Rendering and Materials - AutoCAD 2011 and AutoCAD LT 2011: No Experience Required - page 912

Creating Cameras to Reproduce Views
Similar to the named views you saved in Chapter 10, “Generating Elevations,”
using cameras is a method for returning to a saved viewpoint. The most signifi-
cant advantage of cameras is the ability to select the camera object and change
its position or orientation rather than panning or zooming in the drawing area.
Cameras can also be animated to show your model from a variety of locations.
Before you place the cameras, however, you'll create some land for your cabin to
sit on so that it no longer appears to be floating in the air.
using the Loft tool
The Loft tool builds 3D geometry in one of three ways: by connecting a series of
2D shapes, called contour lines, with 3D surfaces; by extruding a cross section
along a path; or by controlling the transition between two cross sections with
2D guide curves. You'll use the first method to create a loft object to serve as the
land by drawing concentric 3D polylines, converting them to splines, changing
their elevations, and then lofting them. Follow these steps:
1. With 16A-3DMOD6.dwg as the current drawing, change to the 3D
Wireframe visual style and zoom into the cabin.
2. Make a new layer named C-TOPO-3DOB, assign it color 94, and set it
as the current layer. Freeze all the other layers except A-DECK-STRS-
3DOB and A-FNDN-3DOB.
3. Use the INSERT command to insert the PropBndy.dwg file, found in
the Chapter 17 download.
4. Start the RECTANG command and draw a closed polyline around the
perimeter of the base of the foundation, as shown in Figure 17.1. Use
the Endpoint osnap to snap to opposite vertices at the bottom corners
of the foundation.
5. Use the PLINE command to draw another closed polyline around the
concrete support posts, snapping the outside corner of each, and the
outside corners of the stringers (see Figure 17.1).
You can pick an interim point between each of the long sides of the
cabin to break up the perimeter. These are the first two contour lines.
6. Switch to the Insert tab and then choose the Insert tool found on
the Block panel to insert the PropBndy.dwg file. Insert the drawing
using the 0,0,0 insertion point, a uniform scale of 1, and a rotation