12 AutoCAD and Its Applications—Advanced Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Introduction to 3D Model Display Introduction to 3D Model Display Using Visual Styles Using Visual Styles The display of a 3D model is how the model is presented. This does not refer to the viewing angle, but rather colors, edge display, and shading or rendering. An object can be shaded from any viewpoint. A model can be edited while still keeping the object shaded. This can make it easier to see how the model is developing without having to reshade the drawing. However, when editing a shaded object, it may also be more diffi cult to select features. A 3D model can be displayed in a variety of visual styles. A visual style is a combination of settings that control the display of edges and shading in a viewport. There are 10 basic visual styles—2D Wireframe, Conceptual, Hidden, Realistic, Shaded, Shaded with Edges, Shades of Gray, Sketchy, Wireframe, and X-ray. A wireframe display shows all lines on the object, including those representing back or internal features. A hidden display suppresses the display of lines that would normally be hidden. A shaded display of the model can be created by setting the visual style to Conceptual, Realistic, or one of the shaded visual styles. The X-ray style presents the model in muted, translucent colors, and all hidden lines are displayed. This may be a good choice to use in the design of a model. The Realistic visual style is considered the most realistic shaded display. A more detailed shaded model, a rendered display of the model, can be created with the RENDER command. A rendering is the most realistic presentation. Examples of the basic visual styles are shown in Figure 1-14. To change styles, select one from the Visual Style Controls fl yout in the viewport controls. Refer to Figure 1-10C. You can also use the VSCURRENT command or the drop-down list in the View panel on the Home tab or the Visual Styles panel on the Visualize tab in the ribbon. See Figure 1-15. In the default 3D environment based on the acad3D.dwt template, the default display mode, or visual style, is Realistic. In this visual style, all objects appear as solids and are displayed in their assigned layer colors. Other display options are available. These options are discussed in detail in Chapter 16, but are given here as an introduction. • 2D Wireframe. Displays all lines of the model using assigned linetypes and lineweights. The 2D UCS icon and 2D grid are displayed, if turned on. If the HIDE command is used to display a hidden-line view, use the REGEN command to redisplay the wireframe view. • Wireframe. Displays all lines of the model. The 3D grid and the 3D UCS icon are displayed, if turned on. • Hidden. Displays all visible lines of the model from the current viewpoint and hides all lines not visible. Objects are not shaded or colored. • Sketchy. Edges appear hand-sketched. • Shades of Gray. Gray shades are shown with highlighted edges. • Conceptual. The object is smoothed and shaded with transitional colors to help highlight details. • Realistic. The model is shaded and smoothed using assigned layer colors and materials. • Shaded. A smooth-shaded model is displayed, but edges are not shown. • Shaded with Edges. Edges are displayed on the smooth-shaded model. • X-Ray. The model appears transparent. A variety of options can be used to change individual components of each of these visual styles. A complete discussion of visual styles is given in Chapter 16. Detailed discussions on rendering, materials, lights, and animations appear in Chapters 16 through 21. VSCURRENT Ribbon Home View Visualize Visual Styles Type VSCURRENT VS