Preparing to Render

Once the drawing is complete or near completion, any textures have been applied, and the desired lighting has been added, consider the following before rendering.

Adding 3D Polygons

Though not necessary, adding 3D polygons can provide receptors to catch and reflect light and shadows, increasing the ability to represent real-world lighting situations. For example, a large, horizontal 3D polygon can be placed below a 3D drawing to represent the ground or a floor. Placing several 3D polygons at various angles and locations in a drawing can provide reflective and transparent receptors for more natural-looking results.

Adjusting the View

Select one of VectorWorks’ standard views (see Using Standard Views), and use the Flyover, Walkthrough, Translate View, or Rotate View tools to orient the drawing. Though the view can be adjusted after the drawing is rendered, it is faster to set the view while in wireframe mode.