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Understanding Paper Space Mode

Part 2: Understanding Paper Space Mode

The Paper Space Mode command makes it possible to print multiple views of a drawing in a single print job, complete with a title block if desired. Options such as perspective, shading, light source, focal point, view settings, and zoom can be set for each separate view created in the Paper Space.

The first installment of this multi‑part series covered opening a drawing in Paper Space Mode. Then explained how to create a Paper Space layout containing one large view frame and a small title block. It also explained how to save the layout as a template, so it could be used with other drawing files. (If you didn't read last month's installment, please go back to "Part1: Understanding Paper Space Mode (Title Blocks)" located at http://www.upperspace.com/newsletter/dec02/#paperspace. Then come back for this month's submission.

Now we can expand on your understanding of Paper Space. Think of Paper Space as an easy way to add a title block to a finished drawing and prepare multiple views for a single print job. In this installment, we'll look at creating multiple view frames and the scaling and shading options for view frames.

As you learned last month, the first order of business when using Paper Space Mode is to open or create the drawing you want to print. For those of you following along at home, open the same sample drawing you used the last time (the one used here is the KB20 Engine.dcd included with DesignCAD 3D MAX Plus). Double-check that everything looks the way you want it. Again, the easiest way to use Paper Space is as a final stop before printing.

Next, choose the load paper space template command from the paper space view frame setup submenu in the file menu. The Paper Space Template dialog box appears.
This time load the firstcustomtemplate template you created and saved last time and then click load. The drawing is loaded into the FirstCustomTemplate template which contains one large view frame and your custom title block. First we're going to resize the view frame to make room for others. Last month, you learned that one way to reduce the size of a view frame is to select it and use the Info Box to enter a new size. This time we're going to use a different method; we're going to change the size of the view frame using the Scale command Move the cursor directly over the engine in the Paper Space and click the mouse. This is the best way to make sure you are clicking in the view frame area. Only objects drawn in Paper Space Mode can be selected in Paper Space Mode, so don't worry that you may have selected part of the engine when you clicked on it; you can't. Now select the scale command from the selection edit submenu of the edit menu. The Scale dialog box appears.
Enter .5 in both the x axis scale and y axis scale options to reduce both the height and the width of the view frame to half their original values. Press the Enter key. The view frame is reduced in size, but is still centered on the Paper Space. With the view frame still selected, just select the move command from the selection edit submenu of the edit menu or move the cursor over the selection handle for the view frame and click the mouse. Move the view frame to the lower-right corner of the Paper Space so that the bottom edge of the view frame is aligned with the top edge of your title block and the right edge of the view frame is place just inside the right edge of the Paper Space. Click the mouse to drop the view frame into place. To make a new view frame, select the create view frame command from the view frame menu or click on its toolbox icon . The View Frame dialog box appears.
In the view settings area, select smooth shading and perspective view. Now move the cursor to the upper-left corner of the existing view frame. Click and hold the left mouse button and drag the cursor to the upper-left corner of the Paper Space. Release the mouse button. You just created a new view frame! Now use the create view frame command to make a top view, wireframe view frame in the upper-right corner of the Paper Space. How about creating a view frame that's a little different? Let's make a view frame out of an octagon. Select the polygon (edge) command from the lines submenu of the draw menu. The Polygon dialog box appears.
Change the number of sides to 8 and press Enter. Move the cursor to the bottom edge of the view frame in the upper-left corner of the Paper Space. Click the left mouse button. Move the cursor to the right or left to enlarge the octagon so it reaches as far down as possible without interfering with your title block. (Take into consideration that you can move the octagon after it is created, so if you can enlarge the octagon to reach the bottom edge of the Paper Space and it not interfere with the title block if moved, go ahead and do so.) At this point your Paper Space should look something like this:	Click the thumbnail image to see a larger view.
To turn the octagon into a view frame, select the convert to view frame command from the view frame menu or click on its toolbox icon . The View Frame dialog box appears. In the view settings area, select hidden line removal and perspective view. Press Enter. Click on the octagon to convert it to a view frame. It is time to save the new, multi-frame layout as a template. In the layout menu, select the save current layout as template command. The Save Paper Space Template dialog box appears.	Click the thumbnail image to see a larger view.
Enter SecondCustomTemplate for the file name and click the save button. Your KB20 layout is saved in the SecondCustomTemplate template. The next time you want to print a drawing using these views and title block, just open the drawing and load the Paper Space Template. Tune in next month for additional information on using slightly more advanced features of Paper Space Mode.
Tune in next month for additional information on using slightly more advanced features of Paper Space Mode.