Plotting a 3D image on a cover sheet

[cmarvel]

I've made a 3D drawing of a gazebo. Now I want to put a flat image of it on a cover sheet for a set of plans to be offered for sale. I want the image to reside beside a title block on the cover sheet. Could someone tell me where to start. I'm a near novice at plotting. Using Autocad 2009. Thanks in advance.

[BIGAL]

A quick 2 minute answer. Ok goto a layout copy your title block at 1:1 true size then Mview make a window. Get the image how you want it to look in terms of a 3d view got back to PS paper space, then just Plot pick the correct printer and paper size use the Extents option to select the object set the option FIT and Center, choose pen settings top right the CTB if in doubt acad.ctb then go should work

[ReMark]

The window BIGAL is referring to is called a Viewport. Viewports created in a layout let us see the objects we have created back in model space. Kind of like looking at your car parked out in front of your house through a window. You are in paper space. The window is the viewport. The car is in model space. Got it?

 

What do you know about viewports?

 

BTW....I'd say an isometric view of the gazebo would be more appealing than a flat elevation. All standard views of an object plus the typical four isometric views are possible using a paper space viewport.

[cmarvel]

Thanks. I've succeeded in attaching my title block to a layout. But the 3D image won't flatten itself to reside beside the title block. Weird. How do I "freeze" the 3D iso view so I can manipulate it onto the plot layout? Do I need something like a screen-capture tool to do this. If so, where do I find it? I've got the Screenhunter Pro capture program and use it for other things. Bu I'd prefer to stay within Autocad to do what I want to do.

[ReMark]

You've been told twice now how you can see your model space objects when you are in a layout. You use a viewport which can be created using the MVIEW command. You do not need a screen capture program.

 

I asked you previously what you knew about viewports. I think I have the answer now.

Edited March 3, 2014 by ReMark

[ReMark]

Example of a title block and border in a paper space layout with a single viewport showing a 3D model of a wood framed shed in a southeast isometric view.

 

The viewport is the blue rectangle seen surrounding the shed. It is on its own layer which is set to "no print" meaning it won't be seen when the drawing is printed.

 

The viewport display has been locked so its scale will not be inadvertently changed.

[cmarvel]

I spent 3 hours trying to get MVIEW to work over the weekend. Couldn't get past square one or two without the session aborting and / or freezing.

 

I hope your expertise will be of assistance to others on the Forum. Please do not respond to my posts in the future.

[ReMark]

So I am responsible for your failure to get MVIEW to work? That's a hoot.

 

Is there no MVIEW command in AutoCAD 2009? Is that the problem? If so, see the next post for an alternate method.

Were you in a paper space layout when you invoked the command?

 

Start the MVIEW command and look at the command line. AutoCAD is asking you to specify corner of viewport or... then it gives you a series of option. All you need to is ignore the option and draw your own viewport by specifying the lower left hand corner of your viewport then the upper right hand corner. That's it. Don't worry about size as you can resize a viewport using its grips after the fact.

 

Everything you need to know about paper space viewports and then some....http://www.cadtutor.net/forum/showthread.php?72972-Things-you-should-know-about-Viewports.&highlight=paperspace+viewports

Edited March 4, 2014 by ReMark

[ReMark]

This try something different.

 

[ReMark]

For your cover sheet viewport scale may not be of utmost importance after all the gazebo is just a pretty picture. In the future, when scale will matter (ex. - construction drawings) viewport scaling will be a topic you may wish to know more about. The options available to a user are covered in this thread.

 

http://www.cadtutor.net/forum/showthread.php?72213-Viewports-and-Setting-Scale&highlight=viewports

 

Good luck with your cover sheet.

[BIGAL]

Quick and dirty 3d view once you figure out object is in a viewport but is in plan view just type Vpoint 1,1,1 zoom in etc a 3d view at 45deg hor and ver.

[ReMark]

If the OP sets his view of the 3D object in model space to one of the four standard isometric views (via the Ribbon) he does not have to go through all that.

 

3D workspace...Ribbon > Home tab > View panel > 3D Navigation > SE Isometric.

[cmarvel]

I succeeded finally after stumbling onto a Youtube video in which the presenter couldn't create a viewport because his title block was too big for the layout. When I took the title block I had created full size and reduced it from 1:1 to 3/4:1 I was able to load that in and then go on to MVIEW without problems. Whew.... A very long week of frustration. Thanks, ReMark, for your help.

[cmarvel]

I forgot to add the Youtube link that put me onto the sizing problem that "gored" me. Here it is:

 

 

You'll see the problem occur about 3 or four minutes along.