Help for ArchVision Composer

Opening a Background Image

The Background Image is the image file that the RPC Content will be placed. A background file can be loaded for any of the formats listed in the supported files drop-down menu. Recognized file types include BMP,JPG,GIF,PNG,TIF,WMF and EMF.

To open a Background Image:

• Step 1: Select File, then select Open Background Image
• Step 2: Navigate to the appropriate directory and select the Background File to Open.
  You can control the types of images shown by changing the File Type in the Files of Type drop-down menu.
• Step 3: Click the Open button.

Note: The Open Background Image dialog box will automatically launch if you click on the Setup Tab in the Control Panel with the mouse and no Background Image has yet been opened.

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Setting up the Scene

Placing RPCs in Composer is simple, but the key to Composer's ease of use is in the Setup Configuration. When you first load a background image, Composer will put you in setup mode. To alter the setup later, click on the Setup Tab in the Control Panel.

To ensure the realism of a scene, the ArchVision Composer scales RPC content depending on the distance an RPC is placed from the horizon. Items closest to the horizon will appear the smallest creating the illusion that they are further towards the back of the scene. Items further from the horizon will appear larger in the scene giving the illusion that they are closer to the viewer.

• Step 1 Place the Horizon Line.

This line is visible when you select the Setup Tab. The Horizon Line can be adjusted by moving the line up or down. The Horizon Line should cross your image at the vanishing point.

• Step 2 Position and Scale the Placement Object

The Placement Object serves as a guide for the scale of RPC objects when they are placed in the scene. The Placement Object should be placed near a scene feature of known height, and then scaled to the desired height. An example of a good benchmark measurement would be a doorway or next to a chair. Placement Object Florence is 66 inches tall.

Once you navigate away from the Setup Tab the Horizon Line and Placement Object will disappear. Returning to the Setup Tab will allow you to make further adjustments to these settings if needed. Keep in mind that it is possible to futher scale objects placed in a scene on an individual basis using the Mini Toolbar.

Setup Tab Options

The Setup Tab is located on the right side of the screen on the Control Panel. The Setup Tab allows you to change the setup objects for easier calibrations, and allows you to setup the shadow casting light source.

Auto-Scaling Menu

The Auto-Scaling section allows users to change the color of the Horizon Line and the RPC that is used as the Placement Object. By default the Placement Object is Florence, but users have the option to use other RPCs as the Placement Object.

The Placement Object can be changed by selecting the button displaying the name of the current Placement Object, Florence, and then browsing to a directory containing RPC files and opening another RPC.

Shadows Menu

RPCs have the ability to cast shadows onto the 2D Background. By moving the light to a position on the sphere, ArchVision Composer creates shadows as if a shadow casting light source were in that position. However, ArchVision Composer will not render shadows until the Cast Shadows option has been enabled. This feature is enabled by clicking in the checkbox beside the Cast Shadows option. It is important to note that you will also need to enable the shadow feature for each RPC that is placed on your background image. Options for individual RPCs are available under the Edit Tab on the Control Panel.

Reset Setup

Selecting this option resets the setup options to their default conditions. This will set Cast Shadows to off, will position the shadow casting light source to the top of the sphere and will place the Horizon Line at the center of the image. The Placement Object will also be set to the scale of 1.0 and will be placed at ~80% of the image.

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Placing RPCs into the scenes

There are 4 steps to placing RPC Content into your scene.

• Step 1: Select the Place Tab
• Step 2: Select the Content Category
• Step 3: Select the RPC.
• Step 4: Left-click anywhere on the background image to place the RPC.

The RPC will appear in the screen with the Mini Toolbar at the bottom.

You can use the controls on the Mini Toolbar to move, rotate or rescale the RPC Object. Please see Adjusting RPCs section for more information on using the Mini Toolbar.

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Mini Toolbar

The content will appear in the scene with the Mini Toolbar at the bottom. Use the controls on the Mini Toolbar to move, rotate or rescale the RPC object. If the Mini Toolbar is not visible, right-click on the RPC and select the name of the RPC to launch it. To activate an option on the Mini Toolbar, simply click and drag on the corresponding icon.

The Expand Dialog Button

Selecting this option will expand the Mini Toolbar to become the Floating Toolbar. This will also change the current mode to Edit Mode. The Floating Toolbar is explained in greater detail below.

The Move Button

This button will allow you to move the content within the scene. The RPCs automatically scale depending on their location relative to the Horizon Line and the scaling object.

The Rotate Button

This button will allow you to rotate the content in a circular motion around the z-axis by dragging your mouse left or right. Please note that only 3D, 3.5D, and 3D+ content will rotate. If you have placed 2.5D or 3.5D content, you can change the visible frame by dragging your mouse up or down.

The Scale Button

This feature allows fine tuning of object scaling. By selecting this option, the RPC will increase in scale when the mouse moves upward, and decrease in scale when the mouse moves downward.

Floating Toolbar

Dialog Grip

This option will allow you to drag the Floating Toolbar. Double clicking on the Dialog Grip will cause the selected RPC Object to flash. This feature can be helpful when you have several RPCs placed closely together or named similarly in the scene.

Minimize Window

This hides the Floating Toolbar and places the Mini Toolbar under the current selection.

Object/Shadow Option

This option allows you to select whether the object or it's shadow is being modified. If Object is selected the Opacity, Brightness and Saturation of the RPC Object will be effected. If Shadow is the operation target then a slider will allow the user to change the opacity of the shadow being cast. Shadow options are described in detail below.

Move

This button will allow you to move content within the scene. Once this button is selected you can click and drag anywhere on the background image to move the selected RPC. The RPC automatically scales depending on its location relative to the Horizon Line and the Placement Object.

Rotate

This button will allow you to rotate the content in a circular motion around the z-axis. Please note that only 3D, 3.5D, and 3D+ content will rotate. If you have placed 2.5D or 3.5D content, you can change the visible frame by dragging your mouse up or down. Once this button is selected you can click and drag anywhere on the background image to rotate the selected RPC.

Scale

This feature allows fine tuning of object scaling. By selecting this option, the RPC will increase in scale when the mouse moves upward, and decrease in scale when the mouse moves downward. Once this button is selected you can click and drag anywhere on the background image to scale the selected RPC.

Expand Arrow

This opens the Nudge Pad for fine adjustment of the RPC. More details for the Nudge Pad are given below.

Opacity

This adjusts the object's opacity. At 100 percent the RPC is completey opaque. At a value of 0 the object will be completely transparent.

Brightness

This controls the brightness of the RPC object. Dragging the slider to the left decreases the level and to the right increases it. The number displayed on the right of slider displays the brightness value and can range from -100 to +100.

Saturation

This control allows you to adjust the saturation of the selected RPC Object. To change the saturation, enter a value or drag the slider to the right to increase the saturation or to the left to decrease it. Value range available is from -100 to +100.

Shadow Options

Shadow options can be accessed by selecting Shadow in the Object/Shadow Option.

Opacity

The Opacity slider will allow you to adjust the opacity of the shadow cast by the RPC Object. Values range from 0 to 100, with 100 being completely opaque.

Cast Shadows

In order for the RPC Object's shadow to appear, the Cast Shadows checkbox must be enabled. This can be done by left-clicking with the mouse. It is important to note that each individual RPC Object must have this option enabled along with the checkbox for Cast Shadows on the Setup Tab enabled in order for the shadows to appear.

Move Tool

The Move Tool will allow you to adjust the location of the shadow. Once this button is selected you can click and drag anywhere on the background image to move the shadow of the selected RPC.

Floating Toolbar with Nudge Pad

The Nudge Pad allows you to make fine adjustments to the positioning of your RPC Objects. This can be helpful by allowing the user to make slight adjustments in the placement of Objects which may not be possible with the Rotate tool. The Nudge Pad can be expanded by clicking on the Expand Arrow on the Floating Toolbar.

Adjust Sensitivity Slider

Adjusting the sensitivity slider determines the intensity of the selected control. Setting the slider sensitivity to the left will enable fine adjustment. Moving the slider to the right will allow for coarse adjustment.

Hide Arrow

Select the Hide Arrow to hide the Nudge Pad.

X,Y,Z-axis Nudge Rotation

These controls rotate the RPC along the designated axis. Note: Non 3D+ Content is not affected by nudging the x or y axis.

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Using Quick Keys

These Quick Keys provide a shortcut to adjusting the RPC Objects in your scene. Please keep in mind that the Quick Keys are based on the layout of U.S. keyboards. Other keyboard layouts may not correspond exactly to this model.

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Using the Layers List

Each time an RPC object is added to the background a new layer is created. Each RPC Object is in a separate layer. This allows users to select an RPC without interfering with other RPCs. The Background Image is always the first layer. As RPC layers are added they are listed below the name of the background file.

To access the Layer List, click the Layers button on the left-hand side of the window and the panel will extend onto the screen.

By default, RPCs are placed in the layer list based on their vertical position in the scene. Layer ordering can be altered by selecting an RPC and dragging it to the desired position in the layer list.

The Layer List can also be used as a selection tool. When the name of an RPC is selected from the Layer List the corresponding RPC in the scene is also selected.

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Editing RPC Parameters

The Edit tab will allow users to adjust the RPC parameters. Options available for adjustment depend on the type of RPC Object selected. Since the ArchVision Composer is a 2D environment, some 3D options are not supported.

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Saving a Composer Project File

Once a scene has been modified, the current state can be saved as a Composer Project File by performing the following steps:

• Step 1: Select Save Project
• Step 2: Select the save location.
• Step 3: Create the filename.
• Step 4: Select Save.

Auto Save Feature

Approximately every 2 minutes the Auto Save Feature will save changes to the current scene to a special backup file (Autosave.cpf).

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Loading a Composer Project File

Previously saved Composer Project Files can be reopened in the program similar to the way in which background images are loaded. Composer Project Files (CPF) include a particular scene's configuration data including the location of the background file, the setup parameters of the scene, and the location of RPC objects within the scene.

To load a Composer Project File:

• Step 1 Select File then Load Project
• Step 2 Navigate to the saved CPF file location.
• Step 3 Select Open.

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Rendering the Scene

Render Final

Selecting Final Render opens the Rendering dialog (shown below). This process will allow you to save the scene you have created in ArchVision Composer as a still image. This dialog provides render options including BMP, GIF, JPEG, PNG and TIF.

• Step 1: Select Render, then Render Final from the toolbar.
• Step 2: Select the location to save the file.
• Step 3: Select the desired file type.
• Step 4: Click the Save button.

Render to External Application

Selecting this option will export the layer image data to the application that ArchVision Composer was launched from. Please note that this option is only available when ArchVision Composer is run from another application.

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Configure Content

Composer uses the ArchVision Content Manager (ACM) to obtain it's licenses, as well as to obtain the content needed in Composer.

You can change the location of the ACM that you connect to using the options on the Update Panel.

A path can be created to a Local ACM for RPC Content on the local machine. To enable this option select Local under the Update Panel and browse the ACM installation directory for rpcACMapp.exe.

Selecting Update Content will refresh the list of RPC Content available for placement.

If you need to use a piece of content that is not in your ACM's paths you can place it in the RPC directory under the Composer installation directory. RPC files placed in this directory will be scanned by Update Content and will be available on the Place Tab.

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RPC Mass Edit Tool

The RPC Mass Edit Dialog contains the ability to affect multiple RPCs at once. The user can select, sort, alter parameters, and switch content to one or more RPC Objects. These features are accessed by selecting the Mass Edit button on the Edit Tab on the Control Panel.

The RPC Mass Edit dialog contains several icons indicating the current properties of the listed RPCs. The properties for selected RPCs may be adjusted by clicking in the column under the appropriate icon. The following list describes the meanings and effects of the icons:

Object Name: Displays the object name

Filter: Apply a Photoshop Filter

Note: Some options displayed in the Mass Edit window pertain only to 3D editing environments. Since ArchVision Composer is a 2D program, these features are not supported. Unsupported features, such as Self Illumination and Cast Reflections, will not affect the RPC Objects.

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Mass Edit Selection

RPCs may be selected in the dialog in many ways. Users can select RPCs individually or in groups by holding down the Shift or Control keys or by dragging a box around the items. Selection options at the bottom of the dialog box allow the user to select All, None, or to Invert the selection of RPC Objects.

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Mass Edit Sorting

RPCs may be sorted alphabetically or by category type. Additionally, RPCs can also be filtered using the icons located at the top of the Mass Edit dialog box. Selecting an icon toggles it between active and inactive, alternately adding or removing the particular RPC type from the list.

Icon Meanings:

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Switching Content Using the Mass Edit Tool

The Switch Content option allows the user to change selected RPC Objects with an RPC chosen from the Switch Content list. This list appears after user presses the Switch Content button located above the RPC list in the Mass Edit Dialog. Switched RPCs maintain the orientation of the original RPCs.

To Switch Content:

• Step 1: Highlight the RPC or selection of RPCs that will be switched for other content.
• Step 2: Click on the Switch Content button.
• Step 3: Select the RPC Content that will replace the current selection.
• Step 4: Select the Apply Selection button.
• Step 5: Select OK to exit the dialog.

All RPCs selected in the Mass Edit Dialog will be switched to the replacement content in the scene.