Changing the Backdrop in a Camera View

The information in this article applies to:

QUESTION

How can I change the background that displays in my 3D camera views?

ANSWER

Home Designer offers several options for the background used in 3D views: an image included in the program's library, a solid color, an image file from an outside source.

To modify the backdrop in Home Designer 2019 and newer versions

1. Select Edit> Default Settings to open the Default Settings dialog.
   
   
   
2. Expand the Camera Tools category, select the camera tool you'd like to modify the backdrop of, and then click Edit.
   
   
   
3. In the next dialog that appears, click on the 3D Backdrop panel and make any needed modifications.
   
   
   
   
   • Click on the Select Backdrop button to choose a different backdrop from the Library or a custom backdrop that has been imported.
     
     
   • Select the Remove Backdrop button to remove the backdrop image and replace it with the Background Color that is specified.
     
     
   • Check the Use Generated Sky box to simulate a daytime sky backdrop.
     
     
   • Hit OK to confirm the changes and then hit Done to close out of the Default Settings dialog.
     
   
   
   

Now, when a new 3D or elevation view is created, you will see the changes that have been made to the Backdrop settings.

To modify the backdrop in Home Designer 2018 and older versions

1. From the menu, select 3D> 3D Backdrop .
   
   In Home Designer Pro, select 3D> 3D View Defaults , then click on the Backdrop panel .
   
   
   
2. In the Backdrop dialog that displays, make any needed modifications.
   
   
   
   
   • Click on the Select Backdrop button to choose a different backdrop image.
     
     
   • Select Remove Backdrop to remove the image and specify a solid color as the backdrop instead.
     
     
   • Select the View Types and the Rendering Techniques that you would like the backdrop to be displayed within.
     
     
     
3. Select OK to confirm the changes and take a new 3D camera view to see the results.
   

If you have a photograph of the construction area your building will be built on, you may want to import the image and use it as a background or backdrop when creating 3D views to simulate a more realistic rendering of your model and its surrounding view.

To import a backdrop

1. Select File> Import> Import Backdrop  , browse for and select the image you'd like to import, and then click Open.  
   
   
   
2. In the Backdrop Specification dialog, specify a Name and then click OK to import the backdrop image into your User Catalog.
   
   This dialog is not available in Home Designer 2018 and older products. After clicking on Open in Step 1, the backdrop image automatically went into the User Catalog.
   
   
   
3. This imported backdrop image can now applied by choosing the Select Backdrop button mentioned in the section(s) above.