View Properties - Concepts
The General tab provides the following options. These parameters may be altered to explicitly create rendered views of your choosing. Each View window is controlled separately.
Background Color - The color used for the background of the render image. By default, background color is white when wire-frame is displayed and midnight blue when the Radiosity solution is displayed. It may be desirable to alter the background color when printing to minimize the amount of “black” printed. The Reset Default Color button resets the background color to the default color.
Camera Parameters - The Camera Parameters section includes camera settings that affect the view regardless of view direction and focus point. These settings will remain constant for all Interactive View commands except Interactive Zoom , which temporarily effects the camera lens.
Projection – This option specifies either perspective (vanishing point) or parallel (orthogonal) projection. All default views use perspective projection. Parallel produces an orthogonal type projection, the same as used in AGI32’s graphics window. Scaling factor scales the image relative to the display window.
Clipping Planes - Clipping Planes are applied perpendicular to the view direction vector and are always applied in front of the eye position (i.e. Front Distance must be >0). Only entities or portions thereof between these two planes are visible. The remainder are “clipped” from the field of view. Front Distance must be >0 and <Back Distance. Front Distance is effected by the Interactive-Clip command. Clipping planes are dynamically calculated based on environment extents and eye and focus points.
Field of View - The Field of View is defined as the view angle from the eye position along the view direction vector. The aspect ratio of the image determines whether the view angle is applied to the vertical or horizontal direction. The specified view angle is applied to the smaller of the two directions. As the view angle increases, the image will appear smaller, whereas smaller view angles will increase the image. View angle is affected by the Interactive-Zoom command and must be between 0 and 180 degrees.
View Parameters - The current eye and focus positions in three-dimensional space (all units are in current display units) are displayed here. These positions are effected by Default View and Interactive commands.
Eye Position - The Eye Position corresponds to the camera position inside or outside of the space. This coordinate pinpoints the camera's endpoint on the view direction vector. The Eye Position will change automatically as a function of the Pan, Orbit and Dolly Interactive View commands as the observer moves through the environment. The Eye Position uses the current display units of the job file (feet or meters) and relates to the physical location of entities as specified in AGi32's Model Mode. Note that Eye Position can also be set in Render Mode by simply entering the height with the keyboard. Using this method will set both Eye Position and Focus Position to the same, entered value.
Focus Position - The Focus Position pinpoints the second endpoint on the view direction vector and indicates the direction of view for the observer. In the Interactive Dolly command, the Focus Position moves progressively along the view direction vector as the camera travels forward through the space. In the Interactive Pan command, the Focus Position always remains parallel to the Eye Position as the camera moves left/right and up/down. The Interactive Rotate command swivels the camera lens to the specified Focus Position while the Eye Position remains fixed. The Focus Position uses the current display units of the job file (feet or meters) and relates to the physical location of entities as specified in AGi32's Model Mode. Note that Focus Position can also be set in Render Mode by simply entering the height with the keyboard. Using this method will set both Focus Position and Eye Position to the same, entered value.
Note: You can see the effects of any changes by selecting the ‘Preview’ button. The dialog will disappear momentarily allowing you to see the image. Click on the Ok button to make the changes, or click the Cancel button to revert to the original image.
Interactive Tab
The Interactive tab allows you to adjust the refresh rate for the rendered image and the animation speed as you navigate with the interactive viewing commands.Each View window is controlled separately. You may set Default and Alternate values for both Refresh Rate and Animation Speed.
Refresh Rate- Sets the rate at which the display is refreshed (similar to frame rate).
- Faster - Smoother movements with simple environments, slower navigation with complicated environments. Note: Increasing Refresh Rate may not have any effect when working with complicated environments or slower computers. Refresh rate is affected directly by how fast the graphics data can be displayed on your monitor.
- Slower - "Jerkier" movements with simple environments, faster navigation with complicated environments.
- Select a particular Refresh Rate and/or use the Up and Down arrows to select a faster or slower Refresh Rate.
Animation Speed - Sets the speed of navigation (or animation) as you move the cursor.
- Faster - More sensitive to cursor movements (faster navigation).
- Slower - Less sensitive to cursor movements (slower navigation).
- Select a particular Animation Speed and/or use the Up and Down arrows to select a faster of slower Animation Speed.
Note: In the Render Toolkit, you can click the Interactive Display button (or F4 on your keyboard) to easily toggle back and forth between your Default and Alternate settings. You can also adjust the Refresh Rate and Animation Speed in the Render Toolkit. Just click the Up or Down arrows or enter a value for Refresh Rate and/or Animation Speed.