VIEWS |
One of the strengths of 3DHA is the number of different views available to the user. Most home design software allows you to view your model in Plan View, some sort of Walk-Thru and some type of Fly-By Views, but 3DHA gives you the capability to have some very important views the others don't. |
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This is the standard view that all home design software uses as a way for the user to create their design. In 3DHA it is where you create walls, add doors, windows, fixtures, furniture, a roof, plants, and any other objects available in 3DHA. It is also the reference view from where Camera, Full Camera, Wall Elevation, Cross Section, Overview, and Full Overviews are started. While in this view, select the View Toolbar (eyeball icon), then a view tool on the View Toolbar. For Overview and Full Overview, the view will just appear. For all others, move the mouse to where the view should start, Drag (Hold Down the left mouse button and move the mouse) in the direction you want the view to process. |
The first view on the View Toolbar is PLAN CAMERA. This gives you a view as if you are taking it with a camera. But this view is restricted to the current floor you are working on. This gives you the ability to have a camera view (walk-thru) without letting the other floors distract you. You will know exactly what is happening with the objects on the current floor. Note the toolbar at the bottom of the picture. This is the toolbar that contains the action buttons you can use while in this view. They include: Select an item, change a color, turn left, turn right, step forward, step backward, step to the left, step to the right, zoom in, create Applied Materials View (rendered), start recording a walk-thru movie sequence, and stop recording a walk-thru. |
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The second view on the View Toolbar is WALL ELEVATION. This view gives you a 2 dimensional view of the wall directly in front of you. It too is also restricted to only one floor at a time, the current, and is restricted by walls to the left and right when inside the model. The picture to the left includes two separate views pasted together for this example. (1st floor above and 2nd floor below, both on the outside) Notice that in an elevation view, your current toolbar allows only 3 actions: Select an item, change a color, and zoom in. Elevation views are views that most other home design software do not provide. Yet in most working drawings used by building professionals, these are very important views and are always included. (usually Full Elevation) |
The third view on the View Toolbar is OVERVIEW. This view is like a birds-eye view that allows the user to see down into their model. It is restricted to only the working floor. This example shows two separate views pasted together. You will not see a roof in this view as the roof is a level above the top floor. The current view toolbar is similar to the Wall Elevation toolbar, but adds a View Angle Tool. Click on the third tool from the left and a View Angle dialog box appears. That dialog box allows you to change the angle of this view in three ways. In/Out, Up/Down, and Left/Right. You will see this dialog box in Full Overview later. |
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The next view is FULL CAMERA. This is the one I use the most. It is just like Plan Camera, but it includes the entire model. The example shows two separate views pasted together. (outside of the house and inside, 1st floor) Because there is a ceiling above the 1st floor, that view restricts you to the 1st floor. You would get the same look inside the house by using Plan Camera, but I find that is easier to use this view whenever I want a Camera View. |
From the Full Camera view, you can click on the Camera Icon on the current toolbar (as shown above) and you will see a somewhat Photo Realistic view of your house. This view will vary in quality depending on how much work went into adding materials to your house. In this case I changes the outside walls to both the upper and lower floors, the roofing material, and the material on the shutters of each window. I also set the Backdrop to an image rather than to color. This Applied Materials view is only available from the Plan Camera and Full Camera views. |
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The CROSS SECTION view is similar to the Wall Elevation view, but can see thru walls. Again I have pasted two separate views together in the example to the left. The first is from outside the model, showing the wall and facias at one end of the home. The second starts the view from inside the end wall toward the center of the house. It shows the outline of the facias, floors, ceilings, walls, windows, and doors. You can see how the cross section tool can be of great value to you. You don't get this view in either Punch! or FloorPlan 3D. |
FULL OVERVIEW is similar to Overview, except that you see the entire model as opposed to only one floor at a time. This is similar to a Fly-By type view as it is used to get an idea of what the house looks like from the outside when complete. This example shows what the View Angle dialog box looks like when used. It uses sliders to allow you to adjust the angle by which you are viewing your model. The small thumbnail picture in the dialog box moves to show what your view will look like in very general terms prior to applying the View Angle. | ![]() |