Transitioning from 2D to 3D AutoCAD drawings 107

When creating a 3D model, it can be useful to view it as a wireframe so that you can easily see and snap to points that might otherwise be obscured in a hidden or shaded view.

However, viewing your model as a wireframe can make it difficult to tell the top from the bottom or the front from the back. If you look at a wireframe model long enough you might convince yourself that it is upside-down or inside out.

For fun (because I’m sure you have tons of spare time), look at the images above and try to determine which side is up and then look at them a little longer and see if you can convince yourself of the opposite.

Now look at the exact same views with shading applied. This particular shading is using the Conceptual Visual Style.

Visual Styles are new in AutoCAD 2007. They replace the old Shade Modes that were available in previous releases but are considerably more powerful. Even if you aren’t ready to explore all the power of visual styles, I think you’ll find their most basic functionality useful to visually orient yourself within your 3D model. I use the Dashboard in AutoCAD 2007 to quickly switch between different visual styles as I’m creating my 3D model.

1. From the Dashboard, open the Visual Styles drop-down list. This displays image tiles that represent all the defined visual styles. AutoCAD 2007 includes 5 default visual styles: 2D Wireframe, 3D Hidden, 3D Wireframe, Conceptual, and Realistic.
2. Select the visual style you wish to use. I typically switch between the 3D Wireframe and the Conceptual visual styles but you might prefer to use others or to create your own. Continue to switch visual styles as often as necessary throughout the modeling process.

View Animation