AutoCAD® 2011 & AutoCAD LT® 2011 Bible

Chapter 22. Viewing 3D Drawings

IN THIS CHAPTER

• Using the standard viewpoints

• Using the DDVPOINT and VPOINT commands

• Using the ViewCube

• Creating a named view with a camera

• Using 3D Orbit

• Using ShowMotion to cycle through views

• Walking through a model

• Using the Wheel to navigate

• Creating a perspective view with DVIEW

• Working with visual styles

• Laying out a 3D drawing

• Printing in 3D

As soon as you start to work in three dimensions, you need to be able to see the drawing from different angles. By combining various User Coordinate Systems (UCSs) and different viewpoints, you can view and draw any object in 3D.

Unless otherwise stated, the features in this chapter apply to both AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT; however, note that many of the 3D features are for AutoCAD only. In AutoCAD, you'll find 3D viewing tools easier to find if you use the 3D Modeling workspace; this workspace is not available in AutoCAD LT. (To switch workspaces, choose from the Workspace drop-down list on the Quick Access Toolbar, or click the Workspace Switching button on the right side of the status bar.) Therefore, this chapter assumes that you're using the 3D Modeling workspace if you have AutoCAD.

Your basic point of reference is plan view in the World Coordinate System (WCS). This is the view that you use in 2D, so it's familiar. Plan view is the view from the top (although which side is the top is not always obvious). Figure 22.1 shows a plan view of a 3D model on the left. On the right, you see a 3D view of the same model, which ...