This chapter describes the functions which are available from the pulldown menus. The individual menus are described in the order that they appear in the menu bar, from left to right. This chapter is really boring if you try to read it, so mainly use it as a reference.
Apple Menu
The Apple menu is used to access the desk accessories which you currently have installed.
File Menu
The file menu is used to manipulate documents, just as it is for nearly every Mac application. RenderBoy can access/create two types of graphics documents: "design documents" and "image documents". Only RenderBoy can use the design documents, but the image documents are stored as standard PICT files which many programs can use.
New
Create a new empty design document. If a design document is already open, this menu item will not be available.
Open...
Open an existing design document using the standard file selection dialog. If a design document is already open, this menu item will not be available.
Close
Close the design document which is currently open. If no design document is open, this menu item will not be available. If the document has been modified since the last time it was saved, you will be informed of this and allowed to save it. Note that this menu item is equivalent to the close box in the top left corner of the design window.
Save As...
Save the design document which is currently open to a file which you will specify using the standard file saving dialog. If no design document is open, this menu item will not be available.
Save
Save the design document which is currently open to the same file in which it was most recently saved. If the design document has not been saved yet, then this is equivalent to the "Save As..." menu item. If no design document is open, this menu item will not be available.
File Merge...
Merge the design content of a specified design file into the current design file. This can be used to access sub-designs or libraries of designs. If no design document is open, this menu item will not be available. The newly merged objects will be automatically selected, so that they can be immediately manipulated if desired. Note: when the objects are merged from the selected file, they will be placed into the same "location" as they were in the original file. Thus you may need to manipulate the views in order to see them.
Open PICT File As Image...
Open an existing PICT file using the standard file selection dialog and display it in the image window. If an image document is already open, this menu item will not be available.
Save Image As PICT File...
Save the image which is currently open to a PICT file which you specify using the standard file saving dialog. If no image is currently open, then this menu item will not be available.
Import Design...
Export Design...
These two menu items let you export/import a design document to/from a readable, editable, and emailable text file.
Close Image
Close the image document which is currently open. If no image document is open, this menu item will not be available. If the image has not yet been saved, you will be informed of this and allowed to save it. Note that this menu item is equivalent to the close box in the top left corner of the image window.
Quit
Quit the RenderBoy application. If the image or design documents have not been saved since they were created/modified, you will be informed of this and allowed to save them.
Edit Menu
The edit menu supports the functions of the clipboard, just as it does with nearly every Macintosh application. Note: In this version of RenderBoy, the clipboard only holds "objects", not images. Also, the functionality of the clipboard is local to this application.
Undo
This menu item will undo the most recent single appearance or geometry change you have made to the objects in your 3D design.
Cut
Cut the currently selected objects from the design document and place them on the clipboard.
Copy
Copy the currently selected objects from the design document and place them on the clipboard.
Paste
Paste the objects which are currently on the clipboard into the design document. These objects will be selected.
Clear
Clear the currently selected objects from the design document without affecting the clipboard. Note: the DELETE key performs this same function when the design window is the active one.
Duplicate
Duplicate the objects which are currently selected within the design document without affecting the clipboard. The newly created objects will be selected in place of the objects they were copied from, and they will be offset three dimensionally by the current snap grid size.
Select All
Select all objects within the current design document.
Design Menu
The Design Menu contains functions which allow you to create a design by creating/manipulating 3D objects. The tools menu (described later in this chapter) contains a set of tools which also assist the design process.
New Object -> [object type]
Create a new object of the type selected from the hierarchical menu. For objects which have an axis (rods, tubes, cones, and bells), you will be asked to specify which view its axis should be aligned with initially. The definitions of the different types of objects are described in the chapter "Object Descriptions". The characteristics (color, location, orientation, applicable dimensions, etc) of the newly created objects will be the same as the object most recently selected with a single mouse click.
Edit Object -> Dimensions...
Open a dialog box which is used to manipulate the dimensions of the currently selected objects. The initial settings of this dialog will correspond to the object most recently selected with a single mouse click. Some of the functionality available here is also available via the "Tools" menu. For a complete description of object manipulation options, refer to the chapter "Object Manipulation".
Edit Object -> Clipping...
Open a dialog box which is used to manipulate the clipping settings of the currently selected objects. The initial settings of this dialog will correspond to the object most recently selected with a single mouse click. For a complete description of object manipulation options, refer to the chapter "Object Manipulation".
Edit Object -> Location...
Open a dialog box which is used to manipulate the locations of the currently selected objects. Some of the functionality available here is also available via the "Tools" menu. For a complete description of these options, refer to the chapter "Object Manipulation".
Edit Object -> Orientations...
Open a dialog box which is used to manipulate the orientations of the currently selected objects. The initial settings of this dialog will correspond to the object most recently selected with a single mouse click. Some of the functionality available here is also available via the "Tools" menu. For a complete description of these options, refer to the chapter "Object Manipulation".
Edit Object -> Surfaces...
Open a dialog box which is used to specify the way in which rays of light interact with the currently selected objects. This will determine whether they appear dull, shiny, mirrored ,etc. The initial settings of this dialog will correspond to the object most recently selected with a single mouse click. For a complete description of these options, refer to the "Object Manipulation" chapter.
Edit Object -> Color...
Open the standard Macintosh color-wheel dialog to specify the color of the currently selected objects. The initial color settings of this dialog will correspond to the object most recently selected with a single mouse click.
Edit Object -> Texture...
Open a dialog box which is used to specify how textures (if any) are to be applied to the selected objects. This dialog also controls the list of textures which you can choose from for this purpose. The initial settings of this dialog will correspond to the object most recently selected with a single mouse click. For a complete description of these options, refer to the chapter "Object Manipulation".
Edit Object -> Behavior...
Open a dialog box which is used to specify object behavior, such as the brightness of light source objects and whether objects can generate shadows. The initial settings of this dialog will correspond to the object most recently selected with a single mouse click. For a complete description of these options, refer to the chapter "Object Manipulation".
Active View(s) -> [view choices]
Modify the design window to display the desired view(s) selected from the hierarchical menu. The choices are a front view, side view, top view, isometric view, or all of these. When displaying all of the views, the front, side, and top views are displayed as a standard orthographic projection. This means that the isometric view is in the top right corner, the front view is in the bottom left corner, the side view is to its right and the top view is above it. Also, the objects in the front, side, and top views are always lined up with each other.
Autoscale
Automatically scale and shift the current view(s) of the design window so that the displayed 3D objects which exist just fit in each view. This is one way of manipulating how the design views are displayed. For other methods, refer to the chapter "Design View Manipulation".
Snap To Grid
Align the center(s) of the currently selected object(s) to the nearest absolute location which is a whole number multiple of the "grid snap size". For example, if the grid snap size were 50, the objects could be moved to -100, -50, 0, 50, 100, 150, etc. This will happen in the front, side, and top views simultaneously. This is one way of manipulating the location of objects. For other methods, refer to the chapter "Object Manipulation".
Snap Grid Size...
Open a dialog box which is used to activate/specify the snap grid characteristics. If it is active, it will affect where the selected objects can be located. For more information, refer to the "Snap To Grid" menu item (above) and to the chapter "Object Manipulation.
Background Color...
Open the standard Macintosh color-wheel dialog to specify the background color. This is not only the color of the design and eye windows, but also the background color for any subsequent renderings. The default background color is grayish-blue.
Selection Color...
Open the standard Macintosh color-wheel dialog to specify the color of an object when it is selected. If you use this option, you should select a color which contrasts with all existing objects as well as the background color. The default selection color is black.
Tools Menu
The tools menu provides a variety of tools for selecting objects, manipulating objects, and manipulating views. Note that choosing the tool from the menu only selects the tool for use. Actual usage of the various tools is described below. The mouse pointer will resemble the tool icon whenever the pointer is over a view in which the tool can be used. The functionality of the tools can be modified by holding down certain modifier keys while the tool is being used. These are explained below, where applicable.
It is a Macintosh standard that if you click anywhere in a window which is not the front window, the window you select will be moved to the front. RenderBoy follows this guideline. However, sometimes it is nice to be able to use the mouse in a back window without bringing it to the front. RenderBoy allows you to do this as long as you hold down the "control-key" while you use the appropriate tool. This key can be used in combination with other modifier keys, described below.
Selection...
The purpose of this tool is to select 3D objects, and it can be used in any view of the design window. In general, it works in the standard Macintosh fashion. If you click nothing, everything will be deselected. If you simply pick an object, it will be selected in place of any others which were previously selected. If you drag a rectangle around one or more objects, they will be selected in place of any others which were previously selected. If you hold down the shift key while doing any of these actions, then the selection status of the chosen objects will be toggled.
Shortcut: While you are using the tools described in the remainder of this chapter, holding down the option key will temporarily make the selection tool the current tool. When you release the option key, things will return to normal. This is very useful for selecting different objects between usages of a particular tool.
Zoom In/Out...
The purpose of this tool is to zoom-in or zoom-out of a particular view so that the desired amount of detail is visible. This tool can be used in any view of the design window, as well as the image window. To zoom-in, move the cursor over the location which will be the center of the zoomed view. Then drag a rectangle from here which selects the portion of the view which is of interest. When you release the mouse button, the view will be updated accordingly. To zoom-out, just click the mouse button without dragging. If you hold down the shift key while you do this, things are reversed. That is, dragging a rectangle will zoom out, and just clicking will zoom in.
If you use the zoom tool in one of the orthogonal views (front, side, or top) of the design window, then the other two orthogonal views will be automatically updated. The objects which are visible in these views will be aligned, thus maintaining an orthographic projection.
Shift View...
The purpose of this tool is to shift a particular view so that the desired area of the view is visible. This tool can be used in any view of the design window, as well as the image window. To shift a view, simply put the pointer in that view and drag the view to its new location. When you release the mouse button, the view will be updated accordingly.
If you use the shift tool in one of the orthogonal views (front, side, or top) of the design window, then the other two orthogonal views will be automatically updated. The objects which are visible in these views will be aligned, thus maintaining an orthographic projection.
Translation
The purpose of this tool is to translate the currently selected objects linearly from one location to another. This tool is used in the front, side, or top views of the design window. To use this tool, simply move the mouse pointer to the starting location, then press and hold down the button as you move to the destination location. When you release the mouse button, the currently selected objects will be translated by this amount. If you wish to translate a duplicate of the selected objects instead of the objects themselves, then hold down the shift key while you use this tool.
If the grid snap feature is turned on, then the selected objects will actually be translated by a distance which is the nearest whole number multiple of the grid snap size. This feature simplifies the task of keeping objects aligned with each other.
Scaling
The purpose of this tool is to scale the currently selected objects about a specified point by a specified scale factor. This tool is used in the front, side, or top views of the design window. Using this tool is a two drag process. First, hold down the button and move the mouse pointer to the location that you want to scale the selected objects about. When you release the mouse button, an oval will expand to follow the mouse pointer. This oval represents the "initial size" of the selected objects. Move the mouse to specify the initial size, then hold down the button and move the mouse to specify a new oval which is the "final size", relative to the initial size. While performing this drag, a percentage will be printed next to the mouse pointer showing the relative scale factor. When you release the mouse button, the selected objects will be scaled accordingly. If you wish to scale a duplicate of the selected objects instead of the objects themselves, then hold down the shift key while you use this tool. Note that this scaling operation is actually accomplished by individually altering the selected object's locations and dimensions.
Rotation
The purpose of this tool is to rotate the currently selected objects about a specified point by a specified number of degrees, without changing their orientation. This tool is used in the front, side, or top views of the design window. Using this tool is a two drag process. First, hold down the mouse pointer and move it to the location that you want to rotate the selected objects about, then release the mouse button. A line from this point will follow the mouse pointer. This line represents the "initial rotation angle" of the selected objects. Move the mouse to specify the initial rotation, then hold down the mouse button to specify a new line which is the "final rotation angle", relative to the initial rotation. While performing this drag, a value which shows degrees of rotation will be printed next to the mouse pointer. When you release the mouse button, the selected objects will be rotated accordingly, although their orientations will not change. If you wish to rotate a duplicate of the selected objects instead of the objects themselves, then hold down the shift key while you use this tool. Note that this rotate operation is actually accomplished by individually altering the selected object's locations.
Orientation
The purpose of this tool is to orient the currently selected objects about a specified point by a specified number of degrees. This tool is used in the front, side, or top views of the design window. Using this tool is a two drag process, just like the rotation tool. First, simply hold down the button and move the mouse pointer to the location that you want to orient the selected objects about, then release the mouse button. A line from this point will follow the mouse pointer. This line represents the "initial orientation angle" of the selected objects. Move the mouse to specify the initial orientation, then hold down the mouse button to specify a new line which is the "final orientation", relative to the initial rotation. While performing this drag, a value which shows degrees of orientation will be printed next to the mouse pointer. When you release the mouse button, the selected objects will be oriented accordingly. If you wish to orient a duplicate of the selected objects instead of the objects themselves, then hold down the shift key while you use this tool. Note that this orient operation is actually accomplished by individually altering the selected object's locations and orientations.
Horiz. Mirror
The purpose of this tool is to mirror the currently selected objects horizontally across a vertical plane. This tool is used in the front, side, or top views of the design window. To use this tool, simply hold down the mouse button and move the mouse pointer horizontally to define the vertical plane that you want to mirror the objects about. When you release the mouse button, the selected objects will be mirrored horizontally across this plane. If you wish to mirror a duplicate of the selected objects instead of the objects themselves, then hold down the shift key while you use this tool. Note that this mirror operation is actually accomplished by individually altering the selected object's locations, orientations, and/or clipping.
Vert. Mirror
The purpose of this tool is to mirror the currently selected objects vertically across a horizontal plane. This tool is used in the front, side, or top views of the design window. To use this tool, simply hold down the mouse button and move the mouse pointer vertically to define the horizontal plane that you want to mirror the objects about. When you release the mouse button, the selected objects will be mirrored vertically across this plane. If you wish to mirror a duplicate of the selected objects instead of the objects themselves, then hold down the shift key while you use this tool. Note that this mirror operation is actually accomplished by individually altering the selected object's locations, orientations, and/or clipping.
Eye Target
The purpose of this tool is to specify the eye target, that is, the location in space which the eye view is "looking at". This tool is used in the front, side, or top views of the design window. To use this tool, simply select the location that the eye view should look at, and the eye view will be immediately updated. Note that when you make this pick, you are only specifying a horizontal and vertical target location, not a depth. Since the front, side, and top views do not have any implied orthogonal depth, it may be necessary to repeat this procedure in each orthogonal view in order to completely define the eye target.
Repeat Last Usage
This is not a tool, but a function which provides an easy way to "repeat" the last usage of the current tool. This function makes it relatively easy to create patterns of 3D objects. This will work with the tools which translate, scale, rotate, orient, and mirror the selected objects. Simply select "Repeat Last Usage", and the most recent operation performed by the current tool will be repeated. Note that the "Repeat Last Usage" function always works on the currently selected objects, which are not necessarily the same objects which were selected last time the tool was used. If you wish to use this function to manipulate a duplicate of the selected objects instead of the objects themselves, then hold down the shift key while you select this menu item.
Reverse Last Usage
This function works in exactly the same manner as the "Repeat Last Usage" function/menu described above, except in reverse. Use this tool to translate, scale, rotate, orient, or mirror objects in the opposite direction or angle. This can be useful for correcting mistakes, such as using an object modification tool incorrectly or by accident.
Layout Menu
The Layout Menu provides additional methods to manipulate windows and present objects during the design and rendering process.
Design Window
Select the design window as the front window.
Eye View Window
Select the eye-view window as the front window.
Image Window
Select the image window as the front window.
Refresh Screen
Refresh the displayed content of the design window and the eye view window.
Group/Ungroup
Group/Ungroup the currently selected objects. At least two objects are required to form a group. The content of a group can be hierarchical, so a group can contain groups which contain groups, etc. Selecting ungroup only removes one level of this hierarchy each time. When selecting objects, it is only possible to select entire top level groups. Thus, this feature provides a method of associating related sets of objects.
Lock/Unlock
Lock/Unlock the currently selected objects. A locked object can be modified to any extent, but it cannot be cleared or cut. Use this feature to protect yourself from accidentally deleting parts of your design.
Render Menu
The Render Menu controls the characteristics of displayed images as well as the rendering of images from your three dimensional design.
Image Settings...
Open a dialog box which is used to specify the characteristics of any subsequent rendered image or (to some extent) a PICT file opened as an image. This is one way to affect how subsequent images will be rendered. Related information can be found in the chapter "Image Preparation".
Render Settings...
Open a dialog box which is used to specify the characteristics of any subsequent rendering calculations. This is one way to affect how subsequent images will be rendered. Related information can be found in the chapter "Rendering An Image".
Fog Settings...
Open a dialog box which is used to specify the characteristics of "fog" in any subsequent rendering calculations. This is one way to affect how subsequent images will be rendered. Related information can be found in the chapter "Rendering An Image".
Eye View Settings...
Open a dialog box which is used to specify the view which is displayed in the eye view window. Any subsequently rendered image will be the same as the view shown in this window. This is one way to affect how subsequent images will be rendered. Related information can be found in the chapter "Image Preparation".
Render Image
Start the rendering process and allow it to run to completion. For large complex images this can take a long time. After selecting the "Render -> Render Image" menu item, all windows owned by RenderBoy will be hidden until rendering is completed, and the menu bar will display the "Rendering in Progress" menu. This menu allows you to check the image status, provide time to background tasks, or abort the rendering if desired. When rendering is complete, the windows which belong to RenderBoy will reappear, along with the newly rendered image.
Estimate Render Time
Estimates the amount of time required to completely render the current design using the current eye view and rendering settings. This estimate should always be accurate within at least 10%. This is assuming, of course, that RenderBoy is allowed to run as fast as possible. If you spend time working in other applications while rendering takes place, the actual rendering time will be longer.
Movie View Settings...
Open a dialog box which is used to specify the sequence of views (frames) in a subsequently rendered movie. This dialog is structured similarly to the eye view setting dialog. Related information can be found in the chapter "Rendering A Movie".
Render PICT Movie...
Opens a standard file dialog box which allows you to specify the base file name of a rendered movie (PICT file sequence). Once this file is specified, rendering for each frame will be created and saved, one by one. Related information can be found in the chapter "Rendering A Movie".
Rendering Progress Menu
While image or movie rendering takes place, this menu replaces all other RenderBoy menus and remains in control until the rendering is complete. It allows you to see the status of the current image, vary the amount of CPU time given to other programs, or stop the rendering process.
Show Image Status [#/#]
Open a temporary window which displays the current status of the rendered image.Since this window is a fixed size, it does not necessarily represent the actual size or aspect ratio of the rendered image. This window will be displayed until the mouse button is clicked. Note that NO RENDERING OCCURS as long as this window is displayed, so be sure to close it up. The value in brackets in the menu shows the fraction of the entire image which has been rendered so far.
Background Tasks -> [frequency]
Specify how frequently time should be offered to other programs by choosing a frequency from the hierarchical menu. This menu represents the tradeoff between the relative performance of RenderBoy and other applications. If the setting is one background task per second, then rendering will be as quick as possible, but other applications will be very sluggish. If the setting is ten background tasks per second, then rendering speed will suffer, but other applications will behave almost normally. Experiment with the different settings and choose the one which is most appropriate for what you need.
Stop Rendering
This will stop the rendering calculation at their current state. You will be allowed to confirm this choice, but once it is confirmed, it is not reversible. If you were rendering a single image, a partially rendered image will be the result. If you were rendering a movie, the current frame being worked on will be discarded, and all previous frames (already saved) will be untouched.
