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14 Chapter 10: Precision and Drawing Aids
3.
Right-click the Snap Toggle button to display
the Grid and Snap Settings dialog. On the
Snaps tab, set the snap type to the type you will
use for measurement. For example, if you are
going to use point objects for measurement,
checkthePivotoptionsoyoucansnaptothe
point objects’ pivot points. Close the d ia log.
4. OntheCreatepanel,clicktheHelpers
button, then click Tape. Move the cursor over
the first measurement point until the snap
cursor appears, then click and drag to the other
measurement point.
5. Read the length of the tape on the Parameters
rollout.
Protractor
The
Protractor helper (page 2–25) measures the
angle between pivot points of two objects and the
protractor object.
As with the tape helper, point objec ts and snap
tools can be used to aid in precise measurement
of angles.
To measure an angle with a protractor:
1.
OntheCreatepanel,clicktheHelpers
button, then cli
ck Protractor . Click in a
viewport to place the protractor object.
2. On the Parameters rollout, click Pick Object 1
and select an object in your scene. The name
of the selecte
d object appears above the pick
button. A line connects the protractor to the
center of the object.
3. Click Pick Object 2 and pick a second object.
The angle betw
een the protractor and the two
objects appears on the rollout.
4. To move either object wh ile watching the Angle
readout, tur n on the Pin Stack button in the
Modifier Sta
ck rollout. This locks the stack to
the Protractor’s Parameters rollout.
Compass
The
Compass helper (page 2–26) establishes
an orientation for your scene. You create this
object with a single click and drag to define the
radius, usually in a Perspective or Top view. On its
parameters rollout, you can adjust the apparent
radius of the compass rose. Like all helper objects,
this object is for reference only and does not
render.
Measure Utility
The Measure Utility (page 2–48) provides
measurements of a selected object or shape.
To use the Measure utility:
1.
On the Utilities panel, click Measure to display
the Measure rollout.
2. Select any shape or object and read out the
measurements. If you select multiple objects,
thesumofthemeasurementsisdisplayed.
3. Click New Floater to display a modeless
Measuredialogwithallthesameinformation.
4. UsetheMeasuredialogtodisplaythelengthof
a spline, like a line or circle, as you create it.
Mea sur e Dist ance Tool
The Measure Distance tool quickly calculates the
distance between two points.
To measure the distance between two points:
1.
Choose Tools menu > Measure Distance
2. Click in the viewpor t where you want to start
measuring.
3. Click in the viewport where you want to
measure to.
A distance is returned in the Mini Listener.
Additional information, detailing the distance
along the X, Y, and Z coordinates is displayed
in the status bar.