen, And it has several other options which can really speed up your drawing. This is one of the snaps that you should leave on almost all the time.

The leader in Vectorworks training and manuals: http://learn.archoncad.com

Tuesday, August 19, 2014

Interactive Workshops August 2014 (1408) - DXF/DWG

We often have to work with consultants and clients that do not use Vectorworks. DXF or DWG (AutoCAD) is usually the best way to do this. It will allow the you to use their information in Vectorworks, or it will allow them to import your work. I know there are other ways to work with consultants using other file formats like IFC, but DXF/DWG is still the most common.
There are also several options with importing and exporting these files, so it's important that you understand the implications of these.



podcast 190 - Using Taper Face Tool on a Curved Object

I have a friend that was having trouble tapering the edge of a curved object. In this movie I will be showing a different friend of mine how to use the Taper Face tool to taper the top face of the object.

Saturday, August 16, 2014

Vectorworks Tip #126 - Basic Tools - Snap to Object

Snap to object is one of the snaps that you absolutely must turn on if you want to draw accurately in Vectorworks. If you do not activate the snap you cannot draw accurately relative to other objects and you will not be able to dimension accurately. If you double click on the snap to object it has several options for you to choose from. If you reduce the number of choices, you can speed up your dimensioning. Reinstate all these choices for accurate designing.
If you want more information about Snaps, have a look at my Guide to Productivity...

Friday, August 15, 2014

podcast 189 - How to Create a Move Along a Path Animation

If you're happy with creating on orbit point movie and you want to try something more adventurous, then the Move Along movie is the next want to try. The way this movie works is that you have to save several views along the path. Then, your place each saved view on a timeline to show Vectorworks how to move from one view to the next. This technique requires a lot of practice. First, the saved views have to relate to each other and have an even distribution along the path. Then, you have to put each saved view along the timeline keeping the speed between the saved views even.

Friday, August 08, 2014

Vectorworks Tip #125 - 3D Modelling - Extract Tool - Edges

The Extract tool can be used for several different things, one of the things I use this tool for is to extract the edges from 3-D objects. This can be a really useful way to get a path that you can then use with Extrude Along Path. You'll find this tool used in my 3D Modelling Manual available from Vectorworks.

Thursday, August 07, 2014

Vectorworks Tip #124 - Visualization - Create Animation - Move Along a Path

Create animation - Animationworks. For really top quality animations in Vectorworks, try the Animationworks suite of plug-ins. The best feature is the ability to create a 3D path and have the camera follow the path. This makes it much easier to create smooth walkthroughs where you want to turn corners, change levels and change the focus of the movie. Check out this web site..

Wednesday, August 06, 2014

archoncad newsletter - Back to School (and work)

For many of my clients, this time of the year is when they come back to school and work after the summer holidays. So, if you have been having a holiday (lucky you) welcome back. It is time to get your Vectorworks up to speed again. If you are (like me) enjoying your mid-winter work, maybe its time to invest a little time to make your Vectorworks run better. This is the theme of the newsletter this month.
Read more...

Vectorworks Tip #123 - Basic Tools - Snap to Grid

If you double click on the Snap to Grid you will see a dialogue box with all the snap to grid options. I do not use Snap to Grid very often, usually because I'm drawing relative to other objects. But when you need to draw a objects,like this wall, and you want control the length of the quickly, use the snap to grid with a large grid setting so that you can draw the wall quickly. In this example I have used a wall, but this equally applies to other situations like set design and landscape. If you want more information about Snaps, have a look at my Guide to Productivity available here.

Saturday, August 02, 2014

Vectorworks Tip #122 - Doors/Windows - Windoor

Windoor is a Vectorworks plug-in from Australia that allows you to create custom windows and doors. Unlike the standard window or door object, Windoor allows you to put doors and windows in the same frame, much like you would do in reality. Unfortunately, this plug-in is only available to users in Australia and New Zealand, but if you do have a copy that you have previously bought and you live outside these areas, you are able to upgrade it. I find Windoor to be very powerful when creating doors and windows.

The leader in Vectorworks training and manuals: http://learn.archoncad.com


Friday, August 01, 2014

Vectorworks Tip #121 - 3D Modelling - Automatic Working Planes with Instant Push/Pull

When you combine the instant push/pull technique on planar objects with Automatic Working Planes, you get a very quick way to do 3D modelling. In step one you draw your planar object on the automatic working plan. In step two you move to the planar object, it should highlight. In step three you pull your planar object through your model. In step four hold down the alt/option key and click. Vectorworks will use your new extrusion object to subtract from the original object.

The leader in Vectorworks training and manuals: http://learn.archoncad.com