VRED 2015 Fundamentals

Autodesk

VRED™ Professional 2015

Fundamentals

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Table of Contents

Preface ...v Class Files ...vii Chapter 1 Introduction to Autodesk VRED Professional ...1-1 1.1 Overview of Autodesk VRED Professional ...1-3 1.2 Overview of the Interface ...1-6 1. Menu Bar ...1-7 2. Icons Bar...1-9 3. Quick Access Toolbar...1-14 4. Modules ...1-15 5. Render Window ...1-19 6. Status Bar ...1-23 1.3 Navigating a Scene...1-24 1.4 Opening Files ...1-27 Import Options ...1-30 1.5 Preferences ...1-32 FileIO ...1-33 Main Window ...1-34 Navigator ...1-35 Render Options...1-35 Selection ...1-37 Transform ...1-37 1.6 Saving Files...1-38

Practice 1a Working with the Autodesk VRED Professional Interface... 1-42 Chapter 2 Data Preparation...2-1 2.1 Selecting Objects...2-3 Selection Display Styles ...2-4 Selection Methods ...2-5 2.2 Scenegraph ...2-8 Scenegraph Hierarchy ...2-9 Node Types ...2-10 Scenegraph Shortcut Menu ...2-11 Working in the Scenegraph ...2-12 2.3 Adjust a Model ...2-18 Surface Normals ...2-18

2.4 Transforming Geometry...2-22 Using the Transform Manipulator ...2-22 Using the Transform Module ...2-25 Practice 2a Selecting and Organizing the Scene ... 2-26 Practice 2b Adjusting and Transforming Objects in the

Scene... 2-42 Chapter 3 Materials ...3-1 3.1 Introduction to Materials...3-3 3.2 Managing Materials ...3-5 Groups, Tags Section ...3-7 Preview Section ...3-12 Attributes Section...3-13 Material Editor Toolbar ...3-14 3.3 Assigning Materials...3-16 3.4 Autodesk VRED Truelight Materials ...3-19 Common Truelight Material Attributes ...3-21 Texture Channels ...3-21 Truelight Materials ...3-24 3.5 Ambient Occlusion ...3-32 Practice 3a Converting Materials... 3-35 Practice 3b Creating New Materials ... 3-48 Practice 3c Calculating Ambient Occlusion ... 3-58 Chapter 4 Camera and Lighting...4-1 4.1 Cameras...4-3 Camera Attributes...4-6 Viewpoint ...4-9 Practice 4a Working with the Camera ... 4-10 4.2 Environments...4-19 Practice 4b Creating the Environment ... 4-23 4.3 Lights ...4-32 Light Sources and the Scenegraph ...4-33 Types of Lights ...4-34 Light Attributes...4-37 Practice 4c Working with Lights... 4-41 Chapter 5 Rendering...5-1 5.1 Rendering ...5-3 OpenGL Rendering...5-3 Raytracing...5-4 5.2 Rendering Modes...5-6

5.3 Render Settings ...5-11 File Output Tab ...5-12 General Settings Tab...5-14 Raytracing Quality Tab ...5-17 Practice 5a Creating Renderings with OpenGL... 5-20 Practice 5b Creating Renderings with Raytracing ... 5-28 Appendix A Simple User Interface ... A-1 A.1 Simple User Interface ... A-3 Menu Bar ... A-4 Icons Bar... A-4 Quick Access Bar ... A-4 Status Bar ... A-5 Render Window ... A-5 Scene Module... A-5 A.2 Scene Module... A-6 Scenegraph Tab ... A-6 Materials Tab ... A-9 Environments Tab... A-12 Camera Tab... A-14 Lights Tab ... A-17 Settings Tab... A-19

Preface

The Autodesk® VRED™ Professional software is a visualization, analysis, and presentation tool for automotive and industrial designs. The software enables you to create high-quality, real-time renderings to realistically visualize, evaluate, and review your design ideas, and present the rendered models as design prototypes. The Autodesk VRED Professional 2015

Fundamentals training guide covers the essential core topics

that will enable you to import 3D CAD data, optimize geometry, assign Autodesk VRED Truelight materials, add cameras and lights, and create rendered images in both the OpenGL and Raytracing rendering modes.

The topics in this training guide include the following:

• Understanding the Autodesk VRED Professional interface and navigating the scene.

• Open 3D CAD data to display it as a real-time rendering. • Organizing the parts and optimizing the geometry in the

Scenegraph.

• Adjusting the model and transforming the parts.

• Working with Truelight materials and assigning them to enhance the visual display of the objects.

• Adding cameras and viewpoints to a scene.

• Setting environments and using HDR images as a scene background.

• Adding light sources for additional illumination.

• Creating rendered images using the OpenGL render mode. • Working with the Raytracing render mode to produce

high-quality visualizations.

Icon Reference Chart

The following icons are used throughout this training guide to help you to quickly and easily find helpful information.

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Indicates the Learning Objectives that are covered in the current chapter or section of the training guide.

Class Files

To download the Class Files that are required for this training guide, use the following steps:

1. Type the ftp address shown at the bottom of the page into the address bar of your internet browser. If you are using an ASCENT ebook you can select the link instead. The ftp address must be typed exactly as shown.

2. Press <Enter> and follow the instructions to download the zip file that contains the Class Files.

3. The zip file contains an .exe file that you need to extract. To extract the files, double-click on the .exe file and follow the instructions to unzip the file. Once unzipped, a Class Files folder is automatically added to the C:\ drive on your computer.

Do not change the location in which the Class Files folder is created. Doing so can prevent the practices in the training guide from working correctly.

4. Repeat Steps 1 to 3 for each of the .zip files listed below. You must have all of the files to complete the practices in this training guide.

ftp://ftp.ascented.com/cware/vulpes1.zip

ftp://ftp.ascented.com/cware/vulpes2.zip

ftp://ftp.ascented.com/cware/vulpes3.zip

ftp://ftp.ascented.com/cware/vulpes4.zip

ftp://ftp.ascented.com/cware/vulpes5.zip

Chapter 1

Introduction to Autodesk VRED

Professional

In this chapter you learn how to plan presentation projects, start the Autodesk® VRED™ Professional software, and become familiar with the software interface. You also learn how to open 3D scene files, import files, and save files.

This chapter contains the following topics:

• Overview of Autodesk VRED Professional

• Overview of the Interface

• Navigating a Scene

• Opening Files

• Preferences

• Saving Files

1.1 Overview of Autodesk VRED

Professional

The Autodesk VRED Professional software is a visualization, analysis, and presentation tool for automotive and industrial designs. The software enables you to create real-time graphic renderings using realistic materials and physical camera

settings. The software also offers surface analysis tools for data quality verification.

The high quality, real-time renderings enable you to realistically visualize, evaluate, and review your design ideas. The

completed models can be used as design prototypes or

marketing material. A rendering of an automotive design in the Autodesk VRED Professional software is shown in Figure 1–1.

Figure 1–1

Learning Objective

• Understand how the Autodesk VRED Professional software can be used for design visualization and presentations.

There are three versions of the Autodesk VRED software:

This training guide is designed for the Autodesk VRED Professional software.

• Autodesk® VRED™: The standard version of the software, which can be used by designers, engineers, and marketing professionals to create high quality renderings of 3D CAD designs and present design animations.

• Autodesk® VRED™ Design: In addition to creating high quality renderings, the Autodesk VRED Design software has capability to create Variants and Variant sets for effective presentation and communication.

• Autodesk® VRED™ Professional: The Autodesk VRED Professional software is the most advanced of the three versions and includes high-end analytical capabilities. In addition to creating high quality renderings, this version can be used for surface and gap analysis. This version also enables you to create stunning presentations by creating Variants and Variant sets along with various display options. In the Professional version, the Powerwall display and Immersive display capabilities are included as well.

Input into Autodesk VRED Professional

As Autodesk VRED Professional is visualization software and not a modeling tool, the initial creation of the geometry in a scene is always an imported 3D CAD data file that has been created in a 3D modeling tool. These 3D CAD data files can be imported into the Autodesk VRED Professional software from multiple data sources, including:

• AutoCAD® drawing files (.DWG and .DXF), including objects created in vertical applications, such as the AutoCAD®

Architecture software.

• Autodesk® Inventor® files (.IPT and .IAM). • Autodesk® Alias® files (.WIRE).

• Scene files from the Autodesk® Maya® (.MA, .MB), Autodesk® Showcase® (.A3S), Autodesk® 3ds Max®, or Autodesk® 3ds Max® Design (.3DS) applications.

• Files from other Autodesk applications, such as Autodesk® Revit® or Autodesk® Simulation designs, must be exported as .FBX files before they can be imported into the Autodesk VRED Professional software.

• Other major CAD data applications and visualization software, such as CATIA, Creo Elements/Pro, SolidWorks, STEP, IGES, Deltagen, and Stereolithography (.STL) files. • The exchange files format, such as .OBJ and .FBX, is the

recommended file format to use for importing because they can include the animation and camera data.

1.2 Overview of the Interface

To launch the Autodesk VRED Professional software, double-click on (VRED Pro) on your desktop.

Once you open the Autodesk VRED Professional software, the screen consists of the main rendering window, with the interface tools along the top and the bottom of the application screen. The Autodesk VRED Professional interface is designed for intuitive and efficient access to commands and actions. The interface includes the Menu Bar, Icons Bar, Quick Access Bar, Modules, Render Window, and Status Bar. The interface (shown in Figure 1–2) displays a rendered image of a car model in the rendering window with a Scenegraph module along the left side of the screen. The background of the Render Window has been set to white for printing clarity throughout this training guide.

Learning Objective

• Understand and work with the various components of the Autodesk VRED Professional interface.

2 3 5 4 6 1

The components of the interface are:

1. Menu Bar

Figure 1–3

The menus that are available in the Menu Bar are:

1. Menu Bar 4. Modules

2. Icons Bar 5. Render Window 3. Quick Access Bar 6. Status Bar

File Contains the New, Import, Export, Publish and various versions of the Open and Save commands. The Open

Recent command provides you with a list of recently

opened files to select from. The Open Examples

command opens the Open File dialog box in the Autodesk

VREDPro/examples folder, where you can open one of the

example files that are provided with the software. The

Save and Save As commands enables you to save the

current scene as various type of VRED files, such as .VPE, .VPB, and .VPF.

Edit Contains Undo and Redo commands. You can also open the Preferences window to set the preferences, or the

View Contains toggles for controlling the display of various utility tools (such as grid, ruler, clipping plane, etc.) in the Render Window.

The Toolbars menu option opens a sub-menu that contains a list of all of the toolbars, and enabling you to display the selected toolbars in the Icons Bar. You can also open a window that displays the list of shortcuts, routes, and Undo/Redo history.

The Terminal menu option opens the Terminal module, where you can enter an input command in the Python coding language for providing feedback for any command, as well as display errors and warnings. You can also save the Terminal module output to a file.

Visualization Contains tools to set the different rendering modes, such

as Raytracing, Ambient Occlusion, Surface Analysis, etc. The menu provides options for selecting among the different renderpasses and controlling the OpenGL settings. You can also control the Raytracing Downscale, Antialiasing, and other rendering options. By default, the scene is displayed as Realistic Rendering in OpenGL.

Scene Contains options that enable you to create objects, such as

3D geometry, 2D shapes, cameras, and lights. It also provides you with a list of various modules included with the software, enabling you to open and close the modules as required.

Animation Contains options for opening the modules, enabling you to

control the settings for creating and playing animations.

Interaction Contains options that enables you to set the type of

navigation that is being used in the Render Window. You can also open the modules for controlling the settings of the utility tools, such as Annotation, Clipping,

Measurement, etc. The toggles for controlling the display of these utility tools are provided in the View menu.

Rendering Contains options that enables you to open the module for

setting the render options. You can also access modules for setting the special render settings, such as render layers or clustering.

Window Contains options that enables you to set and customize the

display settings of the Render Window and the layout of the software interface.

Help Enables you to access the general information of the software. The Documentation option connects you to the online Autodesk VRED Professional Help documentation. The Python Documentation option opens the Python Help documentation, which provides you with a list and description of python commands and algorithms. The Help menu also contains options for providing you with

2. Icons Bar

Figure 1–4

The display of the icon name below each icon can be toggled on or off. In the Preferences dialog box, in the Main Window node, clear or select the Show

Toolbutton Text option.

This option is turned on by default.

• The name of the icon is displayed below each icon to easily identify it. Hovering the cursor over an icon also displays its name, as shown for Toggle Statistics in Figure 1–5. The icons in the File toolbar open specific dialog boxes, while most of the commands on the other toolbars work as toggles, performing an action when selected.

• Click an icon to toggle the command. The currently active command is indicated using an orange icon, as shown for Boundings and Headlight in Figure 1–5. Click again on an active command to toggle it off, changing the icon to display as gray, as shown for Wireframe in Figure 1–5.

Figure 1–5

File toolbar Render Options toolbar

View toolbar Synchronisation toolbar Mode toolbar Materials toolbar

Inactive command

• Some of the tools display a small arrow near the bottom right corner and above the name text. This indicates that the icon has a drop-down list that contains various options and settings for the command. Click and hold on an icon (for at least two seconds) to open the drop-down list, as shown for the Transform tool in Figure 1–6.

Figure 1–6

The top portion of the shortcut menu displays a list of all of the

Modules and the bottom portion displays the list of all of the toolbars.

• The software provides you with options for displaying the toolbars in the Icons Bar. In the View>Toolbars menu (shown on the left in Figure 1–7), you can select the specific toolbars you want to be displayed in the Icons bar. Clearing a toolbar option removes the toolbar from the Icons Bar. You can also right-click anywhere in the Icon Bars, Menu Bar, or the Quick Access Bar to open a shortcut menu, as shown on the right in Figure 1–7. A list of available toolbars is provided near the bottom of this shortcut menu, which also enables you to select the toolbars that display in the Icons Bar. The toolbars that are enabled have a checkmark in front of them.

File Toolbar

The File toolbar contains the following:

Render Options Toolbar

The Render Options toolbar contains the following:

Icon Description

Open

Opens a dialog box where you can select a file to open.

Add

Opens a dialog box where you can select a file to combine with the current scene.

Save

Enables you to quickly save a scene. If the current scene is an unnamed file or is not a native file, then a dialog box opens that enables you to save it as an Autodesk VRED Professional file.

Icon Description

Antialias

Toggles antialiasing on and off for still frames. You can also enable Downscale Antialiasing or Raytraced

Antialiasing.

Raytracing

Toggles raytracing on and off.

Downscale

Toggles raytracing downscale on and off. When on, you can select between Low, Medium, and High.

Region

Toggles region rendering on and off. When on, hold <R> and click to create a region window around a specified region to calculate rendering for it. Only works with the Raytracing rendering mode.

Isolate

Toggles isolation on and off. Select objects and toggle on to display only the selected objects in the Render Window. Turning it off displays the complete model in the Render Window.

Backplate

Toggles the backplate on and off. When on, the backplate is displayed in the scene.

Toggles the wireframe display on and off. When on, the selected objects display as a wireframe in the Render

View Toolbar

The View toolbar contains the following:

Boundings

Toggles the boundings display on and off. When on, a bounding box encloses the selected objects in the Render Window.

Headlight

Toggles the headlight on and off.

Statistics

Toggles the Statistics window on and off. The Statistics window displays various specifications, such as Frames per second, Occlusion culling, triangles and lines drawn, etc.

Icon Description

Fullscreen

Toggles the full screen display on and off. When on, the Render Window fills the entire screen, without displaying the interface components. Press <Esc> to revert back to the regular display.

If you are you are using multiple screens, you can use the

Multi-display fullscreen option to display the Render

Window on several screens

Presentation

Toggles the presentation mode on and off. Only the hotkeys present in the Variants module become available.

Show All

Displays the complete scene.

Zoom To

When on, the selected objects are completely zoomed in to fill the Render Window. If no selection is made, the Initial camera view is displayed.

Grid

Toggles the display of grid on and off. When on, you can select the grid in xy, xz, and yz directions. You also have the options for displaying or hiding the grid labels and modifying the settings.

Ruler

Toggles the display of the ruler on and off. When on, you can display the manipulator handles to select the position of the ruler. You can also display the grid and lock the axes.

Transform

Toggles the display of the transform manipulator on and off. You can display the Translation, Rotation, and Scale manipulators.

Synchronisation Toolbar

The Synchronisation toolbar contains the following:

Materials Toolbar

The Materials toolbar contains the following:

Mode Toolbar

The option for

displaying or removing the Mode toolbar in the Icons Bar is not

available in the View menu, and can only be accessed from the shortcut menu.

The Mode toolbar contains the following:

Icon Description

Connect

Enables you to connect to another Autodesk VRED Professional software.

Cluster

Toggle for a cluster.

Tracking

Toggle for tracking.

Icon Description

Texturing

Toggles the texturing mode to on and off. Also provides you with the option for modifying the Planar Projection and the Tire Projection manipulators.

Icon Description

Simple UI

Toggles the Simple UI on and off. When on, the options in all of the interface components (Menu Bar, Icons Bar, Quick Access Bar, Modules) are simplified.

3. Quick

Access Toolbar

The Quick Access toolbar (shown in Figure 1–8) displays below the Autodesk VRED Professional Render Window. It enables you to easily access the modules used for creating realistic, high-quality renderings. By default, the Quick Access Bar contains icons for the main modules only, which are listed in a logical order for creating a final presentation.

Figure 1–8

The Quick Access Bar is easily customizable and you can add, delete, or reorder the module icons.

How To: Add a Module Icon to the Quick Access

Toolbar

1. Open a module that is not currently present in the Quick Access Bar from either the Menu Bar or the shortcut menu. 2. Click and hold the module icon present at the upper-left

corner of the module (e.g., for the Animation module). 3. Drag it anywhere over the Quick Access Bar and notice that

the selected module icon is attached to the cursor, as shown in Figure 1–9.

Figure 1–9

4. Release the mouse button to drop the module icon anywhere in the Quick Access toolbar. The module icon is added as the right-most icon in the Quick Access Bar, as shown in

Figure 1–10.

How To: Move or Delete a Module Icon on the Quick

Access Toolbar

1. Click and hold (around 3 seconds) on any of the icons in the Quick Access Bar until a is displayed on the upper right corner of all of the icons, as shown in Figure 1–11.

Figure 1–11

2. To move the icon, drag the icon to the required position in the Quick Access Bar. The new position of the icon is displayed as an orange bar. Drop the icon to move the module icon. 3. To delete the module icon, click .

4. Save the new arrangement by clicking , located on the right of the Quick Access Bar.

4. Modules

• The Modules are modeless special dialog boxes which can remain open while other commands are active.

• You can manipulate and modify the parameters in the modules to make changes as required. The affect of the modifications and the settings that you select in the modules are interactively displayed in the Render Window.

The top portion of the shortcut menu displays a list of all of the

Modules and the bottom portion displays the list of all of the toolbars.

• You can open the modules from the Menu Bar by clicking Scene>Material Editor, as shown on the left in Figure 1–13. You can also open the modules by right-clicking anywhere in the Icon Bar, Menu Bar, or the Quick Access Bar, which lists all of the available modules, as shown on the right in

Figure 1–13. Alternatively, the modules can also be opened by clicking on its icon in the Quick Access Bar.

• The modules that are open in the scene display a checkmark in front of them in both the drop-down list and the shortcut menu, as shown in Figure 1–13.

• You can dock and undock all of the open modules in a scene. If a module is undocked, click and hold on its title bar. Drag it to either the side or bottom of the Render Window until the Render Window shifts and a white place holder rectangle is displayed. Drop the module and it automatically docks itself in the place holder rectangle. To undock the module, drag it by its title bar, and drop it somewhere in the middle of the screen. Alternatively, in the top right corner of the module, click to undock the module or dock it back to its previous docking position (left, right, or bottom). Clearing locks the module and makes the module undockable. Click to close the module.

• When undocked, the modules can be moved by clicking and dragging on the title bar. You can also change the size of a module by hovering the cursor over an edge until the cursor changes into a double sided arrow. You can then move the edge to change the module size.

Hint: Dialog Boxes

In addition to the modules, two types of dialog boxes are used in the Autodesk VRED Professional software. The regular modal dialog boxes require a response before you can exit the dialog box and resume work in the software. Figure 1–14 displays a warning dialog box, where you are required to either accept the selection by clicking , or cancel the command to exit the dialog box by clicking .

Figure 1–14

The other type of dialog box that is used in the software are modeless, but require a response to implement any selections that have been made in the dialog box. Figure 1–15 shows the Import Options dialog box, where you can click

to implement the changes, or cancel the command by clicking . You can minimize this dialog box by clicking , maximize it to cover the full screen by clicking , or close it by clicking .

5. Render

Window

By default, the Render Window covers the major portion of the screen. It provides you with the rendered visual display of the scene objects by calculating all of the render settings for the selected render mode.

• The Render Window’s size and resolution is set in the

Window>Render Window Size menu. By default, the size of the Render Window is set to Use Preferences, as shown in Figure 1–16. This option is dependent on the Use Fixed Resolution option in the Render Options tab of the Preferences dialog box. By default, the Use Fixed

Resolution option is turned off, and therefore, the size of the Render Window is dynamic and dependent on the interface layout and screen resolution. This means that the Render Window automatically adjusts itself to completely cover the available area after the regular interface components take their place.

In Figure 1–17, notice that in addition to the regular interface components (Menu Bar, Icons Bar, Quick Access Bar, and Status Bar), only the Scenegraph module is docked at the left side of the screen. The rest of the screen is filled with the Render Window.

Figure 1–17

In Figure 1–18, three different modules are docked along the left, right, and bottom edges of the screen. The Render Window automatically adjusts itself to fill the remaining area.

• You can specify an exact render resolution by selecting any of the preset resolutions that is provided with the software. You can select a preset render resolution in the Window> Render Window Size menu. On the top in Figure 1–19, the render resolution is set to 640X480 (VGA 4:3 ratio). On the bottom in Figure 1–19, notice how the Render Window size is fixed to the selected resolution, and does not fill the empty space on the screen.

Figure 1–19

• You can also provide your own specific values in the Preferences dialog box, in the Render Options tab to customize the Render Window size.

• The software enables you to create and work in multiple Render Windows, as shown in Figure 1–20, using the New Render Window option in the Window menu. Each Render Window can be set up independently by defining different cameras, viewpoints, and different rendering modes.

Figure 1–20

Hint: Saving Custom Layouts

Once you have made changes to the various interface features or you have docked your commonly used Modules in a logical manner, you can save the changes as a customized layout. Use the save options (Save and Save As) in the Window> Layout menu, as shown in Figure 1–21. The newly saved layout is listed below the Default option. You can create an unlimited number of layouts, and delete layouts that are no longer needed using Edit.

6. Status Bar

.

Figure 1–22

The features provided in the Status Bar are:

Icon Description

Provides information about the current memory usage and render mode that is being used in the scene. Opens the Terminal module window where all

messages are listed. You can run commands that have been programmed in the Script Editor, or you can run python commands which are already programmed by default (these commands are listed in the python documentation).

Provides you with startup information. The last line in the Terminal window is always displayed here. Clicking inside this box enables you to input a command in Python language.

Opens the Connector module.

Enables you to select the units of measurement. Enables you to specify the Up vector of the model to ensure that the model displays in the correct

orientation.

The Near Clip Plane value defines how close you can zoom in the Render Window. A smaller value is used when you want to zoom in to the smaller parts in the model.

The Far Clip Plane value defines how far you can zoom out in the Render Window.

The Field of View value defines an angular

measurement of how much of the horizon can be seen. Human vision is often approximated with a 45 degree FOV.

Enables you to save the current view as the Initial Camera View (ICV), ensuring that the scene always opens in the specified view.

1.3 Navigating a Scene

The basic navigation tool in the VRED Professional software is the mouse. There are various ways to use the mouse buttons for navigating in the Render Window:

• Zoom: In the Render Window, roll the mouse wheel away from you to zoom out and roll it toward you to zoom in. Alternatively, you can right-click and drag forward and backward in the Render Window.

• Pan: In the Render Window, hold the mouse wheel and move the mouse to pan. Alternatively, hold <Ctrl> and then click and drag the left mouse button to pan.

• Orbit: In the Render Window, click and drag the left mouse button to orbit around a pivot point.

Center of Interest

By default, when you dynamically zoom and orbit in the Render Window, you do so around the center of the model’s geometry, known as the Center of Interest (CI). If you want to zoom or orbit around a different point in the geometry, you can change the CI using any of the following methods:

• Double right-click at the new location on the model geometry. This sets the CI at the selected point and centers the Render Window on the new CI. You can then orbit around the new CI point.

• Double-click at the new location. This sets the center of interest at the selected point without centering the Render Window or relocating the model geometry.

• If you want the center of interest to be positioned at the center of the model geometry, click (Home) in the top right corner of the Navigation Cube. This returns the model to its original position, focusing the camera’s CI to be the center of the model.

Learning Objective

• Understand how to use the navigation features to move around in a scene.

Navigation Modes

There are several options available that can change how you navigate in the Render Window. In the Menu Bar, select Interaction>Navigation to display the various navigation modes, as shown in Figure 1–23.

Figure 1–23

The available navigation modes are as follows:

Enabled Enables you to control the navigation with the mouse.

Clearing this option disables the mouse for navigation, but enables the use of the arrow keys to navigate the model.

Trackball Enables you to navigate the model in all three axes. This

mode can be used when using a trackball mouse which has three axes navigation.

TwoAxis Enables you to navigate the model in two axes. This mode

is the standard mode that is used with the regular mouse.

Fly Selecting this enables you to navigate seamlessly in the Render Window. Click and hold your left mouse button to move forward. Click and hold the right mouse button to move backwards.

Orientation Enables you to set the virtual camera position. For

example, you can use this to set the virtual camera at the driver’s seat in a car, and then explore the interior of the car from the driver’s point of view.

Auto Center Sets the center of the model as the pivot point and CI. This

means that the model always orbits or zooms around its center.

Motion Factor

Enables you to set the sensitivity of the movement in the

Navigation Cube

The Navigation Cube or the ViewCube (shown in Figure 1–24) provides visual clues as to where you are in a 3D scene, and makes it easier to navigate to standard views (such as the top, front, right, corner, and directional views). In the Navigation Cube, click one of the faces, corners, or edges to change the Render Window to the selected view.

The Navigation Cube navigation affects the selected objects in the scene. If you have nothing selected, the Navigation Cube affects the complete scene including the environment.

Figure 1–24

• Click over any labeled orthographic view, such as Front, Left, etc., to orient the selected object or the complete scene to the selected view.

• Click on a corner or edge of the Navigation Cube to orient the selected object or the complete scene to a perspective view. • Click and drag the Navigation Cube to orbit around the

geometry in the Render Window. When orbiting around using the cursor, note that the Navigation Cube orbits to match the view in the Render Window.

• Click (Home) in the top right corner of the Navigation Cube to return the model to its Initial Camera View (ICV) position.

Hint: Zoom To

The (Zoom To) tool is located in the Icons Bar, in the View toolbar. This tool enables you to zoom to the extents of the selected object in the Render Window. By selecting an object and then clicking (Zoom To), the view in the Render Window zooms to the model extents. If no selection is made,

(Zoom To) works similar to (Home) in Navigation

1.4 Opening Files

The Autodesk VRED Professional software enables you to open 3D CAD geometry from a wide range of CAD design software programs. You can open a file or multiple files by selecting File>Open, or by clicking (Open) in the Icons Bar. The Open File dialog box opens, as shown in Figure 1–25.

Figure 1–25

• The Open File dialog box opens in the default

VRED\Examples folder, which is typically saved in the

C:\Program Files\Autodesk\ folder. Once you open a file from

a different folder, that folder becomes the new default folder. The next time you use the Open command, the Open File dialog box will begin from the selected folder.

Learning Objectives

• Open 3D CAD data files in the Autodesk VRED Professional software.

• Review and modify the import settings for files.

• Control the settings while importing a model or scene using the Import Options dialog box.

• The Open command enables you to open and edit a new or existing file as a new 3D scene. You can only have one scene open at a time. If you have a scene open with unsaved changes and try to open a new or existing scene, the software prompts you to save or discard the unsaved changes or cancel the Open command, as shown in Figure 1–26.

Figure 1–26

• You can either import a complete scene which has already been compiled in the originating CAD software, or you can import multiple files as separate files and combine them in the Autodesk VRED Professional software. To import multiple files, place the files into a single folder, hold <Ctrl>, and select all of the required files.

• The types of files that can be opened into the Autodesk VRED Professional software are listed in the All Supported File Types drop-down list in the Open File dialog box. A large number of 3D CAD data types are supported by the Autodesk VRED Professional software, as shown in Figure 1–27.

Figure 1–27

• Files that have recently been opened can be reopened quickly using the File>Open Recent menu option, which lists

Figure 1–28

• You can use the File>Open Examples menu option to open the example files that are provided with the software, such as

armchair.vpb and tracking-art.vpb. The Open Examples

command always opens the Open File dialog box in the

VRED/examples folder.

• You can combine other files into the currently open scene by selecting File>Add. Alternatively, you can click (Add) in the Icons Bar.

• Although the majority of file types are opened using the Open command, there are a few file types which cannot be opened using this command, such as the xml files for Variants and Sequences. Select File>Import and select the specified option to open that particular type of file, as shown in Figure 1–29.

How To: Open a Scene

1. Click (Open) in the Icons Bar, or select File>Open. 2. In the Open File dialog box, locate the required folder. 3. Select a file from the list.

4. Click , or double-click on the file.

• If the currently open scene contains unsaved changes, a dialog box opens prompting you to save or discard the unsaved changes, or to cancel the Open command. 5. If the type of file that you selected is not a VRED native file

type (i.e., .VPB, .VPE, or .VPF), then the Import Options dialog box opens, as shown in Figure 1–30. Specify how you want the file to be opened.

6. Once the options have been set, click .

Import Options

you to set options so that the software can convert and correctly process a file’s data. The dialog box is only available for files that are not a native Autodesk VRED file format.

The options in the Import Options dialog box are as follows:

Tesselation

Scene

Keep Surface Data

Preserves all of the surface data that comes along with the imported geometry

Merge Geometries

Enables you to merge the imported geometry.

Create Groups for Layers

Enables you to create groups.

Remove Empty Groups

Simplifies the geometry structure by removing empty groups.

Tessellation Quality

Sets the tessellation quality as Coarse, Low,

Medium, High, or Custom.

Chord Deviation Enables you to set the distance from the middle point

of the tessellated edge to the geometry.

Normal Tolerance

Enables you to set the normal deviation that can be permitted between the normals of the tessellated edge.

Max Chord Length

Enables you to set the maximum length of a tessellated edge.

Enable Stitching Stitches adjacent edges.

Stitching Tolerance

Enables you to set the tolerance value that controls when adjacent edges are stitched together.

Apply Materials from Asset Manager

Replaces each imported material with the

similarly-named material that is found in the Asset Manager.

Opens the Asset Manager, where you can set the material folder.

Center in Origin Moves the imported geometry so that its center is

placed at the center of the environment.

Put onto the Ground

Moves the imported geometry so that it placed on the ground surface.

Adjust Object Size

Activates the Which size fits your object best? slider bar. You are able to assign the correct size to the model. This helps to realistically render the model and gives you better quality.

If you want to add a file to the current scene, you must know the size that was originally selected to ensure

1.5 Preferences

You can use the Preferences dialog box (shown in Figure 1–31) to control many important operational settings for the Autodesk VRED Professional software. To open the Preferences dialog box, select Edit>Preferences.

Figure 1–31

Learning Objective

• Understand the function of the tabs in the Preferences dialog box.

The Preferences dialog box enables you to control the display and operational settings for every aspect of the Autodesk VRED software. The dialog box contains a list of nodes along the left side, and selecting a node from the list opens the settings which are specific to it. In Figure 1–31, notice that the node FileIO has been selected to display the preferences that are used to set the global settings for importing. You can either set the preference before you open a file (so that the file opens with all your

preferred settings), or you can adjust the settings while you are working on a model. If you want to revert to the default settings, click to reset the parameters of the selected node, or click to reset all of the nodes to their default settings.

FileIO

• Base rollout: Options that enable you to verify that the geometry structure is suitable for rendering, rebuild the geometry, convert the materials to Truelight plastic materials, and set the temporary path.

• Import Dialog rollout: Options that enable you to control the display of the Import dialog box, add a skydome environment, and place imported geometry at the origin of the scene or on the ground.

• Texture Compression rollout: Options that enable you to control the texture compression. The Auto option

compresses textures if they exceed the memory limit, while Always compresses the file whenever the model is loaded. You can also use None to never compress the file.

In the FileIO node, there is a list of file format sub-nodes. Selecting a file format opens its associated preferences. Some of the file types import settings include:

• Maya: Sets the installation path and units that will be used for imported and exported Maya data, as shown in Figure 1–32.

• OSB / VPB: Enables you to set the file and texture

compression, as well as set the incremental save function and the number of backup steps used.

• Rhino: Enables you to set the geometry merging and NURBS import settings for importing Rhino files.

Main Window

Figure 1–33

• Show FPS in Status bar: Toggles the display of the current frame rate in the lower left corner of the Render Window. • Show Rendering Log Messages in Terminal: During

rendering, the Terminal Window displays all of the log messages.

• Show Internal Nodes in Scenegraph: The internal nodes are displayed in the Scenegraph.

• Show Toolbutton Text: Toggles the display of the name below the icons in the Icons Bar and the Quick Access Bar. • Window Opacity: Controls the opacity of the module

windows.

• Disable Docking: Toggles the ability to dock the module windows.

Navigator

Figure 1–34

• Navigation Mode: Enables you to change the default

Navigation Mode from Two Axis to Trackball, Fly, or,

Orientation.

• Invert Zoom: You can invert the zooming in and zooming out with the direction of rolling the mouse wheel.

• Auto Center: Sets the rotation pivot to the center of the object.

Render Options

• Pixel Resolution: Enables you to set a custom pixel resolution for the Render Window.

• Use Fixed Resolution: Sets the use of a custom size for the Render Window.

• Enable Downscale: Enables or disables downscale, which affects the visual quality and is available while using

Raytracing render mode.

• Downscale Quality: Sets the downscale quality to Low, Medium, or High. For efficient interactivity of complex

scenes, it is recommended to have a reduced display quality (i.e., a medium or high level of downscale quality).

• Low: Every second pixel in the Render Window is processed for rendering, resulting in the clearest rendering.

• Medium: Every fourth pixel in the Render Window is processed.

• High: Every eighth pixel in the Render Window is processed, resulting in the most reduced visual quality. • Enable Realtime Antialiasing: Enables or disables realtime

antialiasing for the OpenGL render mode.

• Antialiasing Quality: Sets the quality of antialiasing for OpenGL render mode.

• Low: One and half times (1.5x) the original resolution is calculated.

• Medium: Double (2x) the original resolution is calculated. • High: Four times (4x) the original resolution is calculated. • Enable Stillframe Antialiasing: Toggles antialiasing for still

rendering in both OpenGL and Raytracing modes.

• Stillframe AA After: Sets the time (in seconds) before the calculations for stillframe antialiasing starts.

• Lighting rollout: Options that enable you to set the headlight behavior state for all new scenes.

• Wireframe rollout: Sets the display of selected objects as a wireframe, and enables you to set the color of the wireframe and bounding box.

• Visualization Advanced tab: Enables you to set the background color of the Render Window. To display the background color, you must disable the Environment material in the Material Editor module.

Selection

Figure 1–36

• Bounding Box Visualization Size: Sets a minimum bounding box size for objects.

• Auto Scroll to Selected Node: When you select geometry in the Render Window, the associated node is automatically scrolled to and displayed in the Scenegraph.

Transform

Figure 1–37

• Translation Step Size: Sets the default precision range when moving the geometry.

• Rotation Step Size: Sets the default precision range when rotating the geometry.

• Scale Step Size: Sets the default precision range when scaling the geometry.

1.6 Saving Files

In the Autodesk VRED Professional software, files are saved in the native .VPB file format (VRED Project Binary) by default. You can also save the files as .VPE (VRED Essentials Project Binary) or .VPF (VRED Project File) file formats.

There are a number of ways in which you can save the files in the software. The available save commands are located in the File menu, as shown in Figure 1–38.

Figure 1–38

• Save: The default save command, which enables you to quickly save any changes you made in the scene. The command can also be started by clicking (Save) in the Icons Bar, or by using the shortcut <Ctrl>+<S>. This

command quickly saves the current scene as an Autodesk VRED Professional native file (i.e., .VPB, .VPE, or .VPF). If the file that you opened is a not a VRED Professional native file, this command works as a Save As command, and opens the Save As dialog box.

Learning Objective

• Understand the various save options available in the software.

• Save As: Opens the Save As dialog box, as shown in Figure 1–39. Alternatively, you can use the shortcut <Ctrl>+<Shift>+<S> to open this dialog box. In the dialog box, browse to the folder where you want to save the file, specify the filename, and select the file format that you want to save the file as. The available file formats are .VPB (Autodesk VRED Professional binary file), .VPE (Autodesk VRED file used in the Autodesk VRED Essentials software), and .VPF (Autodesk VRED Project file). Click to save the file.

Figure 1–39

• Save Selected: Saves only the selected objects in a scene. Alternatively, you can use the shortcut <Ctrl>+<Alt>+<S> to open the Save Selected As dialog box. This dialog box (similar to the Save As dialog box) enables you to browse to the required folder, enter the filename, and select the

• Publish: Enables you to publish a copy of the file. As with the other save dialog boxes, the Publish dialog box enables you to browse to the required folder, enter the filename, and select the file format. Clicking opens the Period of Validity dialog box (shown in Figure 1–40), which enables you to limit the period in which the file is accessible, if

required.

Figure 1–40

• Save Package: Saves the file and creates a new folder named images (as shown in Figure 1–41), which contains all of the textures and maps associated with the file.

Figure 1–41

• Export: Enables you to export the scene as a scene, image, sequencer batch, or variants, as shown in Figure 1–42.

Using the Export options, you can save an Autodesk VRED Professional file in various file formats, such as .FBX, .OBJ, .MA, .STL, etc., as shown in Figure 1–43.

Practice 1a

Working with the Autodesk

VRED Professional Interface

Estimated time for completion: 50 minutes

In this practice you will import a .WIRE file, save it as a .VPB file, and navigate and customize the software interface.

Task 1 - Opening 3D data file.

1. Launch the Autodesk VRED Professional 2015 software. 2. In the Menu Bar, select File>Open, or in the Icons Bar, click

(Open) to open the Open File dialog box.

The Mainville file design is courtesy of Marc Mainville.

3. In the C:\VRED Pro Fundamentals Class Files\Chapter 1\ folder, select Mainville_Auto.wire. Click to open the Import Options dialog box.

• If you have an open scene, a dialog box prompts you for confirmation whether you want to close the scene or cancel the Open command.

• If you have an open, unsaved scene, you are prompted to either save the scene, close the scene without saving, or cancel the Open command.

By default, all imported materials are converted into Truelight plastic materials. This option is set in FileIO tab of the Preferences dialog box. The VRED materials display the best shader quality in OpenGL and Raytracing render modes.

4. In the Import Options dialog box, expand the Scene rollout, if required. By default, all of the options are cleared. ensure that Apply Materials from Asset Manager is cleared, as shown in Figure 1–44.

5. Select the Center in Origin and Put onto Ground options (as shown in Figure 1–44) to place the model in the center of the scene and on the ground surface.

Learning Objectives • Open a 3D data file.

• Navigate the user interface.

• Customize the user interface and save the new layout. • Save the .VPB file and open it in the new, customized

• If you are expecting additional parts to be added to the model at a later stage, then leave the Center in Origin, Put onto Ground, and Adjust Object Size options cleared. This will ensure that any additional parts fit perfectly with the model, as they are built using the original point of origin.

6. Select Adjust Object Size. Notice that the Which size fits your object best? area is enabled. Click and drag the slider bar and place it under the picture of the car, as shown in Figure 1–44.

Figure 1–44

7. In the Tessellation rollout, in Tessellation Quality, select High. Leave all other options at the default settings. The dialog box should display as shown in Figure 1–45.

8. Click . The Loading bar (shown in Figure 1–46) displays in the Render Window while the software calculates the shaders and other associated parameters. In the Status Bar, the input box displays the processes that are being calculated, as shown in the highlighted area in Figure 1–47.

Figure 1–46

The model of the car inside the environment dome is loaded in the Render Window, as shown in Figure 1–47. Also notice that in the Status Bar, the input box now displays that the scene is ready.

Task 2 - Navigating the scene.

1. If you have a mouse wheel, scroll the wheel towards you to zoom into the car. Alternatively, right-click, hold, and drag the mouse to zoom in and out.

2. Press the mouse wheel and drag the mouse to pan until the car is somewhere in the middle of the Render Window. 3. Click the left mouse button and drag to orbit around the pivot

point, which is the center of the car.

4. Orbit (click and drag) around the car and notice that the Navigation Cube, at the top right corner of the Render Window, moves to match the camera view.

5. Orbit until the Left label is visible in the Navigation Cube. Click on Left. This automatically places the car and the environment dome in the Left view, and zooms out completely, as shown in Figure 1–48.

Figure 1–48

6. In the Navigation Cube, click (Home) to orient the camera to the original saved position.

7. Using the mouse, zoom out and pan to place the car in the center of the Render Window.

8. Orbit to the back of the car. Notice that the pivot point while orbiting is the center of the car.

9. Orbit to the front of the car. In the Navigation Cube, click (Home).

10. Double-click on the front right wheel of the car (as shown in Figure 1–49) and then orbit the car. Notice that you are now orbiting around the front right wheel.

The background color of the scene has been changed to white for printing clarity.

Figure 1–49

11. Double right-click on the back right wheel of the car. Notice how the back right wheel moves to the center of the Render Window. The model will display similar to that shown in Figure 1–50. Orbit around again and notice that the pivot point is now the back right wheel.

12. In the Navigation Cube, explore the other orientation views, including corner and edge positions.

13. When finished, click (Home) to orient the car to the Initial Camera View (ICV), as shown in Figure 1–51.

Figure 1–51

14. Orbit around until the car is in a position similar to that shown in Figure 1–52.

15. In the Status Bar, click to save the current view as the new home position.

16. Zoom out, orbit around, and pan to different view positions. 17. Click (Home) and notice the car orients to the newly

saved ICV position.

Task 3 - Customizing the layout.

1. In the Menu Bar, select View>Toolbars and clear Render Options. Select View>Toolbars again and verify that the toolbars are selected or clear to match those shown in Figure 1–53.

Figure 1–53

Notice that the Icons Bar now displays only the active toolbars, as shown in Figure 1–54. The tools for the Render Options and Synchronisation toolbars have been are

removed.

Figure 1–54

2. Right-click on the Icons Bar to open the shortcut menu. Select Light Editor in the Modules list to open the Light Editor module.

3. Notice that in the Quick Access Bar, there is no Light Editor icon. In the Light Editor module, click its icon in the top left corner and drag it over to the Quick Access Bar. Notice that the Light icon is attached to the cursor, as shown on the left in Figure 1–55. Release the mouse button to add the Lights icon to the end of the Quick Access Bar, as shown on the right in Figure 1–55.

Figure 1–55

4. Click and hold anywhere in the title bar of the Light Editor module. Drag it towards the right edge of the Render Window until the Render Window shifts and a white placement

rectangle is displayed, as shown in Figure 1–56. Release the mouse button. The Light Editor module docks along the right edge of the screen.

Figure 1–56

5. Notice that the Lights icon in the Quick Access Bar has turned orange, indicating that the module is currently displayed on the screen.

6. Click in the Light Editor module to close it. Notice that the Lights icon in the Quick Access Bar has turned gray, and the Render Window expands to cover the available space.

7. Click and hold on any icon in the Quick Access Bar until is displayed at the upper right corner of each icon.

9. Click and hold (Lights) and drag it between (Cameras) and (Clips). An orange bar is displayed as shown in Figure 1–57. Release the mouse button to place the icon at this new location.

Figure 1–57

10. At the right side of the Quick Access Bar, click to accept and save the changes.

11. In the Quick Access Bar, click (Graph). The Scenegraph module opens and is automatically docked at the left side of the Render Window. Also notice that the icon turns orange in the Quick Access Bar.

12. In the Quick Access Bar, click (Lights). The Light Editor module opens and is docked at the right side of the Render Window. Also notice that the icon turns orange in the Quick Access Bar.

13. In the Light Editor module, click to undock it.

If you are past the bottom edge and a place holder rectangle does not display, move the module slowly back up towards the Quick Access Bar to open the docking place holder.

14. Click and hold anywhere in the title bar of the Light Editor module. Drag it towards the bottom edge of the Render Window until the main render window shifts and a place holder rectangle is displayed. Release the mouse button to dock the Light Editor module at the bottom edge of the screen.

15. In the Quick Access Bar, click (Transform) to open the Transform module. Click to lock the module. Notice that the turns gray, and becomes unavailable.

16. Click the Transform module title bar and drag it along all three edges of the screen (i.e., left, right, and bottom). Notice that the white place holder rectangle does not display, indicating that the module is currently a non-docking window.

17. Click on . Notice how it turns orange and is enabled. Click and the Transform module is docked to the right side of the Render Window. Also notice that the Render Window adjusts and becomes smaller to accommodate the Transform module on the right side. Click to close the Transform module and notice that the Render Window stretches to fill that space.

18. Hover the cursor over the top edge (dotted line) of the Light Editor until the cursor changes to . Click and hold this cursor and move it up and down to make the Light Editor bigger or smaller. Notice that the Render Window and model adjusts in size to fill up the rest of the space on the screen. 19. In the Menu Bar, expand Window>Render Window Size

and select 640X482 (VGA 4:3 Ratio). Notice how the Render Window changes size, similar to that shown in Figure 1–58.

20. Hover the cursor over the top edge (dotted line) of the Light Editor until the cursor changes to . Click and hold this cursor and move it up and down. Notice that this has no effect on the size of the Render Window, which remains locked at the 640X482 resolution.

21. Similarly hover the cursor over the right edge (dotted line) of the Scenegraph until the cursor changes to . Click and hold this cursor and move it right and left. Again, notice that this has no effect on the size of the Render Window.

22. In the Menu Bar, expand Window>Layout and select Save, as shown on the left in Figure 1–59. A Warning dialog box opens (as shown on the right in Figure 1–59) informing you that you are making changes to the default layout, which is not permitted. Close this dialog box.

Figure 1–59

23. In the Menu Bar, expand Window>Layout and select Save As. The Store Current Layout dialog box opens.

24. In the Name field, type My_Layout (as shown on the left in

Figure 1–60), and click .

25. In the Menu Bar, expand Window>Layout. Notice that My_Layout is added to the list, and is the currently active layout, as shown on the right in Figure 1–60.

26. In the Menu Bar, select Window>Layout>Default to change it to the default layout. Notice that the Render Window

remains at 640X482 resolution, as the Render Window size does not get saved with the layout. The order in the Icons Bar and the Quick Access Bar reverts to the default settings. Also, all of the modules are back to the closed, default position.

Task 4 - Saving and opening the scene.

Before saving the file, you will set the Preferences for optimum size and speed.

1. In the Menu Bar, select Edit>Preferences to open the Preferences dialog box.

2. Expand the FileIO node and select OSB / VPB to open the global settings for opening the native .VPB file type. In the

Writer rollout, set File Compression to Best. This has the

fastest saving time and minimal file size. Ensure that the Use Inline Textures option is selected. This saves the textures along with the .VPB file. Set the Texture Compression as Lossless, as shown in Figure 1–61. Click to accept the changes.