3D Viewer - Model Properties

To the left of the 3D viewer, there is a property window.  Each model in the current 3D view has a tree control which allows you to adjust how that model is displayed with the first line of the tree being the name of the Model.  

After the name of the Mode, the other options and settings are as follows.

• Use Model Colours: Switches the DTM surface to use the colours of the triangles as they appear in the 2D Model view. When not enabled the primary colour of the DTM triangles can be changed.
• Colour: Allows the primary colour of the DTM surface to be controlled if the "Use Model Colour" box is not checked.
• Opacity: Defines how transparent the surface is. 100 means opaque, whereas 0 is totally transparent.
• Height Offset: Sets a height offset that can be applied to the DTM.  Usually, this is used to help separate design and working surfaces visually, by putting one significantly above or below another model in the 3D view. 
• Display Mode -
  • Hidden: Hides the given model and collapses the settings to save space. 
  • Normal: Renders the DTM using its current colour.
    
  • Wireframe: Renders the triangle edges, instead of as a continuous surface.
     
  • Height Shaded: Shades the surface triangles according to their height. When this mode is selected, height shader options become active below the Grid Overlay section of the Model properties.
    
    Here the settings for the height shading can be adjusted by clicking on the Settings button.  This access the same Height Shading parameters normally configured in a 2d Model view. In addition to this if you enable "Clip Box Limits" within the height shading properties then n4ce will use the extents of all points displayed on the screen. 
    
    
  • Shaded Wireframe: Similar to the Height Shaded mode above, but the triangle edges are shaded rather than the faces.
    
  • Textured: This mode applies a selected image map to the DTM surface.  Once this mode is selected, Texture controls are made active below the Grid Overlay section.
    
    The Texture controls may need to be expanded if they are not immediately visible. From here the image can be set, together with the Size, Rotation and Offsets that may be necessary to get it to look correct.  Images must be stored in the Textures folder off of the n4ce Settings folder. Usually, this is "C:\ProgramData\Applications in CADD\n4ce\Settings\Textures"
     
    
    
  • Aerial Image: Allows a georeferenced image to be applied to the surface of the model. ECW files have georeferencing baked within their format.  But JPG, PNG and TIFF files need associated JGW, PGW and TGW files to place them in the correct coordinate system.
    
    As with the other shading methods, a new section below the Grid Overlay will become available. The Aerial Image section allows the aerial image to be selected, and also the resolution to import.  The resolution is defined as a percentage of the original images' full detail.  Larger percentages may be necessary to achieve a clear render, but this can be at the expense of graphics performance.
    
    
  • Gradient Shaded: Shades the triangles based on their gradient.  Use the Gradient Shader settings to control the upper and lower bounds and the colour scheme.  As with the height shading, a key can also be displayed to annotate the various colours.
    
• Always Visible: Ensures the indicated model is drawn such that it is visible no matter what is in its way.
• Wireframe Overlay: Renders the triangle edges on top of the current shading mode. The colour however is defined via the Wireframe Overlay button towards the end of the Home tab.
  
• Grid Overlay: Renders a grid on top of the current shading mode. The size of which is controlled by a section that becomes active under the overlay check box.  The colour however is defined via the Grid Overlay button towards the end of the Home tab.
  
• If the Point Cloud has groups and the display mode of the chosen groups is set to "group colour" then the below key will be displayed.