Autodesk VIZ 2008 Essentials Autodesk Authorized Training Courseware (AATC) 27009-050008-1700A May 2007
Copyright ASCENT Center for Technical Knowledge, 2007 Printed in the United States of America, all rights reserved. No part of this manual may be reproduced in any form by any photographic, electronic, mechanical or other means, or used in any information storage and retrieval system, without prior written permission of ASCENT, a division of Rand Technologies of Michigan, Inc. Trademarks Autodesk VIZ, Autodesk 3ds Max and AutoCAD are registered trademarks of Autodesk, Inc. All other brand names, product names, or trademarks belong to their respective holders. The content of this publication is reproduced by Autodesk, Inc., with permission from ASCENT, a division of Rand Technologies of Michigan, Inc. All rights reserved. ASCENT - Center for Technical Knowledge is an Autodesk Authorized Author. AUTODESK, INC., MAKES NO WARRANTY, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO ANY IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE REGARDING THESE MATERIALS, AND MAKES SUCH MATERIALS AVAILABLE SOLELY ON AN AS-IS BASIS. IN NO EVENT SHALL AUTODESK, INC., BE LIABLE TO ANYONE FOR SPECIAL, COLLATERAL, INCIDENTAL, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES IN CONNECTION WITH OR ARISING OUT OF PURCHASE OR USE OF THESE MATERIALS. THE SOLE AND EXCLUSIVE LIABILITY TO AUTODESK, INC., REGARDLESS OF THE FORM OF ACTION, SHALL NOT EXCEED THE PURCHASE PRICE OF THE MATERIALS DESCRIBED HEREIN. Government Use Use, duplication, or disclosure by the U.S. Government is subject to restrictions as set forth in FAR 12.212 (Commercial Computer Software-Restricted Rights) and DFAR 227.7202 (Rights in Technical Data and Computer Software), as applicable. Autodesk, Inc 111 McInnis Parkway San Rafael, CA 94903 www.autodesk.com Feedback on Autodesk, Inc. courseware is always welcome. Let us know how we re doing by sending your comments to: AATC.feedback@autodesk.com ASCENT - Center for Technical Knowledge 1001 E. Market Street, Suite 102 Charlottesville, VA 22902 www.ascented.com
Contents Preface...v Module 1: Introduction to Autodesk VIZ... 1-1 Section 1: Overview... 1-3 Overview... 1-4 Visualization Workflow... 1-7 Section 2: The Autodesk VIZ Interface... 1-11 Menus and Toolbars... 1-12 Status Bar... 1-16 Command Panel... 1-17 Configuring User Paths... 1-25 Viewport Configuration and Navigation... 1-28 Object Selection... 1-38 Section 3: Basic Functions... 1-41 Modeling with Primitives... 1-42 Applying Transforms... 1-45 Sub-Object Mode... 1-56 Box Modeling... 1-64 Statistics in Viewport... 1-76 Reference Coordinate Systems and Transform Centers... 1-77 Cloning and Grouping... 1-82 Self Check: Intro to Autodesk VIZ... 1-86 Module 2: Starting a Visualization Project... 2-1 Section 1: Autodesk VIZ Configuration... 2-3 Video Modes... 2-4 Preferences... 2-6 Configure Paths... 2-7 Units Setup and Global Coordinate System... 2-11 Customizing the User Interface... 2-15 Section 2: Assembling Project Files... 2-16 Data Linking and Importing... 2-17 DWG Link and Import Options... 2-24 Layer and Object Properties... 2-38 Section 3: 3D Modeling from 2D Objects... 2-47 Drawing 2D Lines... 2-48 The Lathe Modifier... 2-55 2D Booleans... 2-57 Terrain Objects... 2-61 The Extrude Modifier... 2-65 i
Autodesk VIZ 2008 Fundamentals Boolean Operations... 2-71 The Sweep Modifier (Optional)... 2-79 Loft Objects... 2-84 Using Snaps for Precision... 2-90 Self Check: Starting a Visualization Project... 2-98 Module 3: Materials... 3-1 Section 1: Introduction to Materials... 3-2 How Materials Work... 3-3 Understanding Maps and Materials... 3-4 Materials and Material Libraries... 3-7 Materials and Tool Palettes... 3-8 Managing Materials... 3-15 Section 2: Material Types and Parameters... 3-24 Standard Materials... 3-25 Architectural Materials... 3-39 Multi/Sub-Object Materials... 3-41 Opacity, Bump, & Reflection Mapping... 3-50 mental ray Shaders and Materials... 3-57 Other Material Types... 3-66 Section 3: Mapping Coordinates and Scale... 3-68 Mapping Coordinates... 3-69 Mapping Scale... 3-78 Self Check: Materials... 3-86 Module 4: Introduction to Autodesk VIZ Lighting... 4-1 Section 1: Autodesk VIZ Lighting Overview... 4-2 Local vs. Global Illumination... 4-3 Choosing a Lighting Strategy... 4-7 Section 2: Standard Lighting... 4-8 Fundamentals of Standard Lighting... 4-9 Types of Standard Lights... 4-10 Shadow Types... 4-26 Daytime Lighting with Standard Lights... 4-35 Self Check: Introduction to Autodesk Autodesk VIZ Lighting... 4-46 Module 5: Lighting with Radiosity and mental ray... 5-1 Section 1: Scene Preparation for Radiosity... 5-2 Fundamentals of Radiosity... 5-3 Photometric Light Objects... 5-4 Configuring Materials for Radiosity... 5-16 Exposure Control... 5-23 Section 2: Applying Radiosity... 5-28 Radiosity Workflow... 5-29 ii ASCENT Center for Technical Knowledge
Contents Initial Distribution... 5-30 Adjusting Radiosity Solutions... 5-39 Rendering Quality Options for Radiosity... 5-43 Daylight and Radiosity (Optional)... 5-47 mental ray Daylight... 5-52 Self Check: Lighting with Radiosity and mental ray... 5-63 Module 6: Rendering and Animation... 6-1 Section 1: Rendering... 6-2 Single vs. Double-Sided Rendering... 6-3 Camera Parameters... 6-13 Background Images... 6-16 The Print Size Wizard... 6-29 Selected Rendering Options... 6-32 Rendering Presets... 6-41 mental ray Interior Rendering... 6-42 Section 2: Animation... 6-52 Animation Controls... 6-53 Walkthrough Assistant... 6-64 Animation Output... 6-68 Self Check: Rendering and Animation... 6-75 Module 7 Supplemental... 7-1 Getting Help with Autodesk VIZ... 7-2 Object Substitution... 7-3 Customizing Tool Palettes... 7-7 Completing the Interior Scene... 7-8 Camera Matching... 7-10 Lighting Analysis... 7-13 Creating a Shadow Study Animation... 7-16 Creating Hierarchies... 7-20 Animating Visibility... 7-22 Index... 8-1 Index... 8-3 Appendix A... A-1 Courseware from Autodesk... A-2 Autodesk Services & Support... A-4 Autodesk Partners... A-5 Autodesk Authorized Training Centers... A-5 Autodesk Certification... A-6 Useful Links... A-6 2007. Do not duplicate iii
Preface Autodesk VIZ 2008 is one of Autodesk s design visualization platforms. It offers state-of-the-art technology for creating photo-realistic still renderings as well as desktop animations. While it includes its own tools for 2D and 3D modeling, Autodesk VIZ can work with geometry imported from many other applications as well. Autodesk VIZ is a robust and powerful program that can be daunting to learn. This course provides a thorough introduction to it that will help new students make the most of this sophisticated application, as well as broaden the horizons of existing, self-taught students. The course will enable students to: Understand and efficiently use the Autodesk VIZ interface and set configuration options. Use basic Autodesk VIZ modeling functions for creating and manipulating geometry. Create 3D geometry from 2D objects. Import and link geometry from other applications for design visualization. Apply, manipulate, and scale materials and material maps. Understand multiple approaches to lighting scenes, including Radiosity, in order to choose the best approach for a given project. Efficiently render still frames (including mental ray). Create simple walkthrough or flyby animations. The six modules in this course are intended for a 3-day class of intensive instructor-led training. Topics labeled Optional can be included at the instructor s discretion based on the interests of the class and the time available. In addition, the appendix contains supplemental information and related optional topics. v
Autodesk VIZ 2008 Fundamentals With the release of the Autodesk VIZ 2008 Training Guide, a number of new topics have been included in many of the chapters. Please refer to the specific notes in each chapter for more information of these new topics. The practices in this course are geared toward real-world tasks encountered by the primary users of Autodesk VIZ: professionals in the Architectural, Interior Design, Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, and Product Design industries. While there are no prerequisites for the class, experience with 3D modeling is recommended. vi ASCENT Center for Technical Knowledge