VideoCAD

Graphics window

 Graphics area

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Graphics window

 Graphics area

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Graphics window

 Graphics area

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See Graphics area location.

 

The graphics area contains two projections of the current layout.

 

A thick black line designating the ground in vertical (upper) projection parts these two projections.

 

You can hide any projection using the tools Hide horizontal projection and Hide vertical projection or using the corresponding items of the Main menu.

 

Main work is carried out as a rule in the horizontal projection. Vertical projection is used only in some cases.  In the Vertical projection cameras and constructions are shown relative to the ground without taking into account base heights of layers and base heights of cameras.

 

When drawing a camera in the vertical projection of the Graphics window, its height will be equal to the sum of the camera installation height, the base height of the camera and the height in the parameters of the group to which the camera belongs, if the Base heights of cameras in vertical projection checkbox is checked.

 

The background color in the graphics area can be changed.

 

Navigation

Coordinate systems

Types of objects

Possible states of objects

Normal state

Selected state

Editing state ( active state of cameras )

Hidden state

Graphical editing state of active camera

 

Navigation

 

Wheel Mouse is particularly convenient when working in the graphics window. Using the Wheel mouse you can change drawing scale with the simultaneous zooming in the drawing sections pointed by the cursor.

 

If Ctrl is not pressed at changing the scale, then the scale changes roughly which is convenient at navigation.

If Ctrl is pressed, the scale changes with the less step which is convenient for the precise drawing positioning before printing or saving.

 

The Step and direction of scaling can be changed in wide range via Scale factor in the Options box.

 

You can move the drawing by pressing and holding down the mouse wheel (or the middle button). If Ctrl is not pressed, the entire drawing is dragged, if Ctrl is pressed, the horizontal projection is dragged only.

 

You can move drawing using horizontal and vertical scroll bars.

 

When Alt is pressed, it is possible to move drawing in the Graphics window using arrow keys and change scale using plus and minus keys irrespective of the input focus.

 

To increase any screen area press in the corner of the area and hold the right mouse button then move the mouse with the right button pressed. At the same time you will see zoom window. After releasing the button, the area inside the zoom window will be shown on the full screen.

 

 

There is an opportunity of quick navigation with the help of text markers.

 

Since all the constructions in VideoCAD are made by two clicks, but not by pressing and release the mouse button, so it is very convenient to combine constructions with quick navigation.

 

To show all cameras and constructions, use item of the Main menu or Pop-up menu: Scale>Show all.

 

Coordinate systems

 

The graphics area allows to use 2 coordinate systems:

 

Fixed coordinate system
Float coordinate system attached to the Active camera

 

In case of Fixed coordinate system, the origin of coordinates does not vary when changing the active camera. The origin of coordinates is displayed by two icons in horizontal and vertical projections. You can change a point of origin after choosing the menu item View > Set origin.

 

In case of the coordinate system attached to the active camera, the origin always coincides with the active camera location. It is convenient when studying its view area.

A grid is fixed to the origin of coordinates, and the counting of the cursor current coordinates in the status bar starts from the origin.

 

The Status bar on the left end shows the origin type: CAM - active camera, ORG - specified origin. By clicking on this area, you can call the pop-up menu to select the type of origin and set the origin point on the layout.

 

Types of objects

 

The graphics area may contain the following objects:

 

Cameras

 

Possible states of objects

 

All the objects except for the backgrounds and titles can take one of the following states:

 

Normal;
Editing (active state of camera);
Hidden;
Graphical editing state of active camera.

 

You can change object's state with the help of the Select/Edit tool.

To hide objects use the Hide Main menu item.

To switch the active camera to the graphical editing state use the Edit active camera button .

 

         Normal state

 

An object is displayed in its usual color. Editing and moving is not possible.

 

         Selected state

 

An object is displayed in pink color. It is possible to delete, drag, move, rotate, change draw order, scale, mirror and copy the object.

Several objects can be selected at a time.

If only one object is selected, then it itself goes into the editing state.

 

You can select objects by clicking or by capturing by the selection window in the Select/Edit mode.

 

If there are selected objects on the layout, the Selection Editing Panel appears. On the panel, you can set parameters for all selected objects at once.

 

Selected objects can be filtered by many parameters using the Selection Filter.

 

Selected Illuminator displays its Light intensity distribution curve.

 

 

 

If a 3D  model has non zero speed, then the velocity vector is displayed.

 

If 3D model is selected then length of the velocity vector equals to the distance in meters (feet) which the 3D model passes per second (crimson arrow).

If 3D model is in the normal state, the length of the velocity vector equals to the distance which the 3D model passes for the period between successive frames of the Active camera (black arrow).

 

The length of the velocity vector of a 3D model in the normal state is inversely proportional to the frame rate of the active camera. Thus we can see how many times the moving 3D model gets into the frame of the active camera.

 

An object may be not  available for selection if it is on an inaccessible layer. A camera may be not available for selection if it belongs to an inaccessible group of cameras or is on an inaccessible layer.

 

         Editing state ( active state of cameras )

 

Object's base points are marked with pink grips, camera name and icon are marked with red color, texts are displayed in pop-up frame.

 

Tools acting on selected objects also affect objects in the editing state.

 

 

 

In the editing state, 3D models are displayed with square grips and pink circle.

 

The editing state can be taken only by one of the objects and one camera at a time.

One of the cameras is always Active.

If only one object is selected, then it itself goes into the editing state.

 

Switching an object to the editing state is performed by double clicking the object in the Select/Edit mode.

 

To switch illuminator to editing state double-click on its center.

 

An object may be not  available for selection if it is on an inaccessible layer. A camera may be  not available for selection if it belongs to an inaccessible group of cameras or is on an inaccessible layer.

 

       How to edit objects

 

You can change the shape and geometrical sizes of the objects and edit the texts. The line types of the objects and the fonts of the texts can be changed, too.

To edit an object click beside a base point with a grip and move the cursor. After clicking for the second time, the changed object will be saved.

When on one side of a construction a circle appears, the construction can be rotated around its axis by gripping the circle by the mouse.

 

When editing a rectangle or a mask, then several points will move at a time, the rectangle or the mask remaining square.

If Ctrl is pressed when editing a rectangle or a mask, then one point will move only.

 

When editing the Double line or Wall, the whole Double line or Wall will be moved.

If Ctrl is pressed when editing the double line or wall, only one line will be moved.

 

When clicking the text twice the pop-up frame appears allowing to edit text in it. When clicking the right mouse button the pop-up menu of text editing appears in the frame.

 

To edit parameters of illuminators  move pink grips keep Ctrl pressed.

 

You can rotate the 3D model by the mouse using the circle, scale 3D model on X and Y axis using the square grips. You can move the 3D model by pressing the left mouse button on the 3D model, as well as in the selected state.. Sizes of 3D models can be edited with the help of the Current construction parameter panel or by changing line type.

 

You can edit the velocity vector of 3D model in editing state by moving its terminus.

 

To remove a point from the Polygon move that point to an adjacent point. To add a point to the Polygon move the adjacent point holding Ctrl.

It is possible to change object's parameters in editing state on the current construction parameters panel which automatically appears in the bottom of graphics window.

You can edit the object by changing parameters on the panel.

If there are selected objects on the layout, the Selection Editing Panel appears. On the panel, you can set parameters for all selected objects at once.

 

Selected objects can be filtered by many parameters using the Selection Filter.

 

Limited editing of a newly placed object is possible by moving the pink grips or changing the parameters on the current construction parameters panel.

 

       Active camera

 

Pay attention that the icon of one of cameras is highlighted in red, and icons of other cameras are colorless. One of cameras is always active.

 

The active camera parameters are displayed in the Camera Geometry box, Sensitivity and Resolution, Depth of field box, Pixel density.

The active camera itself is displayed on the foreground in the Graphics window.

 

In the 3D Video there is an image from the active camera.

 

To switch camera to active state double-click on it.

You can fast activate any camera in the project using the Active camera combo box on the Tool bar. To activate a camera, just choose its name in the list.

To find the active camera on the layout, right click on the combo box then choose Find camera item.

 

The active camera parameters can be changed both using the boxes and graphically with the tools of the Active camera group. With the help of the View button group you can change the appearance of view area projections of the active camera.

 

For tilting and panning the active camera on the layout in Select /edit mode:

 

Move the cursor to the pink grip in the middle of the view area bound. Thereupon, the point will be outlined by red square;
Click on it by mouse;
Move the cursor;
To stop tilting or panning click once again on a point where the middle of the view area bound is to be located.

 

To change lens focal length of the active camera on the layout in Select /edit mode:

 

Move the cursor to any orange grip on the ends of view area bound. Thereupon, the point will be outlined by red square;
Click on it by mouse;
Move the cursor;
To stop changing focal length click once again on a point where the end of view area bound is to be located.

 

         Hidden state

 

An object is displayed on the background in light grey color. 3D objects are displayed as grey frames. The rest characteristics are similar to those of normal state.

 

The hidden state is used to conceal the temporarily interfering objects.

 

Constructions in the hidden state is not exported to AutoCAD formats.

 

The snap Extension is disabled for hidden objects.

 

Several objects can be hidden at a time.

 

To hide an object use Select/Edit and Hide tools.

 

See also: Layers - Hidden;

 

       Graphical editing state of active camera

 

The Active camera can take the Graphical editing state . In this case the objects in the horizontal projection rotate so that the direction of the camera lens main optical axis becomes parallel to a screen plane, and the bounds of active camera view area are marked with lines of double thickness.

 

The lower and upper bounds of view area displayed by horizontal green lines.

If the active camera has pixel density displayed, the horizontal red line indicates height of pixel density measurement.

 

Click to expand
Click to expand

The graphical editing state enables a detailed analysis of view area using the test object, in the vertical projection it becomes possible graphical calculation of depth of field, study of the vertical projection of the built-in IR illumination zone, pixel density analysis and field-of-view sizing at any point of view area. In the graphical editing state the Test object is visible in the 3D Video.

 

In the graphical editing state of the active camera, selection and rotation of the active camera is blocked to prevent displacement of the background, constructions and cameras relative to each other on other layouts.

 

To switch active camera to the graphical editing use the Edit active camera button .