Chapter 1 Introduction to Three-Dimensional Modeling 5 Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Workspaces can be created, customized, and saved to allow a variety of graphical user interface confi gurations. The 3D Modeling workspace provides quick access to the full range of tools required to construct, edit, view, and visualize 3D models. It is the workspace used throughout this book. This section provides an overview of the 3D Modeling workspace and the layout of the ribbon and its panels. NOTE NOTE In order to use the default 3D “environment,” you must start a new drawing fi le based on the acad3D.dwt template and set the 3D Modeling workspace current. All discussions in the remainder of this book assume that AutoCAD is in this default 3D environment. Workspaces A workspace is a drawing environment in which menus, toolbars, palettes, and ribbon panels are displayed for a specifi c task. A workspace stores not only which of these tools are visible, but also their on-screen locations. You can quickly change work- spaces using the Workspace Switching button on the status bar or the WSCURRENT command. See Figure 1-5. The default 3D Modeling workspace is shown in Figure 1-6. Ribbon Panels Within the 3D Modeling workspace, the Home tab on the ribbon displays 12 panels. The tools in these panels provide all of the functions needed to design and view your 3D model. See Figure 1-7A. The panel title appears at the bottom of the panel. The up arrow button at the right-hand end of the tab names controls the display of the ribbon tabs, panels, and panel titles. Picking it cycles through the display of the full ribbon, tab titles and panel buttons, tab and panel titles only, or tab titles only. Picking the down arrow displays a drop-down menu containing the minimize options. See Figure 1-7B. Many panels contain more tools than those displayed in the default view. These panels can be expanded by picking the fl yout arrow to the right of the panel title. See Figure 1-8A. The fl yout portion is displayed as long as the cursor remains over the panel. It retracts when the cursor moves off the panel. To retain the fl yout display, pick the pushpin icon in the lower-left corner of the expanded panel. See Figure 1-8B. The panel continues to be displayed until you pick the pushpin icon again to release it. Multiple panel fl youts can be displayed using the pushpin, but they may overlap in the process. This may obscure menu tools in adjacent panels. Simply pick on the panel you wish to use and its tools are displayed in full. You can display only those panels that you need. Right-click anywhere on the ribbon to display the shortcut menu. Select Show Panels to display a cascading menu that contains a list of the panels available for that tab. See Figure 1-9. The panels that RIBBON Type RIBBON Workspace Switching button Figure 1-5. Switching workspaces using the Workspace Switching button on the status bar.