Editing the Scene

The Scene Graph Palette

Command

Path

Shortcut

Layers

Window

        Ctrl+Shift+R (Windows)

        Cmd+Shift+R (Mac)

The Scene Graph palette can be used to select items in the scene, to select objects and fixtures to be edited from the Properties palette, or to focus fixtures or change fixture attributes from the Software Console palette. The Scene Graph palette context menu provides options for organizing the scene contents and troubleshooting display issues.

To open the Scene Graph palette:

Select the command.

The ROOT list heading represents the contents of the entire scene; it contains a hierarchical list of layers, fixtures, and scene objects. Click successive disclosure arrows to navigate the scene hierarchy.

Merged scene files display as layers under the ROOT list heading (see Merging Files).

Expand a heading within the hierarchy by clicking on the disclosure arrow. Selected objects and fixtures are highlighted within the Scene window, and their parameters display in the Properties palette.

SceneGraphPalette.png 

Selecting Global Scene Parameters, Objects, and Fixtures

To select items, you may need to expand the list headings in the Scene Graph palette:

        From the Scene Graph palette, select ROOT to edit the global parameters for the entire scene (see Global Parameters).

        Expand the ROOT list heading to access items within the scene. Use the Page Up/Page Down and arrow keys to scroll through the main ROOT headings. When a heading is selected, all items within the heading are also selected, so they can be moved and transformed as a group. These items are highlighted in the Scene window, and their properties display in the Properties palette.

        Keep expanding the headings until you access an individual object or fixture, to select and edit only a single item. The selected fixture or object is highlighted in the Scene window, and its properties display in the Properties palette. Fixtures with accessories may also display parameters for gobo images and shutters in the Software Console palette. The displayed parameters depend on the fixture type and accessories.

        Multiple objects or fixtures can be selected by pressing the Shift key or the Ctrl (Windows) or Cmd (Mac) key while clicking on fixtures or objects.

Organizing the Scene Contents

Command

Path

Insert Layer

Context menu

To organize the scene contents, insert new headings, or “layers,” in the Scene Graph palette. You can drag and drop items from one layer to another. When a layer is selected, all items contained in that layer are selected, so they can be moved and transformed as a group. This is especially helpful when setting up DMX Transforms.

To insert a layer in the Scene Graph palette:

Select an item in the list of scene contents, and select the command.

A new layer is inserted into the selected layer, or into the layer of the selected fixture or object.

The layer can be renamed from the Properties palette.

To move a layer, click and drag it to the desired location. The ROOT layer is the highest level in the list of scene contents.

Deleting Objects and Fixtures from the Scene

Command

Path

        Delete Selected Fixtures

        Delete Selected

Context menu

The Scene Graph palette can delete objects and fixtures in the scene.

To delete items from the Scene Graph palette:

  1. Select the object or fixture to delete.

  2. Several items can be selected by selecting a heading, or by pressing the Ctrl (Windows) or Cmd (Mac) key while clicking on fixtures or objects.

    Selected items are highlighted, helping to identify them.

  3. Select the appropriate command. The options depend on the items selected.

        To delete only the selected fixtures, select Delete Selected Fixtures.

        To delete all selected items, select Delete Selected.

If several items are selected, and only the fixtures should be deleted, select Delete Selected Fixtures.

The items are deleted from the scene.

Correcting Scene Contents for Previz

When objects are imported into Vision, they may need adjustment for correct display. The following commands apply only when certain options are selected in the document preferences.

Adjusting the Normals

Command

Path

Invert Normals

Context menu

This command applies when Use Normals is selected on the Document Preferences: Rendering Tab. If an object does not reflect light correctly, its normals might be invalid. To test the normals, select Render Normals from the Rendering tab on the Document Preferences dialog box. If an object’s normals are inverted, use the command to correct them.

To invert an object’s normals:

Select the object in the Scene Graph palette, and select the command.

Adjusting the Winding Order

Command

Path

Flip Winding Order

Context menu

This command applies when Use Face Culling is selected on the Document Preferences: Rendering Tab. If geometry displays incorrectly, the winding order might be wrong.

To reverse the winding order of one or more objects:

Select the object(s) in the Scene Graph palette, and select the command.

Refreshing the Scene Graph Palette

Command

Path

Refresh

Context menu

You can refresh the Scene Graph palette to ensure the proper display of scene contents.

To refresh the Scene Graph palette:

Select the command.

The Scene Graph palette and the Properties palette are updated.

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Opening Files

Merging Files

The Properties Palette

Specifying Textures

Resetting Capture Sources

Modifying Scene Objects and Fixtures

Focusing Conventional Fixtures

The Software Console Palette

Saving the Scene as an Image

Saving the Scene as a Movie

 

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