As you navigate around and through your 3D model, the location of the model in space
remains constant. It is your current view (viewpoint), of the model that is changing.
You can see the current view properties in the Properties panel
when nothing is selected. The Camera (X,Y,Z) represents your
location as you view the model. Pretend you are viewing it through a camera lens. The
Target (X,Y,Z) is where the camera lens is pointed. As you
navigate around the model, the Camera and
Target coordinates update accordingly. Those coordinates are
read-only in the Properties panel. There are other
View properties that you can edit.
Perspective is the most important control to be aware of for
navigation purposes.
You can set Perspective to On or
Off for the current view. When set to
On, the view displays the visual perspective mode (left).
When set to Off, it displays the parallel perspective mode
(right).
To control the Perspective property
Do one of the following:
Select the View / Perspective property in the
Properties panel.
Right click the Look From widget, then choose
Perspective in the context menu.
Mouse and keyboard navigation options
One of the easiest and most common methods for navigating around a 3D model is with
the mouse and keyboard. Simply press the Shift key and middle mouse button as you
move the mouse to orbit the model. The cursor changes to an orbit icon indicating
you’re in orbit mode.
There are many other mouse and keyboard navigation methods that you’re probably
familiar with from your 2D CAD experience. Most of those methods are also useful for
3D modeling.
Zoom in/out – Roll the mouse wheel. You can zoom all the way into a model and
walk around inside it when in perspective mode. In isometric mode you can only
zoom in very close, but not go inside.
Zoom Extents – Double-click the mouse wheel.
Pan – Press the mouse wheel or middle mouse button.
See the ’View Manipulation using the Mouse and Keyboard’ article for a comprehensive
list.
The LookFrom navigation tool
The LookFrom tool is displayed in the upper right corner of
the Drawing area. Click on different places on the
LookFrom tool to display the view from standard
viewpoints. By default, it includes Top,
Left, Right,
Front, Back, Top Back
Left, Top Back Right, Top Front
Left, and Top Front Right. As you pass the
cursor over a viewpoint, the relevant icon appears at the center and a tooltip
displays below. You can press the Ctrl key to access similar options for
Bottom viewpoints.
A right-click menu offers access to additional controls and settings.
Choose LookFrom Settings… in the context menu to open the
Settings dialog box and edit the
LookFrom related system variables.