Hi,
V5
I have never figured out what key constrains a drawing of a straight line or a move, to z axes in perspective view.
Sometimes its easier to see where one needs to move or draw to in perp view, but the action doesnt want to go the way ones brain wishes !
Shift key constrains to x or y but what does the z axes ?
yes its a method we all should know but I end up cheating and opening an ortho window !
Steve
By default, drawing is constrained to the CPlane in the active viewport.
By default, the Perspective view uses the World Top CPlane like the Top viewport does.
You can use “Elevator mode” to draw perpendicular to the current CPlane.
About half way down this Help file article you’ll find Elevator Mode:
https://docs.mcneel.com/rhino/7/help/en-us/index.htm#user_interface/accurate_modeling.htm?Highlight=elevator%20mode
Hi,
Thanks,…
for a curve, as it doesnt mention a line, it says click to start curve, then click for 2nd point then ctrl key for 3rd, but by then a line is drawnn with just 2 clicks,
How does one start the line then make the 2nd click be on Z axes ?
Steve
The first part of this tutorial from the User’s Guide covers Elevator mode:
https://docs.mcneel.com/rhino/7/usersguide/en-us/index.htm#html/ch-13_pulltoy.htm?Highlight=elevator
Hello- you can use Line > Vertical or snap to the start point with your elevator mode going.
-Pascal
Hi,
V5.
tutorial seems to refer to having to have ortho windows in use to get elevator mode, if I have Perspective filling screen as I do when drawing, getting elevator mode going is not easy.
Line>Vertical ?
Is that _vertical command as that allows a line to be drawn perp to cplane.
However I want to move something Z , or draw next point of a curvy line above last pick, etc.
I just wish to hold a key down to constrain the move or point placement to be up/down Z direction.
I have always found it so odd that there is no constrain key to the Z axes. probably the #1 need in perspective view and frustrating as hell to be denied 3D direction Z.
Can elevator mode be initiated with a code and a custom button ?
Does elevator mode constrain moving things to Z , or next click, or draw direction, to Z ?
and how to initiate it when just in perspective view ?
Can anyone do a script thing (V5 onwards) giving me a key that constrains movement to Z when held down ?
Likewise constrain angle of draw to 45deg increments, rather than have to type <45
WANTED SINCE DAY 1 OF RHINO.
PLEEEEESE .
Steve
No need - Just Ctrl + click.
Gumball
OrthoAngle
(exists since Rhino 1.0)
Oh, and there’s also AutoCPlane in V8, but as you’re still on V5…
Hi,
I am in perspective view,
I click the point at which my straight line starts, I then hold ctrl and click for the lines end and its gone out across the Cplane to where on the grid the click was seen, (SnapToGrid off)
that didnt draw a line on the Z axis.
How do I use Ctrl and click for the next draw point ? so that its constrained to Z axis ?
Steve
The correct procedure is
Personally I almost never use Elevator mode…
For drawing vertical lines I find it easier to just use Line>Vertical.
For moving stuff I find it easier to use Move>Vertical, gumball etc.
Or switch to the appropriate Ortho viewport with Ortho on for certain operations.
You could also change the CPlane in the perspective view from ‘World Top’ to ‘World Front’ to constrain curves to the Z-axis. I recommend setting up an alias for this. Another option is the ‘OneView’ command.
Not in Rhino V5…
You are correct. Changing construction planes through macros and aliases is my personal favourite, and I would recommend it over ‘OneView’ anyways.