3D Modeling Special Interest Group – July 2017

In this session, we looked at modeling a kidney-shaped subdivision model, controlling Auto Hybrids by using classes, creating semi-transparent trees as well as exploring the Vectorworks 2017 Railing/Fence Tool and highlighting a Downspout plug-in for Vectorworks.

Topics covered:

• 00:47    We started by going to the Edit Subdivision Tool in the 3D Modeling tool set and creating two subdivisions. Our challenge was to try and create a kidney-shaped subdivision model. I thought that maybe we could take the two subdivisions and use the new Bridge Mode to modify them into a desirable shape. After experimenting with different rotations and remembering the trick necessary to bridge them, we were quickly able to achieve amazing results! The Face and Edge Split Modes can be particularly useful in controlling how the shapes transition.
• 09:28    It’s easy to use the Taper Face Tool to give a 3D rectangle a sloping face. However, the challenge is that, once I taper its face, I end up with an object that is no longer solid and no longer has any kind of solid color. This happens because it’s not an Auto Hybrid. Turning our object into an Auto Hybrid gives it a solid color that we can then control through classes. I have a file with all of the classes that I like to use—you can download it on my website! In the 2D Appearance settings of our Auto Hybrid, we assigned different classes for the Cut Plane, Below the Cut Plane, and Above the Cut Plane options. With the graphic attributes of our Auto Hybrid set, we turned our 3D object into a pizza oven. Even with the changes to its shape, it remained an Auto Hybrid. The height of the cut plane can be manipulated to achieve the amount of detailing lines that you need in plan view. We also used Extrude Along Path to create a handrail before using the Create Auto Hybrid command; as an Auto Hybrid, the handrail looked much better in plan view because we could control its look by using our auto hybrid classes.
• 27:32    Our challenge in creating trees was that we wanted them to be see-through so that they didn’t block our project when we included them in our proposal. To make something semi-transparent in 3D, it needs to be a texture, not just a color. First, we created a leaf texture with a transparency and then a trunk texture. We already had a simple tree form, so we simply applied our new textures to the tree. To get bigger or smaller trees, we found that scaling them symmetrically worked.
• 35:50    The Vectorworks 2017 Railing/Fence Tool is pretty cool! The Polyline Mode is great for drawing the path of your railing in plan view and having Vectorworks create the 3D object. In the Railing/Fence Tool Preferences on the Tool bar, you can change all the railing attributes. How do you create a railing that follows a 3D surface? We opened up a project with a site model. Our challenge was getting the fence to follow the 3D site boundary. Turning the property line into a texture bed site modifier, we used the tool in 3D Line Mode and found that we could click to the facets along the edge of the site. It may be a bit trickier, but the results were satisfying. If you create a particular fence that want to keep for other projects, you can save it as a symbol.
• 50:52    On the Vectorworks Community website, Partner Products (About > Partners) provides links to many helpful add-ons and plug-ins. In particular, there’s a free plug-in Downspout created by Andrea Facchinello (www.andreafacchinello.wordpress.com) that is very handy!

3D Modeling July 2017 am
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