Parameters for hidden line images

Tool(s): Hidden Line Image + Create View + Create Section + Modify View and Section Properties

In this dialog box you can specify how hidden line images are calculated.

Note: Hidden line images in destination documents differ from the Hidden view type in viewports: In order to set parameters for the Hidden view type, point to this view type and click .

Note: The settings in the Hidden Line Image in Destination Document dialog box and in the Settings for Hidden Line Images dialog box of the associative views are mutually dependent.

Tip: The Preview area shows the effect of the settings.

Surface elements

No surface elements

With this setting, surface elements are not visible in hidden line images.

Only fills from colors

With this setting, fills represent surface elements in hidden line images. The element color defines the fill color. If a surface is assigned, the surface color of the corresponding 3D element defines the fill color. Any textures are ignored.

Create bitmaps from textures, fills from colors

With this setting, surface elements that have been assigned textures are represented by bitmaps in hidden line images. Fills are applied to surfaces without textures (the fill color is derived from the element color or surface color).

Note: Bitmap areas are only resized (cropped) correctly in parallel projections (elevation and isometric views). But you can also achieve realistic images in perspective views if you use specific surfaces such as sand, plaster etc..

Use Consider transparency to display surfaces to which you have assigned transparent surfaces as transparent so that hidden surfaces become visible.

Click Surfaces... to open the Define Surfaces dialog box, in which element colors can be assigned different colors, which are then used in hidden line images (instead of the element colors).

Consider light

When you select the Consider light setting, the program calculates lights in hidden line images in accordance with the settings for Light angle in view and Light angle to visible axis. This is not a sun study; the program idealizes the light situation!

Using Light angle in view (left / right), you can define the direction of the shadows.

Using Light angle to visible axis (length of shadow), you can how long the shadows are.

Using Light intensity, you can specify how many shades of color are used for fills and bitmaps. Enter a value between 1 and 100 here. The smaller the value, the darker the image.

Using Fill-in light intensity, you can brighten up shadows and fills. Enter a value between 0 and 100 here. When you specify an intensity of 0, the fill-in light is not calculated.

Select Show shadows if you want to display shadows. If you enter negative values for Light angle in view (left / right), the shadows are cast to the left. If you enter positive values, they are cast to the right. The smaller the value, the steeper the shadows. Using Light angle to visible axis (length of shadow), you can control how long the shadows are in isometric views. The greater the value, the longer the shadows.

Elements

Here you can define whether all the visible 3D elements or only selected elements are saved as a 2D image. After having set the parameters, you can select the elements. This setting is available only with the Hidden Line Image, Wireframe tool; otherwise, the program always saves all elements.

Note: In order to Update Hidden Line Images, you must select Display all elements.

Adjacent edges

You can specify an angle up to which surfaces are merged in order to make curves appear smoother. Setting a larger angle causes curves to appear as a silhouette.

Adjacent edges for archit. components

You can specify how adjacent edges of architectural components are displayed. This setting is only available if Remove adjacent edges is selected. Otherwise, both options are active by default.

When Display adjacent edges between different surface elements or Display adjacent edges when material changes is selected, adjacent edges are displayed when there are different surface elements (hatching style, pattern, fill) or materials within a component.
Note: To specify whether the surface elements or the material is decisive, open the Options and make the corresponding setting in the Components and architecture area on the Components page.

When Display adjacent edges for round components is selected, adjacent edges of round components (wall, column, chimney) are displayed. This option is usually not selected.

Special settings

For architectural sections

You can make special settings here, defining how architectural end engineering components appear in hidden line images. For more information see Displaying architectural components with hidden lines. This setting is not available with associative views.

Reference scale for calculation

For views and sections derived from the building structure: you can define the reference scale of the source drawing files for the hidden line calculation.

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Display visible edges

When you select the Show visible edges check box, all visible edges are displayed. The program uses the format properties you define here.
When you select the Pen, Line, Color and/or Layer check box(es), the elements are displayed with the format properties set in this dialog box. Otherwise, the elements retain the format properties with which they were drawn.

Display hidden edges

When you select the Display hidden edges check box, hidden edges are displayed. The program uses the format properties you define here.
When you select the Pen, Line, Color and/or Layer check box(es), the elements are displayed with the format properties set in this dialog box. Otherwise, the elements retain the format properties with which they were drawn.

Buttons in the border of the dialog box

Load favorite, Save as a favorite

Reset

You can use this tool to reset all the entries in the dialog box back to their defaults.