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Arcvelle
Open Studio

Lesson 6 of 8 · 10 min

Lighting and the 3D view

Move around the 3D view, walk through rooms at eye level, set a lighting preset and use finishing effects such as colour grades.

In this lesson you will

  • Orbit, use the preset camera angles and hide walls that block the view
  • Walk through the design at eye level with the keyboard
  • Choose a lighting preset and set ambient occlusion, glow, colour grade and exposure

The 3D view updates as you edit, so it is the quickest way to judge proportions, colours and light. This lesson covers moving around it and setting the mood.

Orbit around the design

  1. Choose 3D or Split in the top bar.
  2. Make sure Orbit is selected in the top-left corner of the 3D view. Drag to orbit and scroll to zoom.
  3. In the top-right corner, Dollhouse, Top and Front jump to preset angles. Dollhouse is a good default for showing a whole floor.
  4. Walls in the top-left corner hides walls that block your view into the rooms. Click it again to show every wall.
  5. You can drag furniture in the 3D view as well as on the plan.

Walk through at eye level

  1. Click Walk in the top-left corner.
  2. Use W, A, S and D or the arrow keys to move, and drag to look around. Hold Shift to move faster.
  3. Switch back to Orbit when you are done. Plan shortcuts such as R and Delete are paused while you walk in Split or 3D, so the keys move the camera instead.

Walking is the best way to check that a room feels right: whether a doorway lines up with something worth seeing, or a pendant hangs too low.

Choose the light

  1. Click empty space on the plan so nothing is selected.
  2. In the properties panel, under Light & atmosphere, open Lighting and choose Midday sun, Golden hour, Soft overcast or Evening, lamps on.
  3. Evening turns on the lamps you have placed, so add table lamps, floor lamps and pendants from the Lighting category in the Furnish panel first.

Finishing effects

The effects controls live in the Render window, but they change the live 3D view too.

  1. Click Render in the top bar and open Finishing effects.
  2. Ambient occlusion adds soft shadow where surfaces meet, which helps furniture sit on the floor.
  3. Glow on lamps adds a soft bloom around light sources.
  4. Colour grade offers Natural, Warm, Cool, Soft film and Black and white.
  5. Exposure brightens or darkens the whole image.

Close the window and the settings stay with the project. They also apply to images and videos you render.

Save the angles you like

Open the Views panel and click Save current 3D view to keep a camera position with a name. Views saved in Walk mode become the stops of your presentation tour in lesson 8.

Try it now

Walk through a home