Article Number: 115 | VC6 | VC5 | VC4 | VC3 | Post Date: November 13, 2024 | Updated: November 13, 2024
How can I make a 3D scale bar?
There are many ways to accomplish this in Virtual CRASH.
Receive Projection | VC6 | VC5 | VC4 | VC3
Recall, “projection > receive projection” (learn more) can be used by any 3D mesh object to z-project any 2D graphic onto its surface. In the video below, 'receive projection' is used to project distance indicators and a scale bar onto the terrain surface.
Use Sign Object | VC6 | VC5 | VC4 | VC3 | VCPS
We start by creating a scale bar object and render to an image file (you can also download an example scale bar from the internet).
Here we see the final render. Note a green ground color is used to more easily distinguish the profile of the scale bar.
We then crop out the scale bar graphic using an image editor. Note, you can download the graphic below (right-click on the image below and left-click “save image as”).
Next, create a sign object (learn more).
Drag and drop your scale bar image file directly onto the sign object and replace cap texture. Set “type:none” to hide sign post. Set length and width as needed.
To add text, you can extrude a text object and position as needed.
Apply Scalebar Texture to Box Object | VC6 and VC5
Create a 3D box object of the needed dimensions. In VC6, create a new material in the “material” menu. Left-click “albedo texture”. Select map “method:object” and set u and v size to 1. As you resize the box, the scale bar texture will also resize automatically. Learn more about applying materials in VC6 >
In VC5, create the box object, then left-click on “texture”. Select “map method: object” and set u and v scale to 1. Learn more about applying materials in VC5 >
Group of box objects | VC6 |VC5 | VC4 | VC3
First, create an arrangement of box objects with alternating black and white colors. Use grid point snapping to easily arrange the boxes at regular intervals. Below, we show five boxes, each with a length of 10 ft, arranged next to one box with a length of 25 ft. Four such arrangements are created by cloning and then positioned as shown below.
Upcoming In-Class Training Opportunities
Once this arrangement is complete, lasso all of the boxes [F9], then combine the boxes into a single group (learn more).
Position and orient the group object as needed.
Apply Materials to Groups of Polygons | VC6 | VC5
Create a box object with the needed number of length, width, and height segs. In the misc menu, set the main body color (here we use white). Convert the box to a mesh by left-click in “convert > to mesh”. Next, use [Shift+F] to enter faces selection mode. Select alternating polygons as shown below.
Create a new material and set the material color for the alternated faces as needed (here we use black).
Note the same workflow can be used in VC4 and VC3, but users will be limited to shaders in the “faces” menu.
Tags: 3d scale, 3-dimensional scale bar, scale bars.
© 2024 Virtual CRASH, LLC. All Rights Reserved