Viewers allow you to change the camera position, and also allow to interact with the scene (select and move objects, vertices, and so on). Since most of your interaction is through viewers, please read this section very carefully to maximize your productivity.
A "3-D Viewer" (the default viewer that comes up at start time) gives a perspective view of the scene. A "2-D Viewer" gives an "orthographic" or plane (top, front, etc.) view of the scene. The "3-D Viewer" is typically used for general scene operations and viewing. The "2-D Viewer" is used for specific modeling operations. You can bring up any number of these "2-D/3-D viewers". You can also change each viewer to be either a "2-D" or "3-D viewer". You can interact with the objects in any of the viewers, and all viewers will be updated automatically to reflect the change.
Hint: Since viewers are memory-intensive (especially on low-end graphics machines), it is recommended that you don't open too many viewers. One "3-D viewer" (usually the main window), and one or two "2-D viewers" (say, the "Front" and "Top" views) should suffice even for intense modeling operations.
The Viewer consists of a viewing area and a "decoration" around it. Pressing the right mouse inside the viewer brings up a pop up menu that has all the operations that can be performed. Some of these operations can also be accessed through the "decoration" buttons and the mouse.
Viewer Functions
Although each viewer performs a different function, all have some characteristics in common, which will be documented in the following pages. All will use pop-up menus with many similar functions. All can have "border decoration" on or off. The border decoration is the area surrounding the render area which may contain buttons, sliders, and thumb-wheels. Standard buttons and thumb-wheels, when applicable, will be located in the same position on each viewer. All decoration functionality is duplicated with menus, mouse, and keyboard operations. Some viewers may add new buttons and thumb-wheels to the common set. A zoom slider may be used also when applicable to the viewer. All will have cursors indicating at least whether you are in viewing or picking mode. Other cursors and feedback will be specific to each viewer.
The most common operations are performed by using the left mouse button. The right mouse button is always reserved for pop-up menus. The left mouse button can also be used with the modifier keys <Shift> and <Ctrl>. The <Shift> key is used for constraint, the <Ctrl> key is for alternative use.
Viewer Modes
Each viewer has two modes - "Viewing" and "Editing". In the "Viewing" mode, the cursor has the shape of a "hand". If you have the decoration on, the "Hand" icon will be set. In this mode, you can only change the view (camera position), but you cannot select or manipulate the objects in the scene. You can change to "Editing" mode by either clicking on the "Arrow" icon in the right decoration, or by turning off the "Viewing" toggle in the viewer pop up menu, or pressing the <ESC> key. In "Editing" mode, the cursor changes to an arrow. You cannot change the camera position using the mouse, but you can select / deselect and interact with the objects.
Moving the Camera
In the "Viewing" mode, when the cursor is inside the viewer, you can use the left and left mouse to change the view. In a "3-D Viewer", moving the cursor with the left mouse button pressed, rotates the camera in a "virtual trackball" fashion around the center of the scene. <Shift>+<Left
Mouse> pans (translates) in the plane of the camera. Using <Shift>+<Ctrl>+<Left Mouse>, you can dolly in and out (move forward and backward). In a "2-D Viewer", the left mouse is used to pan (translate) in the plane of the camera, and <Shift>+Left Mouse> is used to zoom in and out. In both viewers, using <Ctrl>+<Left Mouse>, you can "roll" the camera in the viewing plane. Notice the anchor cursor as you do this. You can also use the thumb wheels and sliders in the decoration to do some of these operations. These are particularly useful in "Editing" mode, where you cannot use the mouse to change the view.
Viewer Pop up Menu Functions
Pop-up menus are always accessed by pressing the right mouse button. The functions available via the pop-up menus are common across the viewers.
Functions Menu
Functions - Home
Resets camera to "home" position.
Functions - Set Home
Allows user to set new home position.
Functions - View All
Reposition camera so all objects are visible.
Functions - Seek
Choose Seek, then click on object in scene. The camera then animates to center the object on the screen.
Draw Style Menu
The first 7 items in the menu control for how the image is displayed when the camera is not moving. Draw styles are listed from best to fastest.
Draw Style - as is
Leaves the scene unchanged.
Draw Style - hidden line
Displays the objects as wireframe, but only show the object front faces. (this is a 2 pass rendering - first the objects are rendered solid with the background color, then rendered as wireframe).
Draw Style - no texture
Displays the objects without any textures.
Draw Style - low resolution
Displays the objects without textures and with low complexity.
Draw Style - wireframe
Displays the objects as base color wireframe (and no texture).
Draw Style - points
Displays the objects as points (and no texture).
Draw Style - bounding box
Displays the objects as bounding boxes (fastest).
The next 7 items in the "Draw Style" menu control draw styles that apply when doing interactive work.
Draw Style - move same as still
Draw Style - move hidden line
Draw Style - move no texture
Draw Style - move low res
Draw Style - move wireframe
Draw Style - move points
Draw Style - move bounding box
The last 3 items in the "Draw Style" menu control frame buffer modes. Interactive mode uses single buffer, but switches automatically to double buffer only while doing interactive work.
Draw Style - single buffer
Draw Style - double buffer
Draw Style - interactive buffer
Note: On a 24-bit graphics display, you should ignore "buffer style" altogether. It will not make any difference in display quality.
Viewing
This allows you to switch between the "Viewing" and "Editing" modes for the viewer. You can also use the "Arrow" and "Hand" icons in the right decoration, or the <ESC> key to do this.
Decoration
This allows you to turn on or off, the interface around the viewing area.
Headlight
By default, a directional light (see "Scene - Lights") is attached to the camera. This light moves with the camera, and always points in the direction the camera is looking at. This allows you to keep the scene well-lit at all times. You can change the color of the headlight by going into "Scene - Lights".
Hint: Headlight is very useful while you are modeling. But for rendering out a scene, you may want to set up spotlights and point lights in the scene.
Preferences
Seek to Point
If this toggle is on, when you choose "Function - Seek" or click on the "Seek" icon, the camera will move so that the specific point appears at the center of the viewer. If the toggle is off, then the camera will seek the center of the object that you clicked on.
Auto Clip Planes
Auto clipping does a best dynamic fit for the object on the screen.
Spin Animation (Examiner Viewer only)
When this toggle is on, you can set the camera in rotation motion by dragging the left mouse and "throwing" it into motion.
Rotation Axes (Examiner Viewer only)
These give you color-coded axes to tell you the X, Y and Z orientations of the camera.
General Keyboard Use
<Home>: Home function (Reset)
<Esc>: Toggles between viewing/picking
<s>: Toggles Seek function On/Off
<Up>,<Down>,<Right>,<Left>: Panning
The following is description of specific features of each viewer.
2-D Viewer (Plane Viewer)
This viewer lets you translate the camera in the viewing plane, as well as roll (rotate along camera forward direction) and dolly (move forward/backward). Camera can be aligned to X,Y or Z axes. A possible use could be the incorporation of the three plane views with a fourth Examiner viewer to simultaneously see all orientations. This could be used for modeling, in drafting, and architectural work.
Ez3d supports 6 different types of 2-D (orthographic) viewers:
Front
Right
Top
Back
Left
Bottom
Mouse Use
<Left Mouse>: Translate up, down, left, right
<Shift>+<Left Mouse>: Zoom in and out
<Ctrl>+<Left Mouse>: Roll action
<s>,<Left Mouse>: Alternative to Seek button.
Press (do not hold down) <s> key,
then click on target object.
<Right Mouse>: Pop-Up menus
Examiner Viewer
This viewer uses a virtual trackball to rotate the view. The point of rotation is by default the center of the scene bounding box, but can be placed anywhere in the scene. This viewer also allows you to translate in the screen plane, as well as dolly in and out (forward/backward movement).
Mouse Use
<Left Mouse>: Rotate virtual trackball
<Shift>+<Left Mouse>: Translate up, down, left, right
<Shift>+<Ctrl>+<Left Mouse>: Dolly in / out
<Ctrl>+<Left Mouse>: Used for "Roll" action
<s>,<Left Mouse>: Alternative to "Seek" button.
Press (do not hold down) <s> key, then click on target object
<Right Mouse>: Pop-Up menus
Walk Viewer
The paradigm for this viewer is a walk-through of an architectural model. Its primary behavior is forward, backward, and left/right turning motion while maintaining a constant "eye level". It is also possible to stop and
look around at the scene. The eye level plane can be disabled, allowing the viewer to proceed in the "look at" direction, as if on an escalator. The eye level plane can also be translated - similar to an elevator.
Mouse Use
<Left Mouse>: Move up and down for forwards and backwards motion. Right and left for turning. Speed increases exponentially with distance from mouse-down.
<Shift>+<Left mouse>: Rotate viewpoint - Look around while stopped.
<Ctrl>+<Left Mouse>: Allows motion in "look at" direction, not necessarily in "eye level" plane ("Escalator")
<s>,<Left Mouse>: Alternative to "Seek" button. Press (do not hold down) <s> key, then click on target object.
<u>,<Left Mouse>: Press (do not hold down) <u> key, then click on target object to set "up" direction to surface normal.
<Right Mouse>: Pop-Up menus
Fly Viewer
This viewer is intended to simulate constrained flight through space, with a constant world up direction. The viewer only constrains the camera to disallow the user to fly upside down. No mouse buttons need to be pressed in order to fly-mouse position is only used for steering. Mouse clicks are used to increase or decrease speed.
