Overview

You learned how to view a model by rotating views and by modifying the view display depths. As well, you discovered how to restrict what is displayed in a view via volume clipping/masking and how you can use displaysets to display only selected elements.

This chapter presents MicroStation's camera tools and settings, including the Define Camera tool, which has a comprehensive set of options for setting up a camera view for rendering. Additionally, the Change View Perspective tool lets you quickly add perspective to a view, and the Camera Settings tool has several options for setting up a camera view.

View Cameras

Each of the eight views available in a MicroStation model shows the design from some point in the design cube. This is similar to having up to eight cameras that you can position anywhere in the model. By default, the viewing mode is parallel projection. That is, unlike real life, there is no perspective to indicate those parts of the design that are closer to you than others in the view. MicroStation, however, does have tools that let you display views in a more natural manner, with perspective.

Perspective in a View

When viewing a design in wireframe mode, often it is difficult to ascertain the orientation with respect to the design. Adding perspective to one or more views adds a feeling of depth and thereby improves spatial orientation as you view a model. You can use a view camera to add perspective to a view...