Question

How to I 'sketch' in 3D, for example I'd like to create a simple 3D cube.

Requirements

PowerCADD v6 (6.0.4 or or newer recommended), WildTOOLs v7 (7.0.6 or newer recommended) , Wacom or other pressure sensitive tablet, Mac OSi X (10.2.8 or newer recommended)

Background

Sketching in '3D' is a relative term. In the context that most design professionals think and were trained in, it's really more like 2 1/2 D sketching. That is we're not creating a truly 3 dimensional model, rather we're simply creating a 2 dimensional representation of the 3 dimensional object. It's simply the reality of working with drawings on paper, be it digital paper and tools or traditional paper and tools from the manual world.

Using the WildTools Sketch Tools palette (included with your purchase of WildTOOLs) you have the ability to draw in perspective or isometric using a variety of pressure sensitive sketching tools. The tools are smart in that they know which axis or vanishing point to jump to and if you're using a pressure sensitive tablet and stylus (e.g. Wacom Intuous2) the tools will also create line weights of different thicknesses depending on pen speed and angle! (much like how a traditional pen or pencil might work)

What to do

Since a picture is worth a thousand words we suggest you take a look at this demo movie (1.8MB download) illustrating the following key points: (need movie help?)

Anchor Window
The Anchor Window contains all your PowerCADD floating windows including WildTOOLs. You'll need to have Sketch Tools and the WildTools 3D Cube open to sketch in '3D' as shown in the movie.

Option Clicking
Remember any tool with two dots has options. That means to adjust the type or size of a brush being used, option + click on the particular Sketch Tooland you'll see the brush size palette shown in the demo movie

Setting Sketch Tools for drawing in Isometric
When you have any Sketch Tools Brush Palette open (in the example we show the Sketch Line Tool) it's IMPORTANT you specify which MODE you'd like the tools to work in. The row of icons across the top specify which mode, regular, isometric or perspective, you want the tools to work in. In our example we click on the middle icon (isometric) to make force the drawing tools to work in the desired isometric plane.

Isometric, Perspective, etc.
The demo movie shows how to draw using preset isometric settings. You can use any preset angle or use one of your own by typing in the desired value. Again, notice the 3D Cube has two dots so make sure to press Option as you click on the cube icon to see the optional settings for setting isometric angles.

Drawing in different planes:
Remember, the 3D Cube is your visual frame of reference and tells Sketch Tools what play you want to draw in. You'll notice in the move we click on the desired plane (top,left or right) in the 3D Cube before drawing with a specific tool.

Optional Brush sizes
As the demo movie illustrates, you can change brush sizes at any time. Some brushes support variable line weights, others a single line weight but a shaky or wavy line. Remember, Option+click on the sketch tool to open the brush palette. You'll see each brush shape has two dots beside it so Option+click on the brush to set the specific options you'd like. The amount of control you have is significant!

Tool Behavior and rubber banding
Sketch Tools, like many PowerCADD or WildTOOLs drawing tools, provide live feedback as you drag. To draw any of the shapes you see in the demo movie we're simply keeping the stylus (pen) pressed to the tablet and dragging. The shape is being displayed in real time and is rubber banding from where we first pressed our pen down. To finish the operation we simply lift the stylus (pen) off the tablet (paper)!

After that it's all just having fun! Remember, you can draw in perspective using the same tools or simply use them as traditional sketching tools to doodle whatever you'd like.

We hope that helps
caddpower.com

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