Building a Virtual 3d Model
in VectorWorks 8.5

1. Briefly describe the process of building a 3d Virtual Model of a simple box set.

1. Load the ground plan of the theatre
2. Layin the walls
3. Cut in the doors and windows
4. Place the furniture
5. View your 3d Virtual Model from several different locations

Screen Shot of VectorWorks 8.5
( Clicking on the above image will open the screen shot (full scale) in its own browser window)

Above is a screen shot of a 3d Virtual Model of a simple box set (left isometric view) being built in VectorWorks 8.5. Four palettes are located on edges of the desk top. In the upper left corner is the Wall Tools Palette, below it is the 3d Tools Palette (with the 3d Selection Tool active) and to its right is the 2d Tools Palette. On the right hand side of the screen is the Resources Palette with the Furniture subdirectory (folder) loaded and the Chair1 symbol selected.

1. Load the Ground Plan and Symbol files

1. Open the ground plan of the Theatre. (Note: The Paper Orientation, Document Size, Scale, Snap Grid, and Reference Grid should all be set in this file)
2. Save the file with a new name (File > Save As...). Once you have saved the file you can change any (or all) of the above attributes.
3. Open (File > Open) the the resource files you will be using. The symbol files most commonly used in scene design are found in the VectorWorks / Toolkit / Architectural / Symbols subdirectory (or folder). The two most commonly used files are 08_Doors&Windows.mcd and 012_Furnishings.mcd.

2. Layin the Walls

• If you do not have a Plan View of your stage, Click: Standard Views > Top/Plan or enter Ctrl +5 at the Keyboard
• If the Reference Grid is not visible, Click: Page > Set Grid... > Show Grid

To begin the Layout of the Walls...

1. On the Tool Bar, Click: Palettes > Walls
2. Click on the "Wall Tool" in the Walls Palette
3. Click anywhere on the drawing
4. Enter the Separation (4") in the Wall Preferences dialogue box
5. Click at the off stage end of the stage right return
6. Click at each corner of your set
7. Double Click at the off stage end of the stage left return
8. Select each wall of your set
9. Click: Palettes > Object Info
10. Enter the Height of the walls in the Z box of the Object Info dialogue box, hit Enter and close the dialogue box.

3. Cut in the Doors and Windows

Doors and Windows are Symbols which were included in the VectorWorks 8.5 Architectural ToolKit. The symbols are grouped in sub-directories (folders) in 08_Doors&Windows.mcd according to their architectural style. The symbol name indicates the style of door (or window). For example: FD3068H is a flush, 3'0" x 6'8" door (the H indicates that the symbol is a hybrid which can be used in both 2d and 3d drawings).

The following symbols reflect our standard stock door and window units.

1. Single door: Doors / Flush / FD3068H
2. Double door: Doors / Flush/ FD6068H
3. Single French window: Doors / French / F3068H
4. Double French window: Doors / French / F6068H
5. Double Hung Window: Windows / DblHung / DH3056H
6. Casement window: Windows / Casement / C2450H

Symbols can only be inserted into a drawing when the drawing is in the Plan View. To Return to the Plan View, on the Tool Bar, Click: View > Standard Views > Top/Plan or enter Ctrl +5 at the KeyBoard

• On the Tool Bar, Click: Palettes > 2D Tools
• On the Tool Bar, Click: Palettes > Resources (Leave both palettes open on the desk top)

To place a door/s in your set

1. In the Resources Palette, Click on 08_Doors&Windows.mcd in the top left box
2. In the lower left box of the Resources Palette, Double Click on Doors/Flush
3. Double Click on FD3068H
4. In the 2D Tools Palette, Click on 2D Symbol Insertion Tool
5. On the Plan View of the drawing, Click where in the wall you would like to insert a door. Move the cursor to determine the direction of the door swing and click again.
6. When you are finished inserting the doors, Click on 2D Selection Tool in the 2D Tools Palette or Hit X on the Keyboard

   To place a double hung window/s in your set

7. In the Resources Palette, Click on 08_Doors&Windows.mcd in the top left box
8. In the lower left box of the Resources Palette, Double Click on Windows/DblHung
9. Double Click on WinDH_3052H
10. In the 2D Tools Palette, click on 2D Symbol Insertion Tool
11. On the Plan View of the drawing, Double Click where in the wall you would like to insert a window.
12. When you are finished inserting the windows, Click on 2D Selection Tool in the 2D Tools Palette or Hit X on the Keyboard

4. Place the furniture

Pieces of furniture are Symbols which were included in the VectorWorks 8.5 Architectural ToolKit. The symbols are grouped in sub-directories (folders) in 012_Furnishings.mcd according to their location (Living Room) or type (Table). The symbol's name indicates the type and size. For example: Sofa78 is a 78" sofa and is found in the Living Room sub-directory

Symbols can only be inserted into a drawing when the drawing is in the Plan View. To Return to the Plan View, on the Tool Bar, Click: View > Standard Views > Top/Plan or enter Ctrl +5 at the KeyBoard

To place a 78" sofa in your set...

1. In the Resources Palette Click on 012_Furnishings.mcd in the top left box
   
2. In the lower left box of the Resources Palette, Double Click on Living Room
3. Double Click on Sofa78
4. In the 2D Tools Palette, click on the 2D Symbol Insertion Tool
5. On the Plan View of the drawing, Click where you would like to place the sofa, pull the cursor away from the symbol to adjust the direction the unit faces, and then click again.
6. In the 2D Tools Palette, click on 2D Selection Tool (Keyboard: X)

5 View your 3d model

1. Isometric
   1. On the Tool Bar, Click: View > Standard Views > Right (or Left) Isometric
   2. On the Tool Bar, Click: View > Rendering > Solid
   3. You can also change the view by entering numbers on the NumericKey Pad
      1. = Front left isometric
      2. = Front elevation
      3. = Front right isometric
      4. = Left side elevation
      5. = Top view
      6. = Right side elevation
      7. = Rear left isometric
      8. = Rear elevation
      9. = Rear right isometric
2. Perspective
   1. On the Tool Bar, Click: View > Standard Views > Front or Enter 2 on the Numeric Key Pad
   2. On the Tool Bar, Click: View > Projection > Perspective
   3. On the Tool Bar, Click: View > Rendering > Solid
3. Creating a Flyover
   1. With a 3d image on screen, either Isometric or Perspective, go to the
   2. Tool Bar and Click: Palettes > 3D Tools
   3. On the 3D Palette, Click the Fly Over Tool
   4. Move the curser to change the view
4. To Return to the Plan View, on the Tool Bar, Click: View > Standard Views > Top/Plan or enter Ctrl +5 at the Keyboard

2. How can I create a Virtual Model of a 2' tall, 4x8 platform?

In the plan view (Ctrl, 5)

1. On the Tool Bar, Click: Palettes > 2D Tools
2. Click: Rectangle Tool in the 2D Tools Palette
3. Draft a 4' x 8' rectangle. With the rectangle still selected
4. Click: Model > Extrude on the Tool Bar
5. Enter 2'0" in the Extrusion box and hit Enter
6. Click on 2D Selection Tool in the 2D Tools Palette or Hit X on the Keyboard
7. View the platform in 3d (Isometric: 1 or 3 on the Numeric KeyPad)

Start by creating the 16'x36' drop. (See the answer to question 3.). After you have modeled the drop, return to the plan view (Ctrl +5) and

1. Layout a 4' deep x 24' wide rectange. (Palettes > 2D Tools > Rectangle Tool). Place the top left corner of the rectangle 12' left of the centerline and 2' upstage of the drop and the lower right corner 12' right of the centerline and 2' down stage of the drop.
2. Extrude (Model > Extrude) the rectangle to a height of 12' (the height of the opening)
3. View the front elevation (Hit 2 on the Numeric KeyPad) to ensure that the bottom of the rectangle is at the bottom of the drop
4. Return to the plan view (Ctrl, 5)
5. Select the rectangle and then Select the drop (Both objects must be selected)
6. Click: Model > Subtract Solids...
7. Click: OK
8. View the portal in 3d (Isometric: 1 or 3 on the Numeric KeyPad)

6. How can I place an actor in my Virtual Model?

Unfortunately VectorWorks does not include a 3d model of an actor in any of the symbol files in the VectorWorks / ToolKit / Architectural / Symbols directory. I borrowed a 2d figure of a standing actor from one of Kent Goetz's VectorWork's Tutorials, pasted it into a new file, gave it 6" of depth (Model > Extrude), rotated it 90° around the x axis (Tools > Rotate > Rotate 3d...) and saved it as actor3d.mcd. This file (in VW8.5 format) and a DXF (v12) copy are included in Actor3d.zip.

1. Open Actor3d.mcd
2. Select the acter
3. Copy him to the Clip Board (Ctrl C)
4. Change the VectorWorks Window back to the Virtual Model of your setting
5. Place the curser on the Plan View (Ctrl +5) where you would like to insert the actor and Click
6. Paste him into the drawing (Ctrl V)
7. View the front elevation (Hit 2 on the Numeric KeyPad) to ensure that the actor is not suspended in mid-air.
8. View the set with actor in 3d (Isometric: 1 or 3 on the Numeric KeyPad)

7. How can I email my Virtual Model to my Director?

There are a couple of ways of emailing your virtual model as an attachment. You can

1. Create an image file (File > Export > Export Image File..). or
2. You can print your model to a PDF document. Printing to a PDF file requires the installation of a PDF print driver. There are a number of "free" drivers available on the internet. I use the trial version of pdfFactory from FinePrint.com