How to Create Walk Through Assignment Using AutoCAD Perspective Slides

Basic process for DVIEW:

1. Select key reference objects to define the perspective.
2. Specify the target point — the location you want to look at.
3. Specify the camera point — the position from which the viewer sees the target.
4. Adjust the distance to achieve the desired perspective depth.

By convention, the camera height is set to around 1.7 meters to simulate a natural eye level for a standing adult.

Step-by-Step Example for DVIEW

• Draw a box and two points (one for the target, one for the camera).
• Start the DVIEW command.
• Select your objects.
• Use the POints option to define the target and camera coordinates.
• Enter a Z-value for both (e.g., 1.7 for camera height).
• Accept the default camera-target distance.

Once completed, AutoCAD will display a realistic perspective view. You can repeat this process from different vantage points to prepare multiple views for your walk through.

Saving and Managing Views for the Walk Through

After creating perspective views, the next step is to save them for easy access and consistency. This ensures you don’t have to repeat the DVIEW setup each time you need the same shot.

Using the DDVIEW Command to Save Views

• Save your current view with a custom name.
• Restore saved views at any time.
• Organize views for sequential presentation.

When naming views, use a numerical sequence such as View-01, View-02, and so on. This ensures the views remain in the correct order for the slide show.

Restoring and Deleting Views

1. Launch DDVIEW.
2. Select the desired view name.
3. Click Restore and then OK.

To delete a view, highlight it in the list and click Delete. Maintaining a clean view list helps you stay organized when working with multiple perspectives.

Shading and Preparing Visuals for Presentation

While wireframe views can communicate structure, shaded perspectives make presentations more realistic and appealing.

Applying the SHADE Command

The SHADE command fills surfaces with solid colors, obscuring hidden lines and creating a 3D effect. You can enhance the shaded look by adjusting the SHADEDGE variable:

• 0 = Smooth shaded surface with no edges.
• 1 = Shaded surface with highlighted edges (recommended for clarity).
• 2 = Hidden-line style shading.
• 3 = Solid fill with no shading gradations.

Best Practices for Shaded Views

• Use shading on perspectives to give depth and realism.
• Always regenerate (REGEN) to return to editable view mode after shading.
• Consider testing different SHADEDGE values to find the one that best suits your design’s visual style.

Creating and Viewing AutoCAD Slides

Slides are static snapshots of your AutoCAD viewport. By saving each perspective view as a slide, you can later assemble them into a sequential walk through.

Saving Slides with MSLIDE

1. Enter MSLIDE at the command line.
2. Name the file (avoid special characters).
3. Save the slide in your project directory.

It’s best to keep slide names consistent with your saved views — for example, View-01.SLD.

Viewing Slides with VSLIDE

The VSLIDE command displays any saved slide in the drawing area. Slides are uneditable, much like photographs. To return to your editable drawing view, use the REDRAW command.

Automating Presentations with Script Files

Manually opening each slide works, but using a script file can automate the process for smooth presentations.

Writing a Script File

A script is simply a plain text file with a .SCR extension that lists AutoCAD commands. For a slide show:

Here:

• DELAY pauses the display for a set time (in milliseconds).
• VSLIDE loads each slide.

Looping with RSCRIPT

Replace the REDRAW command with RSCRIPT to create a continuous looping slide show. This is useful for unattended presentations, such as during exhibitions or open-house events.

Final Steps to Build a Complete Walk Through Assignment

With all the tools in place — perspective views, shading, slides, and scripts — you can assemble a full walk through that immerses viewers in your design.

Recap of the Workflow

1. Create a 3D model of your design.
2. Define perspective views with DVIEW.
3. Save each view using DDVIEW.
4. Apply SHADE for realism.
5. Save each shaded view as a slide with MSLIDE.
6. Write a script file to sequence the slides.
7. Run the script in AutoCAD for a smooth walk through.

Tips for a Professional Presentation

• Keep camera heights consistent for a natural flow.
• Use even time delays to maintain rhythm.
• Insert title or transition slides for better storytelling.
• Consider adding introductory text or a company logo as the first slide.

Conclusion

Creating a walk through assignment using AutoCAD perspective slides combines technical drawing skills with presentation artistry. By strategically setting up camera and target points, saving and managing views, enhancing visuals with shading, and automating playback with scripts, you can transform your 3D designs into engaging experiences that communicate ideas more clearly than static images ever could.