What is the difference between 'a view' and 'a camera'?

[WimYogya]

So far I only used (many) camera's to see my projects or parts of it from different angles and perspectives.
I understand that I can also do that with views.
But why would/should I?
So far not done it.
What is the difference? The advantage?
In which cases should I use a view and in which cases a camera?

[Allan Chesney]

Hi Wim,

Cameras are viewing points within your model in the one screen window.
A View is another window again with the same cameras available.

Personally I can see no specific value in using Views as they are just an additional screen that has the same camera viewpoints available.
HOWEVER, if you have two monitors, then there is an advantage as you can have the plan open in one view and the 3D view in another view on the second monitor. Now you can edit the plan and see the changes in 3D as you do.  You can do this by using a split screen view, but obviously the Views are only half the size.

I would imagine that having multiple Views open would also test out computer resources.

Allan

[WimYogya]

If I understand you well, I could do the following:
"Hang' a camera at various fixed points and (if desired) create a view with that same camera. And create extra views without camera's, views in 2D or 2D+. Then switching from one view to another seems to go quicker than when changing a camera, at least, that is my impression. Correct?

[Allan Chesney]

Hi Wim,

I don't know if there is much difference - it is probably more a question of preference. If you use the camara list, instead of a separate view for each camera, you would have two clicks (one to display the camera list and the second to select the camera). If you had one view per camera it would only be one click, so this would be quicker. You could of course have more cameras than you could views, as the views would quickly occupy the screen width. Typically I usually only use 3 or 4 cameras and just move them around with the walk and pan tools as needed. If I need to render from specific points, with different colour schemes for each, I may use more.

Unless you are using dual momitors, I personally cannot see any point in having separate views for 2D and 2D Desingers views.  They are only one click on the toolbar anyway, so would not be any quicker as far as I can see.

I think views are probably a hangover from the parent program Envisioneer, where the separate views are used for the various pages of the plans produced, in which situation they are very useful.

Allan

[Jack Zimmer]

Hi Wim,

Views are a major time saver when one view is 2D and the second 3D. They are added though the View Manager (add Model View)

With either a single monitor or two monitors the option (on top bar) for "Windows" will allow you to have multiple Views showing. Once I activate either Cascade or Tile View, I either resize those View Windows on one screen (split screen as Allan mentions) or drag one view to my second monitor.

So the benifit of Views the way I use them is to assign one of these arranged views to be 2D and the second to be 3D view. With the 3D view I can use the normal 3D camera option to change to different predefined camera views. With the 2D Plan mode view, I can make changes and see them in the second View.

Each view is controled independantly by the View Manager. In the attached you can see 2D Plan view of Ground Floor (with much 'turned off') and in 3D view on the right, all of the model is 'ON'.

Jack