AutoDesSys | Tips

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form•Z Tips

114- Trim a Solid to a Surface

113- Layout Dimension Scale

112- RenderZone Efficiency

111- Render Area Rectangle

110- Shadows

109- Object Scatter Efficiency

108- Tab Key Controls

107- formZ File Efficiency

106- Image Map Efficiency

105- Render with Alpha Channels

104- Visibility of Facets and Iso Lines

103- Display Resolution of Smooth Objects

102- Deriving Lines of Intersection

101- Making a Birthday Cake

100- Learning Resources for formZ

99- Using the Frame Tool

98- Create 2D Layout from 3D Objects

97- Export to STL for 3D Printing

96- Fix Intersecting or Irregular Faces

95- Create NYE Champagne Glass

94- Create a Voronoi Ornament

93- Convert Objects to Facetted

92- Checking for "Solid" Objects

91- Using the Object Doctor

90- Turntable Style Animation

89- Round To Holdline Tool

88- Using Environment Lights

87- Ghosting and Unghosting Objects

86- Favorites Panel and Search by Name

85- Setting Key Shortcuts

84- Faster SubD Deformations

83- Slice Objects with Line

82- Using Automatic Title Blocks

81- Automatically Find and Fix Contour Lines

80- Show Hidden Edges as Dashed Lines

79- Infinite Zoom with Alt/Option Key

78- Create and Print a 3D Voronoi form

77- Derive a quick frame from an opening

76- Exporting formZ Animations

75- Animate Camera from existing Views

74- Create a SubD Base and Capital

73- Create a SubD Fluted Column

72- Edit Textures in 3D

71- Derive 2D Sections with Contours tool

70- Controlled Rounding

69- Isolate and Reveal objects

68- Emulating Soffit Lighting

67- Editing Groups and Components

66- Parametric Texture Mapping

65- Mapping an image across multiple objects

64- Creating a Simple Brick Arch

63- Align 2D objects with the Active View

62- Create 3D Text on a curved surface

61- Convert any curve into arcs

60- Using the T. Macro tool

59- Fill Openings with Cap tool

58- Replace any object with Replace tool

57- Decal Bumps for ornate details

56- Imprint 2D Shapes with Place On tool

55- Create Tangent Walls with Tangent Loft tool

54- Render objects as Wireframe

53- Rendering with Catcher Shader

52- Embossing

51- Softer Lighting with Falloff

50- Create Transparent Decals

49- Insert holes using 2D elevation drawing

48- Animate multiple objects

47- Boolean multiple objects with Shift key

46- Numeric hole locations

45- Animate camera along paths

44- Adding Cross Section Attributes

43- Create a Times Square NYE ball

42- Create a solid 3D snowflake

41- Remove coplanar segments

40- Use Thicken tool on surface or solid objects

39- Rendering with Global Illumination

38- Using the Subdivision Soften tool

37- Save custom selections

36- Export Sun Animation to a video

35- Create perforated objects

34- Removing a subdivision bridge

33- Sweep multiple sources simultaneously

32- Edit thickened Nurbs using Derive Face

31- Enhance Reflections with Environment Maps

30- Organize materials in Groups

29- Use Extract tool to create new shapes

28- Control orientation of the Bridge tool

27- Use Nurbs Blend tool on non-nurbs objects

26- Measure Quantity of multiple entities

25- Reduce the points of 2D vector lines

24- Boundary Sweep to cap sweep objects

23- Edit geometry of by moving points

22- Use the Scenes palette as a slideshow

21- Place a texture on a single face

20- Control dimension orientation

19- Align objects along a path

18- Create a circular array with the Rotate tool

17- Hold down Shift to disable click and drag

16- Use Move with Copy to derive a new object

15- Scale objects by absolute value

14- Use the Reshape tool to delete geometry

13- Add temporary guides while drawing

12- Use guides to control numeric input

11- Offset Outline on faces or lines

10- Use the Extend tool to extend a face

9- Use the Measure tool to scale objects

8- Reference planes and image Underlays

7- Using the Billboard tool to map images

6- Blend between lines with Curve-Blend tool

5- Fix missing faces with Object Doctor

4- Edit parameters of multiple objects

3- Toggle the arc direction while drawing

2- Hold Shift key to lock movement along a guide

1- Using the Transform tool

How to derive a quick frame from an opening

Select Derive 3D Wall tool.
Move mouse over center of opening then tap Tab key until the outline is highlighted, then click.
Note, tapping the Tab key allows you to parade through all possible selection options based on cursor position and this technique can be used with other modeling tools.
Use Numeric Input palette and/or Tool Options palette to enter parameters such as Width, Height and Justification (Left, Right, Center).
You can change the parameters anytime by selecting the frame object with the Pick tool and clicking on the Parameters tab in the Tool Options palette.