Computer Graphics Survey

Modeling a 3D Scene

Using VectorWorks 8 on MacOS Computers

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Before beginning the project


Tutorial Goals

VectorWorks is widely used on the Macintosh for Computer Aided Design (CAD) applications. This type of software is primarily used for dimensional design (i.e., to create blueprints of real objects). It can also be used, however, to create virtual 3D scenes--such as the ones we will incorporate in our web pages.

Since the 3D marketplace is very fragmented, VectorWorks is not the only 3D programs you will encounter. It does, however, follow the basic user interface approach used by all the dominant players, and it embodies all the major aspects of 3D work: modeling, rendering, and animation.

In this first phase of our 3D project, we will use the most common modeling tools: we will start from flat 2D shapes, converting them to 3D using two techniques generally available in all 3D programs: extruding and lathing. Later we will work directly with basic 3D shapes called primitives, combining them using solid operations.

After some initial setup, we can proceed to create the elements in our scene:

Our final product will be a simple scene containing a logo made up of a few text characters (e.g., your initials).


Initial Setup

  1. VectorWorks application icon Find the VectorWorks application icon and start the program
  2. 'New' command in the 'File' menu If necessary, use File-->New to create a new document. If asked, choose 'Blank Document' from the 'Create Document' dialog.
  3. Reset the program by selecting File-->Workspaces-->8 Standard.
  4. New, Untitled document window showing a grid pattern
  5. the Standard Views submenu of the View menu, with the Front command highlighted
  6. document window in Front view, showing coordinate axes outlined in pink

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Lathed Pedestal

  1. the 2D Tools palette with the the Polyline tool icon selected
  2. the Straight Segments icon selected Make sure the first icon at the top of the document screen is selected (as shown in this picture), so that the tool will draw straight segments. Sometimes the program will erroneously still draw curves. If this happens, click on any of the other 3 icons, then click back on the correct one.
  3. the profile: half of a front view of the pedestal Draw the profile for the pedestal, using the Polyline tool in a connect-the-dots fashion to create a series of connected straight segments:
  4. the 2D Tools palette with the the 2D Locus tool icon selected Choose the 2D Locus tool (the 2nd from the bottom in the left half of the 2D Tools palette).
  5. locus symbol at the bottom-right corner of the profile Click to place a locus symbol (a white 'X' in a black box) on a corner of the profile. This is used to indicate the axis of rotation (the imaginary line around which the profile swings as it creates the 3D object). This picture shows where to click for the sample profile shown previously.
  6. locus and profile selected Using the selection pointer (the Arrow tool), drag a selection box enclosing the locus and the profile, leaving both items selected.
  7. Create Sweep settings Choose the Model-->Sweep command (sweeping is another name used for the lathe operation). The 'Create Sweep' dialog appears, choose the settings as follows:
  8. Front view of the lathed pedestal wireframe The result is a symmetrical 3-D shape based on the 2-D profile you drew.

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Extruded Type

  1. the 2D Tools palette with the the Text tool icon selected Choose the Text tool (the 1st from the bottom in the right half of the 2D Tools palette).
  2. the letters S-A-M positioned just above the pedestal Click in the document window to indicate the location of the type. Enter text as follows:
  3. the letters S-A-M converted to polylines
  4. the letters S-A-M ungrouped Ungroup using Organize-->Ungroup. You will see separate selection handles around each letter. Leave them all selected.
  5. the Extrude command in the Model menu
  6. the Standard Views submenu of the View menu, with the Right Isometric command highlighted The extruded type won't look any different in the front view. Change view using View-->Standard Views-->Right Isometric.
  7. pedestal and extruded type viewed from above and to the right The isometric view lets you see how the pedestal and the type relate in 3-D space.

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Solid Subtraction Walls

  1. Box icon in the '3D Primitives' palette
  2. Create Box Object dialog In the dialog which appears next, enter an appropriate size to enclose the entire scene (assuming you sized objects roughly as shown in the previous steps):
  3. front view of the 2 boxes, the second extending past the first at the top, while the first box extends past the base of the pedestal at the bottom
  4. both boxes, solid-shaded, and 	properly positioned Change your view of the objects to better understand how they are positioned:

  5. Prepare the boxes for solid operations:
  6. the two boxes, and the dialog used to select the outer one Solid modeling lets you create complex shapes by combining simpler ones. In this case, we will use the inner box to carve out (subtract) a cavity in the outer box:
  7. the four walls and the floor slab of a simple building The inner box disappears, and the outer box is hollowed out, creating in a single step the walls and floor of a room.
  8. a few boxes driven through the walls Now you can carve your choice of doors and windows in the walls of the room by subtracting some more boxes:
  9. Complete the room with solid subtractions:

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Pyramid Roof

  1. Pyramid icon in the '3D Primitives' palette We'll use a 4-sided pyramid primitive for the roof:
  2. Create Pyramid Object dialog In the dialog which appears next, choose a 'regular' pyramid (one that comes to a point), then enter settings as follows (assuming you used the measurements in the examples for the previous steps of the project):
  3. top view of mis-aligned roof In top (or plan) view, you see that the edges of the base of the pyramid are rotated 45° away from the walls of the room.
  4. Rotate Selection tool icon in the 'Editing' palette Rotate the pyramid so that its base edges are parallel to the walls:
  5. Rotate Object dialog Enter '45' for the angle, click 'OK'
  6. top view of properly-aligned roof The pyramid should now align properly with the walls:

  7. front view of roof resting on the floor Check the vertical positioning of the pyramid:
  8. front view of roof resting on the walls In this image, the pyramid is positioned correctly atop the walls of the room.
  9. Change your view to get a good idea of the 3D nature of the scene you created:
  10. Before leaving, make sure your file is saved so you can continue working with it in the next session.

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Information specific to the ACG Lab

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