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Basic Tutorial
Launching AutoCad
1. Start
2. 3D and CAD
3. AutoCad
Typing Commands
Typing a Command
All AutoCAD commands can be typed in at the command line. Many commands also have one
or two letter aliases that can also be typed as shortcuts to the commands.
Command : LINE
or
TIP: Many AutoCAD commands require you to press ENTER to complete the command. You know you are no
longer in an AutoCAD command when you see a blank command line.
The last used AutoCAD command can be re-entered by one of the following three methods
of ENTER. The ENTER key on the keyboard will always act as ENTER, the SPACEBAR and
RIGHT MOUSE will act as enter most of the time (exceptions include placing TEXT).
or
or
1. Click the left mouse button to select an object area in the drawing.
TIPS:
• SHIFT + the right mouse button brings up the object snap menus.
• Various screen locations for the mouse brings up different menus.• menus.
5.2 PAN
or
or
3. Type PAN from the command prompt.
Command: PAN or P
TIPS:
- While in the PAN command, click with the right mouse button to see the
following menu.
TIPS:
-While in the ZOOM command, click with the right mouse button to see the
menu to the right.
2.2 Creating a New Drawing
NEW Command
TIP:
New drawings can also be created from Template Files.
1.11 Undo and Redo
Redo
TIP:
-Preview shows a bitmap image of the drawing selected. This image is the
view that was last saved in the drawing. It will not show a preview of
drawings saved before R13 AutoCAD.
Quick Save
1. Press CTRL + S.
or
2. Click the Save icon.
or
3. Type QSAVE at the command prompt,
Command:QSAVE
TIPS:
Drawings can be saved as different versions of AutoCAD (e.g. R13, R14, R
2000, etc.)
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3.1 Line Command
Creates single straight line segments
1. Choose Draw, Line.
or
2. Click the Line icon.
or
3. Type LINE from the command prompt
Command: LINE or L
4. Press ENTER
5. Pick From point: (point)
6. Pick Specify next point or [Close/Undo]:(point)
7. Pick Specify next point or [Close/Undo]:(point)
8. Press ENTER to end line sequence
or
9. Type U to undo the last segment
To point: U (undo)
or
10. Type C to create a closed polygon
To point : C (close)
TIPS:
• You can continue the previous line or arc by responding to
the From point: prompt with a space or ENTER.
• Choose the right mouse button for the line pop-up menu to
appear while in the line command
AutoCAD 2D Tutorial
or
6. Pick A point to continue drawing
Arc/Close/Halfwidth/Length/Undo/Width/<endpoint of
line>: (pick point)
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3.4 Orthogonal Lines
Controls lines from being drawn at various angles to straight lines. When the
snap grid is rotated, ortho mode rotates accordingly.
Line drawn
Line drawn with
with ORTHO
ORTHO ON OFF
AutoCAD 2D Tutorial
Rectangle 16.2
1. Choose Draw, Rectangle.
or
2. Click the Rectangle icon.
or
3. Type Rectang at the command prompt Command:
RECTANG Chamfer/Elevation/Fillet/Thickness/Width/
<First corner>:
4. Pick first corner.
5. Pick other corner or type coordinates (i.e. @4,2).
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3.6 Circles
Diameter/<<radius>>:
TIPS:
- To create circles that are the same size, press
ENTER when asked for the circle radius.
Circle, Tangent, Tangent, Tangent
- When selecting a circle with a pickbox, be sure
to select the circumference of the circle.
3.7 Arc Command
1. Choose Draw, Arc.
or
TIPS:
-Except for 3 point arcs, arcs are drawn in a COUNTERCLOCKWISE
direction.
- While in the arc command, press the right mouse button to select the
following options for arcs:
Arc Examples
Spline 16.3
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Editing
AutoCAD 2D Tutorial
PEDIT options:
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AutoCAD 2D Tutorial
Move Command 10.1
1. Choose Modify, Move.
or
2. Click the Move icon.
or
3. Type MOVE at the command prompt
Command: MOVE or M
4. Pick Objects to move
Select objects: (select)
5. Pick A point to move from
Base point or displacement: (pick point)
6. Pick A point to move to
Second point of displacement: (pick point)
TIP:
To move an object a specified distance, type a distance at the second
point of displacement prompt: @1<0
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AutoCAD 2D Tutorial
TIP:
• To copy many objects in the same copy command, type M for Multiple at
the “Base point or displacement/Multiple” option.
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AutoCAD 2D Tutorial
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AutoCAD 2D Tutorial
Polyline before
explode
Polyline (line)
after explode
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AutoCAD 2D Tutorial
EXTEND 10.5
1. Choose Modify, Extend.
or
2. Click the Extend icon.
or
3. Type EXTEND at the command prompt
Command: EXTEND
Select boundary edge(s)...
4. Pick The BOUNDARY edge to extend to
Select objects: (select)
5. Press ENTER to accept the boundary edge
Select objects: (press enter)
6. Pick The objects to extend
<Select object to extend> / Project /
Edge / Undo: Select an object, enter
an option, or press enter : (select)
7. Press ENTER when you are done choosing objects
Lines Extended
to an Arc
(Arc is boundary edge)
TIP:
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AutoCAD 2D Tutorial
Stretch 13.2
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AutoCAD 2D Tutorial
TIP:
The Stretch command must use a CROSSING window or aCROSSING
POLYGON window.
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AutoCAD 2D Tutorial
TRIM 10.6
The TRIM command allows you to trim objects in a drawing so they end
precisely at a cutting edge defined by one or more other objects in the
drawing.
1. Choose Modify, Trim.
or
2. Click the Trim icon.
3. Type TRIM at the command prompt
Command: TRIM
Select cutting edge(s)...
4. Pick The CUTTING edge to extend to
Select objects: (select)
5. Press ENTER to accept the cutting edge
Select objects: (press enter)
6. Pick Objects to trim
<Select object to trim> / Project / Edge / Undo:
Select an object, enter an option, or press enter
7. Press ENTER when you are done choosing objects
Select object to trim/Undo: (press enter)
Lines Trimmed
to an Arc
(Arc is cutting
edge)
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AutoCAD 2D Tutorial
Break 13.1
or
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AutoCAD 2D Tutorial
MIRROR 10.7
Mirror Line
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AutoCAD 2D Tutorial
ROTATE 10.9
1. Choose Modify, Rotate.
or
2. Click the Modify icon.
or
3. Type ROTATE at the command prompt
Command : ROTATE
4. Pick Objects to rotate:
Select objects:(select)
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AutoCAD 2D Tutorial
SCALE 10.10
1. Choose Modify, Scale.
or
2. Click the Scale icon.
or
3. Type SCALE at the command prompt
Command: SCALE
Select objects: (select objects)
4. Pick A pivot point to scale about Base point: (point)
5. Type A rotation angle<Scale factor>/Reference:(number)
or
6. Pick A scale factor<Scale factor>/Reference:
(point)
Scale factor/Reference: (points)
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AutoCAD 2D Tutorial
Text Command 11.1
Text
Creates a single-line text object
1. Type TEXT at the command prompt
Command: TEXT
or
2. Pick the Single Line Text icon from the Text Toolbar.
3. Pick A start point
Justify/Style/<Start Point>: (point)
or
4. Type J to change the justification or S to change the text
style.
5. Type A text height
Height <default>: (type value or pick two points)
6. Type A rotation angle
Rotation angle <default>: (angle or point)
7. Type A text string
Text: (type text string)
8. Press enter to exit the Text: prompt.
or
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Layers
AutoCAD 2D Tutorial
Introduction to Layers and Layer Dialog Box12.1
1. Choose Format, Layer.
or
2. Type LAYER at the command prompt.
or
3. Pick the layers icon from the Layer Control box
on the object properties toolbar.
AutoCAD 2005
Layer Properties
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AutoCAD 2D Tutorial
Layer Options 12.2
TIP:
Layers can be set using the command line prompts for layers. To use this,
type –LAYER or -LA at the command prompt
1. Type Command: -LAYER or LA
?/Make/Set/New/ON/OFF/Color/Ltype/Freeze/Thaw:
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AutoCAD 2D Tutorial
Select layer
Select object first
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Colours + Line
Weights
AutoCAD 2D Tutorial
Color Command 12.6
1. Choose Format, Color.
or
2. Type DDCOLOR at the command prompt.
or
3. Choose Color on the Object Properties toolbar and then
select a color from the list or select Other to display
the Select Color dialog box.
TIP:
These settings ignore the current layer settings for color.
By Layer
If you enter bylayer, new objects assume the color of the layer upon which
they are drawn.
By Block
If you enter byblock, AutoCAD draws new objects in the default color (white
or black, depending on your configuration) until they are grouped into a block.
When the block is inserted in the drawing, the objects in the bloc k inherit the
current setting of the COLOR command.
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AutoCAD 2D Tutorial
Linetypes 12.7
Loading and Changing Linetypes
or
2. Type DDLTYPE at the command prompt.
Command:DDLTYPE or LT
5. Click OK.
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AutoCAD 2D Tutorial
Lineweights 12.8
or
2. Type LINEWEIGHT at the command prompt.
or
TIPS:
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AutoCAD 2D Tutorial
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Other Useful
Functions
AutoCAD 2D Tutorial
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AutoCAD 2D Tutorial
Measuring Distances 8.2
TIP:
Be sure to use Object Snaps with the MEASURE command.
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AutoCAD 2D Tutorial
or
3. Type DIM at the command prompt.
Command: DIM
Dim: HOR or VER
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AutoCAD 2D Tutorial
or
3. Type DIM at the command prompt.
Command: DIM
Dim: ALIGNED
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AutoCAD 2D Tutorial
or
3 . Type DIM at the command prompt.
Command: DIM
Dim: RADIUS or DIAMETER
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AutoCAD 2D Tutorial
Calculating Areas 8.3
TIPS:
Be sure to use Object Snaps with the MEASURE command
To subtract an area, you must first be in “add” mode to add the first area.
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AutoCAD 2D Tutorial
Plot Settings
- 65 -
1.13 On-Line Help
AutoCAD 3D ®
Training Manual
2 3
Viewports Viewports
Viewports 1.1
Screen divided into three tiled viewports
-Vports Command
4 5
Viewports Viewports
6 7
Preset Views Preset Views
8 9
Vpoint Command Vpoint Command
Vpoint Command (Tripod) 1.4 Point in the center
of the compass is
the north pole
Displays a compass and tripod for defining a view rotation. The Middle ring of the
compass represents a two dimensional globe. compass is the
equator
1. Choose View, 3D Views, Vpoint
or
2. Type VPOINT at the command prompt. Entire outer ring
is the south pole
Command: vpoint
Rotate/<View point> <-0.614,-0.614,0.500>: (enter) Tripod
3. Click a point on the compass to define the viewing angle.
10 11
Vpoint Command Vpoint Command
5. Click OK.
12 13
Vpoint Presets Vpoint Presets
14 15
Plan View Plan View
16 17
Chapter 2
Thickness and Elevation
18 19
Thickness Thickness
20 21
Thickness Thickness
22 23
Elevation and Elev Shortcur Elevation and Elev Shortcut
Stores the current elevation relative to the current UCS for the current
space.
24 25
Shortcut to Elevation & Thickness Commands 2.4
26 27
Chapter 3
Visualizing the Model
28 29
Hide Hide
30 31
Shade Shade
Flat Shaded
32 33
Shade Shade
Shadedge Variable 3.3
Shaded Object
Sets the ratio of diffuse reflective light to ambient light (in percentage
of diffuse reflective light).
34 35
3.2
Hidden Lines in Plots Hidden Lines in Plots
36 37
Hidden Lines in Plots Hidden Lines in Plots
38 39
Chapter 4
Z Coordinates
40 41
3D Coordinates 3D Coordinates
3D Coordinates
3D Polyline
42 43
Moving in the Z Direction Moving in the Z Direction
Move Command
44 45
3D Point Filters 3D Point Filters
To place a point 1 inch above the back left corner of the rectangle,
you can use point filters. Before issuing the point filter command,
use DDPTYPE and choose a visible point style.
46 47
Chapter 5
User Coordinate System
48 49
Ucsicon Ucsicon
UCSICON 5.1
The UCS icon represents the orientation of the UCS axes and the
location of the current UCS origin. It also represents the current
viewing direction relative to the UCS XY plane.
Mspace UCSICON Pspace UCSICON
50 51
UCS Dialog Box & World UCS UCS Dialog Box & World UCS
UCS Overview 5.2 .
Manages user coordinate systems. The user coordinate system Move Redefines a UCS by shifting the origin or changing the Z-depth
provides an alternate movable coordinate system for coordinate of the current UCS, leaving the orientation of its XY plane un
entry, planes of operation, and viewing. Most AutoCAD geometric changed.
editing commands are dependent on the location and orientation of
the UCS. OrthoGraphic Specifies one of the six orthographic UCSs provided with
AutoCAD. These UCS settings are typically used when viewing
& editing 3D models [Top/Bottom/Front/Back/Left/Right]
1. Type UCS at the command prompt.
Previous Restores the previously saved UCS.
Command: ucs
Restore Restores a saved UCS.
Enter an option [New/Move/orthoGraphic/Prev/Restore/
Save/Del/Apply/?/World] <World>: Save Names and saves a UCS.
2. Choose One of the following UCS options: Delete Removes a saved UCS definition.
New Defines a new coordinate system by one of six World Restores the World Coordinate System.
methods: Origin, Z Axis, 3 Point, Object, Face,
View X, Y, Z ? Lists the defined UCSs in the current drawing.
52 53
UCS Dialog Box & World UCS UCS Dialog Box & World UCS
Entering @2,0,0 specifies a point two units in the X direction of the last point entered
relative to the UCS.
In practice, most coordinates are entered relative to the UCS rather than the WCS.
54 55
UCS UCS
1. Type UCS at the command prompt. Setting the UCS with the 3 Point Method
Command: ucs
Enter an option [New/Move/orthoGraphic/Prev/Restore/
Save/Del/Apply/?/World] <World>: n
Specify origin of new UCS or [ZAxis/3point/OBject/
Face/View/X/Y/Z] <0,0,0>: 3
Specify new origin point <0,0,0>: pick origin
Specify point on positive portion of X-axis
<3.53,7.73,0.00>:
Specify point on positive-Y portion of the UCS XY plane
<2.53,8.73,0.00>:
UCS modified
56 57
Plan View of Current UCS
Plan View and UCS 5.5
UCS View 5.6 UCS parallel to the View Instead of the Object
58 59
UCS Object 5.7
60 61
AutoCAD Help Topics for New UCS
62 63
UCS UCS
64 65
UCS Dialog Box 5.11 UCS Dialog Box (DDUCS)
66 67
Chapter 6
3D Orbit Commands
68 69
3D Orbit Command, Pan & Zoom D Orbit Command, Pan & Zoom
70 71
3D Orbit Command, Pan & Zoom D Orbit Command, Pan & Zoom
72 73
Projections, Shading & Visual Aids Projections, Shading & Visual Aids
Shading 6.4
Projection Mode 6.3
1. Click with the right mouse button while in the 3D Orbit
1. Click with the right mouse button while in the 3D Orbit command.
command.
2. Choose Shading.
2. Choose Projection.
3. Choose one of the shade options.
3. Choose Parallel or Perspective.
Parallel
Displays objects so that two parallel lines in a drawing never con
verge at a single point. The shapes in your drawing always remain
the same and do not appear distorted when they are closer.
Perspective
Displays objects in perspective so that all parallel lines converge at
one point. Objects appear to recede into the distance, and parts of
the objects appear larger and closer to you. The shapes are some
what distorted when the object is very close. This view correlates
more closely to what your eye sees.
74 75
Adjusting Camera Adjusting Camera
Simulates the effect of turning the camera. Changes the target of the
view.
1. Click with the right mouse button while in the 3D Orbit
command.
2. Choose More.
3. Choose Swivel Camera.
4. Choose a location in the view to change the camera.
76 77
Projections, Shading & Visual Aids Projections, Shading & Visual Aids
Compass Option
UCS Icon
78 79
Clipping Planes Clipping Planes
NOTE: If you have clipping planes ON when you exit the 3D Orbit
command, they will remain ON.
80 81
Continuous Orbit Continuous Orbit
82 83
Chapter 7
Dynamic View - Perspective
84 85
Dynamic View and Perspective Dynamic View and Perspective
86 87
Dynamic View and Perspective Dynamic View and Perspective
88 89
Setting Camera Target with POints Setting Camera Target with POints
90 91
Dynamic View and Perspective Dynamic View and Perspective
92 93
Dynamic View and Perspective Dynamic View and Perspective
94 95
Dynamic View and Perspective Dynamic View and Perspective
Clipping Objects 7.8
Resultant View of Clipped Objects
96 97
Dynamic View and Perspective Dynamic View and Perspective
98 99
Chapter 8
3D Model Objects
100 101
Wire Frames Wire Frames
Wireframes 8.1
102 103
Surfaces Surfaces
Surfaces 8.2
104 105
Solids Solids
Solids 8.3
106 107
Chapter 9
2D Solids and 3D Faces
108 109
2D Solid and Hatch 2D Solid and Hatch
2D Solid 9.1
2D Hatch 9.2
110 111
3D Faces 3D Faces
3D Face 9.3
112 113
Edges Edges
Edge 9.4
114 115
Invisible Faces Invisible Faces
116 117
Pface Pface
118 119
Chapter 10
3D Surfaces
120 121
3DBox 3DBox
3DBox 10.1
122 123
Pyramid Pyramid
Pyramid 10.2
124 125
Wedge Wedge
Wedge 10.3
126 127
Dome Dome
Dome 10.4
128 129
Sphere Sphere
Sphere 10.5
130 131
Cone Cone
Cone 10.6
132 133
Torus Torus
Torus 10.7
134 135
Dish Dish
Dish 10.8
136 137
Mesh Mesh
Mesh 10.9
Creates a planar mesh whose M and N sizes determine the
number of lines drawn in each direction along the mesh.
138 139
Chapter 11
Complex Surfaces
140 141
Revolved Surfaces Surftab1 and Surftab2 Variables
142 143
Suftab1 and Surftab2 11.2
Sets the number of tabulations for both directions to be
generated for RULESURF and TABSURF. Also sets the
mesh density in ROTATE3D the M direction for REVSURF
and EDGESURF commands.
144 145
Tabulated Surfaces Tabulated Surfaces
Direction Vector
1. Choose Draw, Surfaces, Tabulated Surfaces
or
2. Type TABSURF at the command prompt.
Command: tabsurf
Select object for path curve:
Select object for direction vector:
146 147
Ruled Surface Ruled Surface
148 149
Ruled Surface Ruled Surface
150 151
Edge Surface Edge Surface
152 153
Chapter 12
Solids
154 155
Extrude Command Extrude Command
156 157
Extrude with Taper 12.2
158 159
Extrude Curves 12.3
160 161
Extrude Along a Path Extrude Along a Path
162 163
Revolve Command Revolve Command
Revolve 12.5
Creates a composite region or solid by addition.
164 165
Box Box
166 167
Sphere Sphere
Sphere 12.7
Sphere Sphere with Hidden Lines
Creates a three-dimensional solid sphere.
168 169
Isolines and Facetres Isolines and Facetres
170 171
Isolines and Facetres Isolines and Facetres
Facetres 12.9
sphere with facetres 0.1
Adjusts the smoothness of shaded and rendered objects and objects
with hidden lines removed. Valid values are from 0.01 to 10.0.
172 173
Cone Cone
Cone 12.10
Cone Cone with Hidden Lines
Creates a three-dimensional solid cone.
174 175
Wedge12.11
Creates a three-dimensional solid wedge.
176 177
Torus Torus
178 179
Chapter 13
3D Edits
180 181
3D Rotate 3D Rotate
182 183
Align Align
Align 13.2
Objects before align
184 185
Mirror 3D Mirror 3D
Mirror 3D 13.3
Circle Mirrored around 3 Points
186 187
3D Array 3D Array
188 189
3D Array 3D Array
190 191
Chapter 14
Solid Composites
192 193
Subtract Subtract
Subtract 14.1
Creates a composite region or solid by subtraction.
194 195
Union Union
Union 14.2
Creates a composite region or solid by addition.
196 197
Intersect Intersect
Intersect 14.3
Creates a solid based on the intersection of two existing solids.
198 199
Chapter 15
Modifying Solid Objects
200 201
Extruding Faces, Moving & Rotating Extruding Faces, Moving & Rotating
Extruded Face
202 203
Tapering Faces Tapering Faces
Before Taper
1. Choose Modify, Solids Editing, Taper face
After Taper
204 205
Delete Delete
206 207
Copy Faces Copy Faces
208 209
Color Color
2. Choose a face to change the color of. If you choose more than
one face, hold the SHIFT key to deselect unwanted
faces.
3. Press ENTER.
4. Choose a color to change the face to.
210 211
Imprint Imprint
Imprint 15.6
212 213
Extrude Imprint to Create Openings 15.7
214 215
Clean Clean
Clean 15.8
Before Clean
After Clean
216 217
Shell 15.9
You can create a shell or a hollow thin wall with a specified thickness from your 3D
solid object. AutoCAD creates new faces by offsetting existing ones inside or outside
their original positions. AutoCAD treats continuously tangent faces as single faces
when offsetting.
218 219
Chapter 16
Enhancing the Drawing
Process
212 213
Creating Sections Creating Sections
214 215
Slice Command & Setting Up a 3D Drawing Slice Command & Setting Up a 3D Drawing
Slice 16.2
Slices a set of solids with a plane.
216 217
Slice Command & Setting Up a 3D Drawing Slice Command & Setting Up a 3D Drawing
218 219
Slice Command & Setting Up a 3D Drawing Slice Command & Setting Up a 3D Drawing
Insert a Drawing
220 221
Solview & Soldraw Solview & Soldraw
222 223
Solview & Soldraw Solview & Soldraw
Create a 2D Section with Soldraw 16.4
224 225
Creating a 3D View Creating a 3D View
Create a 3D View Using UCS 16.5
226 227
Create Hidden Line Removals Create Hidden Line Removals
Create a Hidden Line View 16.6
228 229
Chapter 17
Rendering
230 231
Render Command, Selection, Cropped Window Render Command, Selection, Cropped Window
Rendered Viewport
232 233
Render Command, Selection, Cropped Window Render Command, Selection, Cropped Window
Rendered Selection
234 235
Render Command, Selection, Cropped Window Render Command, Selection, Cropped Window
236 237
Render without Dialog Box 17.4
238 239
Render Destinations Render Destinations
240 241
Render to Render Window 17.7 Render Window
242 243
Print Screen 17.8
244 245
Light Scale Icon and Smoothing Angle 17.9
Controls the size of the light blocks in the drawing. The value is the current scale factor (in
drawing units) of rendering blocks in the drawing. Enter a real number to rescale the blocks.
The scale factor affects the following blocks: OVERHEAD, DIRECT, and SH_SPOT.
Smoothing Angle
Sets the angle at which AutoCAD interprets an edge. The default is 45 degrees. Angles greater
than 45 degrees are considered edges. Angles less than 45 degrees are smoothed. To define an
edge as less than 45 degrees, reduce the smoothing angle.
246 247
Chapter 18
Materials
248 249
Materials Library, Importing, & Attaching Materials Materials Library, Importing, & Attaching Materials
250 251
Materials Library, Importing, & Attaching Materials Materials Library, Importing, & Attaching Materials
252 253
Materials Library, Importing, & Attaching Materials Materials Library, Importing, & Attaching Materials
254 255
Applying Materials by Layer 18.4
256 257
Applying Materials by Color 18.5
258 259
Complex Materials 18.6
260 261
Photorealistic Rendering & Mapping Photorealistic Rendering & Mapping
262 263
New Materials New Materials
264 265
Adjusting Material Appearances 18.7
266 267
Textures Textures
268 Copyright © 2004 - Kristen Kurland Copyright © 2004 - Kristen Kurland 269
Chapter 19
Lights
270 271
Point Light Point Light
Point Light 19.1
272 273
Spot Light Spot Light
Spot Light 19.2
Light Target
274 275
Shadows and Changing Shadow Options Shadows and Changing Shadow Options
276 277
Shadows and Changing Shadow Options Shadows and Changing Shadow Options
278 279
Render Smoothness Render Smoothness
Preferences 19.5
280 281
Light Command Light Command
282 283
Chapter 20
Scenes
284 285
Scene Command - New Scene Scene Command - New Scene
Render a Scene
Modify a Scene
286 287
Adding a View to a Scene 20.2
288 289
Chapter 21
Backgrounds
290 291
Solid Background Solid Background
292 293
Gradient Background 21.2
294 295
Image Background Image Background
296 297
Merge Background 21.4
298 299
Chapter 22
Landscaping
300 301
Edit a Landscape Object Edit a Landscape Object
Placing a New Landscape Object 22.1
302 303
Editing an Existing Landscape Object 22.2
304 305
Landscape Library & Render Landscapes Landscape Library & Render Landscapes
306 307
Chapter 23
Misc. Render Commands
308 309
Raytracing 23.1
Introduction
Ray Tracing is a global illumination based rendering method. It traces rays of light from the eye
back through the image plane into the scene. Then the rays are tested against all objects in the
scene to determine if they intersect any objects. If the ray misses all objects, then that pixel is
shaded the background color. Ray tracing handles shadows, multiple specular reflections, and
texture mapping in a very easy straight-forward manner.
Note that ray tracing, like scan-line graphics, is a point sampling algorithm. We sample a
continuous image in world coordinates by shooting one or more rays through each pixel. Like all
point sampling algorithms, this leads to the potential problem of aliasing, which is manifested in
computer graphics by jagged edges or other nasty visual artifacts.
In ray tracing, a ray of light is traced in a backwards direction. That is, we start from the eye or
camera and trace the ray through a pixel in the image plane into the scene and determine what it
hits. The pixel is then set to the color values returned by the ray.
www.siggraph.org/education/ materials/HyperGraph/raytrace/rtrace0.htm
310 311
Raytracing & Subsampling Options Raytracing & Subsampling Options
312 313
Adaptive Sampling 23.3
314 315
Raytracing & Subsampling Options Raytracing & Subsampling Options
316 317
Raytracing & Subsampling Options Raytracing & Subsampling Options
318 319
Fog & Render Preferences Fog & Render Preferences
Fog 23.6
320 321
Render Statistics Render Statistics
322 323