Mastering Autodesk^® VIZ 2007

by George Omura; Scott Onstott; Jon McFarland

• ISBN13: 9780470072721
• ISBN10: 0470072725
• Edition: CD
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2006-10-01
• Publisher: Sybex

Summary

Turn Your Ideas Into High-Impact 3D Models and Animations Transform flat drawings and concepts into impressive 3D visualizations that will amaze your clients with the comprehensive instruction you'll find in Mastering Autodesk VIZ 2007. Written by VIZ experts, this book shows you how to get the most out of the latest version of Autodesk's powerful 3D design, modeling, and animation tool with an in-depth, tutorial-based approach grounded in real-world examples. This new edition has been fully updated and revised to cover all of Autodesk VIZ 2007's new features--asset tracking, revamped Xrefs, an updated interface, and the improved rendering and editing tools--and it's packed with professional techniques you can apply immediately to your own work for striking results. Whether you're new to VIZ or simply want to master the latest features, this book offers the clear explanations and step-by-step instructions you need to create, animate, and render realistic architectural visualizations with VIZ 2007. Coverage includes: * Creating complex shapes with surface modeling tools * Using, organizing, and editing objects and meshes * Efficiently managing design data * Adding natural lighting effects * Staging a virtual walk-through of your room designs for clients * Applying radiosity to create lifelike views * Employing mental ray to achieve high-res rendering * Using AutoCAD and Photoshop(r) with VIZ * Exporting content to the Web Featured on the CD You'll find a trial version of VIZ 2007 plus project files for all of the book's exercises. Master VIZ 2007's great new features, including asset tracking, scene states, new modeling and texturing enhancements, batch rendering, and improved interoperability with other Autodesk products. Create 3D models quickly and intuitively using the new edit poly tools and Sweep modifier. Work effectively with lights, materials, and cameras. Animate your models and create interactive views. George Omura was cited as favorite CAD author by members of the Autodesk User Group International (AUGI) in AUGIWorld magazine's "Best of Everything CAD" issue, November/December 2003. www.sybex.com

Author Biography

George Omura is a licensed architect, award-winning Autodesk Authorized Author, and all-time bestselling AutoCAD author. Some of his other AutoCAD books include Just Enough AutoCAD 2007 and Mastering AutoCAD 2007 and AutoCAD LT 2007 (Sybex).

Scott Onstott has contributed to more than a dozen books on AutoCAD and other applications, including Mastering Autodesk Architectural Desktop 2006 (Sybex).

Jon McFarland manages a property development company's design department, where he uses AutoCAD and VIZ to create visualizations of proposed facility construction and expansions. He has also taught VIZ, AutoCAD, and 3ds Max® courses at the university level.

Table of Contents

Introduction	xv
Getting to Know VIZ	1	(54)
Introducing VIZ 2007 Features	1	(1)
Getting Started	2	(1)
Touring the Interface	3	(18)
The Main Menu Bar	3	(2)
The Main Toolbar	5	(1)
Docked and Floating Toolbars	6	(2)
Toolbar Flyouts	8	(1)
Tool Palettes	9	(1)
The Viewport	10	(1)
Tools for Working with the Viewport	11	(2)
Tools for Working with Time	13	(1)
Getting to Know the Command Panel	14	(1)
Understanding VIZ's Tools	15	(6)
Working with Objects	21	(16)
Selecting and Moving Objects	21	(3)
Rotating and Scaling Objects	24	(4)
Copying an Object	28	(1)
Selecting Multiple Objects	29	(5)
Naming Selection Sets	34	(1)
Editing Named Selection Sets	35	(2)
Getting the View You Want	37	(15)
Understanding the Perspective Viewing Tools	37	(5)
Using Multiple Viewports	42	(3)
Changing the Viewport Display and Configuration	45	(7)
Working with the Custom UI and Defaults Switcher	52	(2)
Summary	54	(1)
Introducing VIZ Objects	55	(50)
Understanding Standard Primitives	55	(13)
Adjusting an Object's Parameters	58	(6)
Accessing Parameters	64	(1)
Introducing the Standard Primitive Tools	64	(4)
Modeling Standard Primitives with Modifiers	68	(10)
Adding a Modifier	68	(3)
Accessing Modifier Parameters	71	(3)
Inserting Modifiers Where You Want Them	74	(2)
Using the Modifier Stack Tools	76	(2)
How VIZ Sees Objects	78	(1)
Making Clones That Share Properties	79	(12)
Creating an Instance Clone	79	(2)
Creating a Reference Clone	81	(3)
Scaling and Rotating Objects with Transform Tools	84	(4)
Making a Clone Unique	88	(1)
Cloning a Modifier	88	(3)
Introducing Extended Primitives	91	(7)
Modeling a Couch	91	(7)
Working with Groups	98	(5)
Grouping the Components of the Couch	98	(2)
Working within Groups	100	(2)
Disassembling Groups	102	(1)
Summary	103	(2)
Creating Shapes with Splines	105	(60)
Drawing with Splines	106	(6)
Drawing Straight-Line Segments	107	(1)
Constraining Lines Vertically and Horizontally	108	(1)
Drawing Curves	109	(2)
Lathing a Spline	111	(1)
Modifying a Shape Using Subobject Levels	112	(15)
Adjusting the Lathe Axis	113	(2)
Flipping Surface Normals	115	(1)
Smoothing Spline Corners	116	(4)
Adjusting Tangent Handles	120	(3)
Creating Thickness with a Spline	123	(4)
Outlining and Extruding Splines	127	(13)
Drawing Accurate Line Splines	127	(3)
Giving Walls Thickness	130	(1)
Using Grids and Snaps to Align Objects Accurately	131	(7)
Adjusting a Wall Location	138	(2)
Combining and Extruding Primitive Splines	140	(6)
Combining Splines	141	(5)
Joining Closed Splines with Boolean Tools	146	(4)
Creating a Solid Form with Splines	150	(3)
Introducing the Spline Types	153	(4)
Editing Splines	157	(1)
Placing and Beveling Text	158	(5)
Summary	163	(2)
Editing Meshes and Creating Complex Objects	165	(74)
Creating Openings in a Wall with Boolean Operations	165	(9)
Hiding Shapes That Get in the Way	166	(2)
Creating the Shape of the Opening	168	(1)
Subtracting the Opening from the Wall	169	(2)
Creating Multiple Openings in a Single Wall	171	(1)
Making Changes to the Opening	172	(2)
Tracing over a Sketch	174	(17)
Importing a Bitmap Image	175	(2)
Scaling the Image to the Model's Space	177	(2)
Tracing Over the Image	179	(3)
Building Objects from Traced Lines	182	(9)
Editing Meshes	191	(15)
Creating a Tapered Wall	191	(3)
Converting the Spline to a Mesh	194	(4)
Moving a Single Mesh Vertex	198	(6)
Tapering the Top of the Wall	204	(2)
Using Instance Clones to Create Symmetric Forms	206	(18)
Adding a User Grid to Aid Tracing	206	(1)
Building the Tower Walls	207	(4)
Adding the Vaulted Ceiling	211	(6)
Creating the Smaller Towers	217	(3)
Drawing the Remaining Walls	220	(4)
Attaching Objects to a Mesh	224	(3)
Smoothing Meshes	227	(4)
Smoothing within a Mesh	227	(3)
The Smooth Modifier	230	(1)
Creating Clones with Array and Snapshot	231	(7)
Creating a Column Grid With Array	231	(3)
Creating a Multitransform Polar Array	234	(2)
Creating Multiple Clones Using Snapshot	236	(2)
Summary	238	(1)
Creating AEC and Entourage Objects	239	(28)
Using AEC Objects	239	(16)
Creating a Parametric Wall	239	(3)
Adding Doors and Windows to Walls	242	(4)
Changing Elevations with Stairs	246	(3)
Setting Boundaries with Railings	249	(4)
Adding Foliage to a Scene	253	(2)
Creating Trees with the EASYnat Plug-in	255	(5)
Creating an EASYnat Plant	255	(3)
Modifying an EASYnat Plant	258	(2)
Adding Content with the RPC Plug-in	260	(6)
Adding a Static RPC	261	(2)
Adding an Animated RPC	263	(3)
Summary	266	(1)
Organizing and Editing Objects	267	(56)
Naming Objects	267	(3)
Organizing Objects by Layers	270	(9)
Setting Up Layers	272	(1)
Assigning Objects to Layers	273	(1)
Assigning Color to Layers	274	(2)
Controlling Object Visibility through Layers	276	(3)
Lofting the Roof	279	(22)
Setting Up the Shapes to Form the Roof Edge	280	(5)
Lofting an Object	285	(2)
Adjusting the Loft Profile in Relation to the Loft Path	287	(2)
Fine-Tuning a Loft Object	289	(2)
Using Different Shapes along the Loft Path	291	(4)
Adding a Third Shape to the Loft	295	(3)
Using the Path Clone to Edit the Loft Path	298	(3)
Creating Surfaces from Splines	301	(8)
Building the Spline Armature	302	(2)
Deforming the Armature	304	(5)
Creating Shells from Surfaces	309	(1)
Completing the Roof	310	(6)
Tracing the Border	310	(2)
Working with Booleans	312	(2)
Putting the Roofs Together	314	(2)
Extruding with the Sweep Modifier	316	(3)
Aligning Objects	319	(3)
Summary	322	(1)
Light and Shadow	323	(48)
Lighting Your Model	323	(8)
Understanding the Types of Lights	323	(2)
Adding a Spotlight to Simulate the Sun	325	(1)
Moving a Light	326	(2)
Editing a Spotlight	328	(1)
Changing the Light Type	329	(2)
Rendering a View	331	(3)
Ambient Light	334	(12)
Faking Radiosity	336	(4)
Adding a Highlight with an Omni Light	340	(2)
Looking at Omni Light Options	342	(4)
Adding Shadow Effects	346	(11)
Softening Shadow Edges	348	(1)
Understanding Shadow Maps	349	(3)
Using Ray Traced Shadows	352	(2)
Using Advanced Ray Traced Shadows and Area Shadows	354	(3)
Playing in the Shadows	357	(8)
Using Two Suns	357	(2)
Adding a Second Sun	359	(2)
Using Invisible Objects to Cast Shadows	361	(2)
Using a Clone to Cast Shadows	363	(2)
Using the Light Lister	365	(2)
Using Scene States	367	(3)
Summary	370	(1)
Enhancing Models with Materials	371	(68)
Understanding Bitmap Texture Maps	371	(5)
Diffuse Color Maps	372	(4)
Surface Properties	376	(1)
Adding Materials to Objects	376	(16)
Adding a Map Path to Help VIZ Find Bitmaps	377	(7)
Fine-Tuning Color	384	(2)
Understanding Material Libraries	386	(1)
Adding Material Mapping Coordinates	386	(6)
Understanding Mapping Coordinates	392	(9)
What Happens When You Add the Mapping Coordinates	392	(2)
Adjusting the UVW Map Gizmo	394	(7)
Editing Materials	401	(5)
Adjusting Bitmap Strength	401	(3)
Adjusting the Material Color	404	(1)
Copying Color Settings	405	(1)
Selecting Shaders	406	(1)
Map Scalar Modifiers	407	(3)
Using Bump Maps	410	(3)
Adding Entourage	413	(8)
Hiding Unwanted Surfaces with Opacity Maps	413	(7)
Adjusting an Object to a Bitmap Shape	420	(1)
Ray Tracing Reflection and Refraction	421	(2)
Assigning Materials to Parts of an Object	423	(7)
Opening a Group	423	(1)
Creating a Multi/Sub-Object Material	424	(3)
Applying a Sub-Material to an Object's Surface	427	(3)
Using the Architectural Material	430	(4)
The Physical Qualities Rollout	432	(2)
The Special Effects Rollout	434	(1)
The Material Utilities	434	(4)
Summary	438	(1)
Staging Your Design	439	(30)
Understanding the VIZ Camera	439	(9)
Adding a Camera	440	(3)
Editing the Camera Location with the Viewport Tools	443	(5)
Setting Up an Interior View	448	(1)
Creating an Environment	449	(9)
Making Adjustments to the Background	452	(6)
Immersive Environments for Animation	458	(5)
Creating a Credible Background	458	(2)
Using a Texture Map and Hemisphere for the Sky	460	(3)
Using Render Types	463	(3)
Render Elements for Compositing	466	(2)
Summary	468	(1)
Working with Files	469	(30)
Gaining Access to Materials and Objects from Other Files	469	(7)
Arranging Furniture with XRefs and the Asset Browser	476	(2)
Replacing Objects with Objects from an External File	478	(7)
Substituting Objects for Faster Viewport Performance	480	(1)
Importing Files with the Asset Browser	481	(4)
Arranging Furniture with XRef Scenes	485	(4)
Using the Rendered Frame Windows	489	(4)
Printing Images	490	(1)
Opening Multiple Rendered Frame Windows for Comparisons	491	(1)
Zooming, Panning, and Controlling Channels in the Rendered Frame Window	491	(1)
Obtaining Colors from External Bitmap Files	492	(1)
Using the Asset Browser on the Internet	493	(3)
Tracking and Locating Scene's Assets	496	(1)
Summary	497	(2)
Using Radiosity	499	(64)
Adding Daylight to Your Model	499	(5)
Understanding the Radiosity Workflow	504	(12)
Refining Your Radiosity Solution	504	(2)
Setting the Material Reflectivity	506	(4)
Understanding the Radiosity Mesh	510	(6)
Creating a Finished Rendering	516	(7)
Working with Artificial Lights	523	(12)
Using Photometric Lights	524	(4)
Using a Shortcut to Generic Light Fixtures	528	(1)
Importing the Photometric Lights Using XRefs	528	(2)
Adjusting Shadows for Photometric Lights	530	(5)
Understanding Photometric Lights	535	(5)
Points Are Bulbs, Linears Are Tubes, and Areas Are Rectangles	535	(1)
Controlling the Direction of Lights	536	(1)
Understanding Web Distribution	536	(2)
Specifying the Color Temperature and Light Intensity	538	(2)
Specifying Linear and Area Light Dimensions	540	(1)
Understanding Dynamic Range	540	(4)
Assembling an Articulated Luminaire	544	(17)
Transforming Pivot Points	544	(2)
Aligning the Light Source with the Fixture	546	(1)
Using Schematic View	546	(15)
Summary	561	(2)
Using mental ray	563	(34)
Understanding mental ray	563	(7)
Setting Up mental ray	565	(2)
The Material Editor and mental ray	567	(3)
Using Photon Maps	570	(13)
Testing the Photon Map Effects	572	(11)
Final Gathering	583	(3)
Reviewing the Basic mental ray Workflow	585	(1)
Contour Renderings	586	(2)
Skylight Global Illumination	588	(5)
Image-Based Lighting and Skylight	592	(1)
Using High Dynamic Range Images	593	(3)
Summary	596	(1)
Understanding Animation	597	(50)
Understanding the World of Video Time	597	(1)
Creating a Quick Study Animation	598	(10)
Adding Camera Motion	599	(3)
Adjusting the Camera Path	602	(2)
Viewing the Camera Trajectory	604	(1)
Controlling the Camera Trajectory Visibility	605	(1)
Creating a Preview Animation	606	(2)
Understanding Keyframes	608	(2)
Increasing the Number of Frames in an Animation Segment	610	(2)
Accelerating and Decelerating the Camera Motion Smoothly	612	(3)
Editing Keyframes	615	(3)
Adding More Frames for Additional Camera Motion	618	(19)
Adding Frames to the End of a Segment	618	(3)
Adjusting the Camera Motion through a Keyframe	621	(4)
Compressing and Expanding Time	625	(5)
Adjusting the Camera Trajectory Using the Track View	630	(5)
Increasing the Number of Frames between Selected Keys	635	(2)
Speeding Up the Preview Rendering Time	637	(1)
Adding Frames to the Beginning of a Segment	637	(2)
Other Options for Previewing Your Motion	639	(2)
Moving the Camera Target over Time	641	(1)
Controlling Lights over Time	642	(4)
Summary	646	(1)
Creating Animations	647	(28)
Rendering the Animation	647	(9)
Creating a Study Animation	648	(3)
Creating a Quick Overall Study Animation	651	(1)
Adding a Moving Car	652	(4)
Automating Output of Multiple Still Images	656	(6)
Setting Up a Camera for Elevations	657	(1)
Setting Up the Four Elevations	658	(4)
Rendering a Shadow Study	662	(3)
Adjusting for True North	662	(2)
Changing from IES Sun to a Standard Light	664	(1)
Creating a Walkthrough	665	(4)
The Animation File Output Options	669	(5)
True Color versus 256 Colors	672	(1)
File Naming in Animations	672	(1)
Choosing an Image Size	672	(1)
The AVI Codecs	673	(1)
Summary	674	(1)
Using Photoshop with VIZ	675	(54)
The Photoshop Interface and VIZ	675	(1)
Creating a Tree Map in Photoshop	676	(8)
Selecting Areas in an Image	677	(4)
Selecting Areas with the Lasso	681	(1)
Selecting Specific Colors	682	(2)
Creating an Opacity Map	684	(10)
Using Quick Mask to Fine-Tune Your Selection	685	(1)
Transferring a Selection to a New File	686	(1)
Changing a Color to Black	687	(1)
Softening the Edges with the Airbrush Tool	688	(2)
Saving Images with Alpha Channels	690	(1)
Using Alpha Channel Images in VIZ	691	(3)
Using Photoshop to Create a Montage	694	(5)
Adding a Tree in the Foreground	697	(2)
Creating Bump Maps for Elaborate Textures	699	(17)
Using AutoCAD for the Outline	700	(3)
Building Textures in Photoshop	703	(5)
Testing the Image in VIZ	708	(2)
Adding Irregularity and Color to the Material	710	(2)
Adding Color through Photoshop	712	(4)
Modeling with Displacement Maps	716	(4)
Using the Displace Modifier	717	(3)
Using the Material Editor to Create Displaced Geometry	720	(7)
Converting a Displacement Map into an Editable Mesh	724	(1)
Creating an Editable Mesh from a Displacement Map	725	(2)
Summary	727	(2)
Combining Photographs with VIZ Designs	729	(40)
Mesh Editing with a Photograph	729	(16)
Establishing the Basic Form	730	(3)
Moving Vertices	733	(3)
Adding Curvature	736	(8)
Smoothing the Surface	744	(1)
Adding Detail with Photographs	745	(11)
Creating a Material for the Car Side	745	(2)
Adding the UVW Map Modifier	747	(2)
Adding the Front to the Car	749	(5)
Smoothing the Mesh	754	(2)
Matching Your Design to a Background Image	756	(11)
Setting Up the Model and the Image	757	(1)
Adding the Background Image	758	(1)
Adding the Camera Match Points	759	(3)
Aligning the Camera Match Points to the Background Image	762	(3)
Fine-Tuning a Camera-Matched View	765	(1)
Matching the Design Image Quality to the Background	765	(2)
Summary	767	(2)
Using AutoCAD-Based Applications with VIZ	769	(44)
Creating Topography with Splines	770	(8)
Updating Changes from an AutoCAD File	774	(1)
Exploring Terrain Options	775	(3)
Setting Up an AutoCAD Plan for VIZ	778	(5)
Importing AutoCAD Plans into VIZ	783	(11)
Extruding the Walls	785	(1)
Extruding Headers	786	(1)
Extruding the Mullions	787	(1)
Adding Glass	787	(2)
Creating a Floor with Openings	789	(5)
Exploring the File Link Manager	794	(14)
Editing Linked AutoCAD Files	796	(1)
Understanding the Block Node Hierarchy	797	(3)
Understanding the File Link Manager Options	800	(1)
Understanding File Link Settings	801	(5)
Using the Substitute Modifier with Linked Geometry	806	(2)
Importing a Truss	808	(3)
Summary	811	(2)
Exporting to the Web	813	(34)
Creating Panoramas	814	(5)
Making Virtual Reality Worlds	819	(16)
Installing a VRML Client	820	(1)
Virtual Helpers	820	(2)
Building a Virtual World	822	(8)
Exporting the VRML File	830	(1)
Exploring the World	831	(4)
Exporting Shockwave 3D Content	835	(2)
Using Render to Texture for Real-Time Models	837	(9)
Calculating Advanced Lighting Data	837	(3)
Baking Lighting into Textures	840	(3)
Examining the Baked Materials and Mapping	843	(3)
Summary	846	(1)
Appendix A Installation Notes	847	(6)
Installing VIZ	847	(2)
Moving VIZ to Another Computer	849	(2)
Visit the Autodesk Website Often	851	(2)
Appendix B Modifiers and Materials	853	(26)
Modifiers	853	(18)
Selection Modifiers	853	(1)
World-Space Modifiers	854	(2)
Object-Space Modifiers	856	(15)
Materials and Maps	871	(8)
Materials (Blue Sphere)	872	(3)
Maps (Green Parallelogram)	875	(4)
Appendix C Patches and NURBS Surfaces	879	(8)
Understanding Patches	879	(3)
Converting a Plane into an Editable Patch	879	(1)
Converting Other Standard Primitives to Editable Patches	880	(2)
Understanding NURBS	882	(5)
Looking at NURBS Curves	882	(2)
Creating NURBS Surfaces from Standard Primitives	884	(1)
Applying a NURBS Deformation to an Object	885	(2)
Appendix D Helpers and Effects	887	(14)
Helpers	887	(4)
Standard Helpers	887	(4)
Atmospheric Apparatus	891	(1)
Camera Match	891	(1)
Assembly Heads	891	(1)
VRML97	891	(1)
RPC Helpers	891	(1)
Effects	891	(10)
Atmospheric Effects	892	(4)
Rendering Effects	896	(5)
Index	901