Book Image

Practical Autodesk AutoCAD 2023 and AutoCAD LT 2023 - Second Edition

By : Jaiprakash Pandey, Yasser Shoukry
Book Image

Practical Autodesk AutoCAD 2023 and AutoCAD LT 2023 - Second Edition

By: Jaiprakash Pandey, Yasser Shoukry

Overview of this book

AutoCAD is one of the most versatile software applications for architectural and engineering designs and the most popular computer-aided design (CAD) platform for 2D drafting and 3D modeling. This hands-on 2nd edition guide will take you through everything you need to know to make the most out of this powerful tool, from a simple tour of the user interface to using advanced tools. Starting with basic drawing shapes and functions, you'll get to grips with the fundamentals of CAD designs. You’ll then learn about effective drawing management using layers, dynamic blocks, and groups, and discover how to add annotations and plots like a professional. As you progress, the book will show you how to convert your 2D drawings into 3D models and shapes. You’ll also discover advanced features, such as isometric drawings, drawing utilities for managing and recovering complex files, quantity surveying, and multidisciplinary drawing files using xRefs. Finally, you’ll focus on rendering and visualizing your designs in AutoCAD. By the end of this book, you’ll have developed a solid understanding of CAD principles and be able to work with AutoCAD software confidently to build impressive 2D and 3D creations.
Table of Contents (21 chapters)
1
Part 1: Introduction and 2D Drafting
6
Part 2: Customization, Collaboration, and Using Reusable Content
12
Part 3: 3D Modeling

Rendering and Presentation

High-quality rendered images are the main ingredient of a good 3D modeling project presentation, and to produce good quality renders, there are a number of conditions and settings that need to be adjusted properly. It is like setting the scene before taking the picture. After the scene is set, we will cover the details of creating a rendered image, and after that, we will take a quick look at exchanging other file formats for 3D models.

In this chapter, the following scene-setting aspects will be covered, each in a dedicated section:

  • Setting the lighting of a scene
  • Displaying shadows
  • Applying and viewing materials
  • Creating cameras
  • Rendering scenes
  • Importing and exporting 3D files

By the end of this chapter, you will have a strong knowledge of 3D visualization and the rendering tools of AutoCAD. You will be able to apply materials and textures, set a scene, and render your drawings with close to photorealistic results...