Shade 9 The Menu Bar

From ShadeCamp

This chapter describes the menus located in Shade’s menu bar.

Contents 1 Shade Menu (Mac OS X) 1.1 About Shade 1.2 Preferences 1.3 Hide Shade 1.4 Hide Others 1.5 Show All 1.6 Quit Shade 2 File Menu 2.1 New 2.2 Open 2.3 Open Recent (Mac OS X) 2.4 Close 2.5 Save 2.6 Save As 2.7 Revert (Mac OS X) 2.8 Import 2.8.1 Shape 2.8.2 Pose 2.8.3 DXF 2.8.4 EPSF 2.8.5 Shape 2.8.6 Pose 2.8.7 Animation Master 2.8.8 DXF 2.8.9 RIB 2.9 Print 2.10 Print Setup (Windows) / Page Setup (Mac OS X) 2.11 Recent Files (Windows) 2.12 Exit (Windows) 3 Edit Menu 3.1 Undo 3.2 Redo 3.3 Cut 3.4 Copy 3.5 Paste 3.6 Clear 3.7 Select All 3.8 Find 3.9 Preferences (Windows) 4 View Menu 4.1 Image Window 4.2 Control Bar 4.3 Tool Box 4.4 Aggregate 4.5 Camera 4.6 Distant Light 4.7 Background 4.8 Surface 4.9 Object Info 4.10 Browser 4.11 Skin 4.12 Motion 4.13 Ruler 4.14 Color 4.15 Correction 4.16 Radiosity 4.17 Shortcut 4.18 Message 4.19 Alignment 4.20 Command Palette 4.21 Figure Controller 4.22 ShadeExplorer 4.23 Show/Hide 5 Tools Menu 5.1 Create 5.2 Part 5.3 Solid 5.4 Move 5.5 Copy 5.6 Repeat 5.7 Modify 5.8 Convert 5.9 Custom Attributes 5.10 Finish 5.11 Memory 6 Figure Menu 6.1 Zoom Out 6.2 Zoom In 6.3 Template 6.3.1 Load Side View 6.3.2 Load Top View 6.3.3 Load Front View 6.3.4 Load Perspective View 6.3.5 Show Template 6.3.6 Delete Template 6.3.7 Template Settings 6.3.7.1 Template Settings Dialog 6.4 Hide Active 6.5 Hide Inactive 6.6 Show Active 6.7 Show All 6.8 Fit To Window 7 The Rendering Menu 7.1 Render 7.2 Render All 7.3 Create Animation 7.4 Stop 7.5 ShadeGrid Manager 7.6 Batch Rendering 7.7 Rendering Settings 7.8 Animation Settings 7.9 Display Mode 7.10 Flat Shading 7.11 Single-Sided 7.12 All Lights 7.13 Update Texture 7.14 Texture Size 7.15 Clear Cache 7.16 Clear Texture 8 Scripts Menu 9 Plugins Menu 9.1 MetaMesh Configuration 9.2 DPI Settings 9.3 Save Preference Settings 10 The Window Menu 10.1 Use Default Workspace 10.2 Add Workspace... 10.3 Remove Workspace... 10.4 List of Custom Workspaces 11 The Help Menu 11.1 Shade Help 11.2 Shade Online 11.3 Purchase Content from Content Paradise 11.4 Project Guides 11.5 System Info... 11.6 Enter Serial Number 11.7 About Shade (Windows) 11.8 Video Lessons and Other Content

Shade Menu (Mac OS X)

This menu is displayed in the Mac OS X version of Shade, where you can specify various settings for Shade, show/hide programs, and terminate the Shade program.

About Shade

This screen displays information about the Shade program, such as the version, revision, and copyright. This is the same screen that appears when you start the program, which is generally referred to as the splash screen.

This window can be closed by pressing a key or clicking the mouse button.

Preferences

The Preferences dialog appears after choosing this item, where you can specify various settings for Shade.

Hide Shade

This item hides Shade, but leaves the program running.

Hide Others

This item hides all other programs except Shade.

Show All

This item makes all programs visible.

Quit Shade

Exit Shade. If the contents of the Figure window have not been saved, a dialog asking you whether or not to save the changes appears.

File Menu

Items included in this menu are used to perform operations related to files, such as saving, opening/ closing the Figure window, closing windows, importing/exporting various files including Shade object data, and specifying print settings.

New

This item is used to open a new Figure window to create a new file.

Open

Choosing this item will show the Open File dialog, where you can choose a file to display in a Figure window.

Open Recent (Mac OS X)

Documents (files) which have been used recently in Shade are displayed under this item. You can choose a document to open it. You can use this item to open frequently-used documents without having to use the open dialog. Choosing Clear Menu will clear the list of registered files.

Close

This item is used to close the active window. If the Figure window is the active window, and the associated file has not been saved yet, a dialog appears asking whether or not to save it.

Save

This item is used to overwrite the current file.

If you are saving the file for the first time, the same procedure as Save As needs to be performed.

Save As

The Save As dialog appears, allowing you to save the file in the Figure window with a new name.

Revert (Mac OS X)

This is used to revert the working file to the state when the file was last saved.

Import

This is used to import object data from a specified file into the current Figure window.

Shape

This is used to import Shade object data into the current Figure window.

Pose

This is used to import just the joint values (pose values) into the hierarchical structure. The hierarchical structures must correspond when importing a Pose.

DXF

This is used to load object data from a DXF file into the current Figure window.

Minute differences may result due to the differences in functions provided by the software used to create the DXF file.

EPSF

This is used to import the EPSF data and Bezier curves of Adobe Illustrator files into the Top view plane as a two-dimensional object.

This is useful, for instance, to import the outlines of text and logos.

Please note: Adobe Illustrator imports .ai and .eps files of Version 7 or earlier, and only supports text format (not binary format). Importing other file formats may result in an error message. To save out to a different version of Adobe Illustrator, use File > Save As... or File > Save a Copy...

Export

This is used to convert Shade objects into other formats.

Shape

This is used to export the current object as Shade object data.

Pose

This is used to export the settings of joints which include the character “|” at the beginning of the name.

Animation Master

This item is used to export curved surfaces as “.SEG” files for Animation Master version 4.

DXF

This item is used to export objects as DXF data.

RIB

This is used to export objects as RIB data. The exported file will retain the hierarchical structure and the names of the objects.

• In Shade 9 professional and Shade 9 standard, some other file formats can be imported/exported using plug-ins. For more details, refer to the Plugin Manual.

Print

This is used to print the Image Window.

The Print dialog, in which the printer and the number of copies can be set, appears after choosing this item.

For details about using the print dialog, refer to the computer manual or related documents.

Print Setup (Windows) / Page Setup (Mac OS X)

This is used to specify settings for printing.

Recent Files (Windows)

In the Windows version of Shade, the recently used files are displayed between the Print Setup and Exit items. You can choose a file from this list to open it. Use this item to open frequently-used documents without having to use the open file dialog.

Exit (Windows)

This item closes the Figure window and terminates Shade.

If the content of the Figure window has not been saved, a dialog asking whether or not to save the changes appears.

Edit Menu

Items in this menu are used to undo/redo operations, and copy/paste objects.

Undo

In Shade, up to 100 operations can be undone.

Operations that have been undone are retained in memory for the redo operation. Therefore, a memory shortage may occur if a considerable amount of objects, or objects to which high-resolution image data are mapped, are deleted.

Redo

Operations that have been undone can be redone. In Shade, up to 100 undone operations can be redone. Please note that when new operations are performed after undoing an operation, the undone operations cannot be redone.

Cut

This is used to cut the selected object data and objects such as images or text, and store them in the clipboard.

The objects stored in the clipboard are deleted from the view.

Copy

This is used to copy the selected object data and objects such as images or text, and store them in the clipboard.

Unlike the cut operation, objects stored in the clipboard are not deleted from the view.

Paste

Object data and objects such as images and text stored in the clipboard can be pasted into the active window.

Clear

Selected object data and objects such as images and text are deleted.

Select All

This is used to select all objects. When editing control points of an object, all the points will be selected.

Find

Choosing this item will display the Find window. This has the same function as the Find button in the Browser window.

Preferences (Windows)

Choosing this item will display the Preferences dialog, where various preference settings for Shade are specified.

View Menu

Items in this menu are used to display various windows.

These include the Image Window and Control Bar, and various settings specific to those windows can be specified.

For details about each of the windows, refer to the appropriate section of this manual.

Image Window

This is used to display the Image Window. The Image Window displays the rendering result, or the progress of an image being rendered.

You can use the buttons at the top of the window to specify rendering settings, perform rendering, and so on.

Control Bar

This is used to show/hide the Control Bar. The Control Bar is displayed at the top of the Figure window, and is used to facilitate access to frequently used functions related to the Figure window.

Tool Box

This is used to display the Tool Box.

The Tool Box is a window containing tools for creating and editing objects.

Aggregate

The Aggregate Palette is a new feature in Shade 9, which integrates several control windows related to Shade object data (scenes) that are frequently used.

Each control window can be displayed by clicking the appropriate button at the top of the palette, and the selected window can also be displayed in a separate window by double-clicking the button, just as in the previous Shade series. A separated window can be aggregated back into the palette by double-clicking the same button again.

Camera

This is used to switch the display of the Aggregate Palette to the Camera window.

The Aggregate Palette is opened automatically if needed. If the Camera window is currently separated from the Aggregate Palette, then only the Camera window is displayed.

The Camera window is used to specify various settings for cameras, including setting the field of view.

Distant Light

This is used to switch the display of the Aggregate Palette to the Distant Light window.

The Aggregate Palette is opened automatically if needed. If the Distant Light window is currently separated from the Aggregate Palette, then only the Distant Light window is displayed. The Distant Light window is used to specify various settings for distant lights, including position, intensity, and color.

Background

This is used to switch the display of the Aggregate Palette to the Background window.

The Aggregate Palette is opened automatically if needed. If the Background window is currently separated from the Aggregate Palette, then only the Background window is displayed. The Background window is used to specify various settings for the background.

Surface

This item is used to switch the display of the Aggregate Palette to the Surface window.

The Aggregate Palette is opened automatically if needed. If the Surface window is currently separated from the Aggregate Palette, then only the Surface window is displayed. The Surface window is used to specify settings such as the color and texture of objects, and mapping.

Object Info

This is used to switch the display of the Aggregate Palette to the Object Info window.

The Aggregate Palette is opened automatically if needed. If the Object Info window is currently separated from the Aggregate Palette, then only the Object Info window is displayed. The Object Info window is used to display and change object information and attributes.

The information displayed varies according to the selected object or part.

Browser

This is used to display the Browser window.

The Browser window is used to select objects, display hierarchical structure, and make changes to that structure.

Skin

This is used to display the Skin window.

The Skin window is used to apply joint movements to control points on objects.

Motion

This is used to display the Motion window. The Motion window is used to set motions for joints.

Ruler

This is used to display the ruler.

Distances in the horizontal and vertical directions can be measured on the three planes in the Figure window using the ruler.

Color

This is used to display the Color window.

The Color window is used to select colors, and the selected colors can be used for various settings. The Color List window from the previous versions of Shade is now integrated into the Color window. The specified colors can be memorized temporarily and they can be saved as a list.

Correction

This is used to display the Correction window.

The Correction window is used to adjust the intensity, contrast, color balance, and hue of images to be rendered. The Correction window settings are used the next time an image is rendered.

Radiosity

This is used to display the Radiosity window.

The Radiosity window is used to display the radiosity calculation, to make the radiosity settings, and to start/stop the radiosity calculation.

Shortcut

This is used to display the Shortcut window.

The Shortcut window is used to allocate Shade functions to keys on the keyboard, and also to save or load the shortcuts.

Message

This is used to display the Message window.

The Message window shows various types of information; mainly the progress of a process when a plug-in is used.

Alignment

This is used to display the Alignment window.

The Alignment window is used to position and align multiple selected objects.

Command Palette

This is used to display the Command Palette.

The Command Palette is used to create buttons from the Shade functions that are registered in the Shortcut window, in order to facilitate access to those functions.

Figure Controller

This is used to display the Figure Controller window.

The Figure Controller window is used to change the display of the Figure window and objects.

ShadeExplorer

This is used to display ShadeExplorer, which creates a catalog out of Shade object data and surface files, to help you manage them.

Show/Hide

Normally Hide is displayed. If this item is chosen, all control windows that are displayed are hidden. When the control windows are hidden, the item changes into Show, and choosing it will display all hidden control windows.

Tools Menu

The Tools menu corresponds to the content of the Tool Box.

Functions to create or edit objects can be chosen from this menu.

For more details about each tool, refer to the section on the Tool Box.

Create

This contains tools used to create objects.

Its content is the same as the Create tool in the Tool Box.

Part

This contains tools used to create parts, curved surface parts, and various joints.

Its content is the same as the Part tool in the Tool Box.

Solid

This contains tools to create solid objects.

Use this in the Figure window to make 2D objects into 3D objects.

Its content is the same as the solid tool in the Tool Box.

Move

This contains tools used to move objects.

Use this in the Figure window to move objects.

Its content is the same as the Move tool in the Tool Box.

Copy

This contains tools used to copy objects.

Use these like the Move tools to copy objects.

Its content is the same as the Copy tool in the Tool Box.

Repeat

This is used to repeat an operation previously performed using a move/Copy tool the number of times specified, up to 10 times.

Its content is the same as the repeat tool in the Tool Box.

Modify

This contains tools used to edit objects.

Its content is the same as the Modify tool in the Tool Box.

Convert

This is used to convert objects.

The result of conversion varies according to what is selected.

The function is equivalent to the convert button in the Tool Box.

Custom Attributes

If plug-ins with custom information are installed, the custom information is displayed.

Its content is the same as the custom tool in the Tool Box.

Finish

This is used to finalize an operation.

Choose this to finish entering line objects, or to exit the MODIFY mode.

The function is equivalent to the finish button in the Tool Box.

Memory

This is used to memorize line objects or control points, which are then used to perform various operations.

Its content is the same as the Memory tools in the Tool Box.

Figure Menu

This menu mainly contains tools used to specify various settings for the Figure window.

Most of the tools provided in the Figure menu can be accessed from the Control Bar.

For more details, refer to the section on the Control Bar.

This section describes items that are not provided in the Control Bar.

Zoom Out

This item is used to shrink the three planes (other than the Pers view) in the Figure window, based on the center of the active view plane.

Zoom In

This item is used to magnify the three planes (other than the Pers view) in the Figure window, based on the center of the active view plane.

Template

This is used to load or set templates.

Load Side View

This is used to load an image as a template for the Side view.

Load Top View

This is used to load an image as a template for the Top view.

Load Front View

This is used to load an image as a template for the Front view.

Load Perspective View

This is used to load an image as a template for the Perspective view.

Show Template

Check this item on to display the loaded template. The template can be hidden by turning this item off.

Delete Template

This is used to delete the template.

Template Settings

The Properties dialog appears after choosing this item, allowing you to specify various settings related to templates.

Template Settings Dialog

Show Side View Checkbox

Switch this checkbox on to show the template for the Side view when displaying templates.

Show Top View Checkbox

Switch this checkbox on to show the template for the Top view when displaying templates.

Show Front View Checkbox

Switch this checkbox on to show the template for the Front view when displaying templates.

Show Perspective View Checkbox

Switch this checkbox on to show the template for the Perspective view when displaying templates.

Opacity Checkbox

The opacity of the template can be set in the range of 1 to 0. The value 1 indicates that the template is opaque and has the color of the image; and the value 0 indicates that the template is transparent.

Perspective View Pull-down Menu

An image loaded on a view plane can be displayed as a template on the coordinate plane of the perspective view. The Top view is displayed on the XY plane running through the origin; the Front view also on the XY plane; and the Side view on the YZ plane.

Hide Active

This is used to hide the selected objects in the Figure window.

The hidden objects are displayed in a different color in the Browser window.

Hide Inactive

This is used to hide the objects that are not selected in the Figure window.

The hidden objects are displayed in a different color in the Browser window.

Show Active

If any selected objects are hidden, they will be displayed in the Figure window.

Show All

This is used to show all hidden objects in the Figure window.

Fit To Window

This will zoom the Figure window to fit all objects in the view planes.

This is useful when there are large objects; the view is zoomed so that all objects are displayed at the center of the view planes.

The Rendering Menu

This menu contains items related to rendering and quick rendering.

Render

Rendering is performed with the current settings.

Render All

Rendering of all objects is performed with the current settings.

Create Animation

The Animation Settings dialog appears after choosing this item, allowing you to start animation rendering.

The Settings button of the Motion window also displays the same dialog.

For details about the Animation Settings dialog, refer to the section on the Settings button of the Motion window.

Stop

This is activated during rendering and animation rendering, and choosing it will stop the rendering procedure being processed. This has the same function as the Stop button in the Image window.

ShadeGrid Manager

Opens the ShadeGrid Manager, where you can locate ShadeGrid servers on the local network and specify the IP address of systems running ShadeGrid.

Batch Rendering

Opens the Batch Rendering window, where you can add scenes to the batch render queue and start batch rendering.

Rendering Settings

Opens the Rendering Settings in the Image window.

Animation Settings

Opens the Animation Settings in the Motion window.

Display Mode

The Display Mode submenu is used to select a Preview Display Mode.

Flat Shading

Applies flat shading to the Preview Display.

Single-Sided

Displays only the front side (facing the directions of the normals) in the Figure window Preview Display.

All Lights

Choose this item to reflect the intensity, color, and ambient light settings of all lights on the quick rendering display.

Update Texture

This item updates textures in quick rendering display.

This function needs to be used whenever a texture is set or changed.

Texture Size

The size of the texture to be used for quick rendering display can be set to one of four levels. The quality improves with larger sizes, but it may take more time when updating the textures.

Clear Cache

This item is used to free memory used for quick rendering display, and switches off the quick rendering display.

Clear Texture

The texture data used for quick rendering display are cleared to free up memory.

Scripts Menu

This menu displays the scripts installed in the “Scripts” folder, located in the same folder as the Shade program. Choose a script to run it.

The Script interface is only available in Shade 9 professional and Shade 9 standard.

Plugins Menu

This menu displays the plug-ins installed in the “Plugins” folder, located in the same folder as the Shade program (except for those plug-ins which cannot be displayed in the Plugins menu). Choose a plug-in to run it. The Plugins interface is only available in Shade 9 professional and Shade 9 standard.

MetaMesh Configuration

Choosing this menu will display a dialog, which enables you to specify default settings when creating metameshes.

The generation modes for both MetaMeshes and MetaElements can be chosen.

DPI Settings

This opens the DPI Settings plug-in.

The resolution and print size are set here, which are used to calculate the image size.

Save Preference Settings

The Save Preference Settings dialog is displayed by choosing this item.

This dialog allows you to save multiple Shade preference settings files, which can then be loaded at any time to change all the settings at once.

The Window Menu

Use Default Workspace

Resets the windows and palettes in the Shade interface to the default layout.

Add Workspace...

Adds the current workspace layout to the list of custom workspaces in the Window menu. Enter a custom name for the new workspace in the Name dialog first.

Remove Workspace...

Opens the Remove Custom Workspace dialog, where you can select a custom workspace to remove from the list in the Window menu.

List of Custom Workspaces

Below the separator bar in the menu is the list of custom workspaces for the Shade interface. Select a workspace from the list to arrange Shade’s windows to that layout.

The Help Menu

This menu is used to open the Shade documentation, Project Guide tutorials, video tutorials and access online websites including Shade Online and Content Paradise. Shade’s version information is also available here.

Shade Help

This item launches Shade Help which provides help on Shade functions and operations.

Shade Online

This item is used to connect to Shade online (on the internet), which provides a variety of Shade updates.

Purchase Content from Content Paradise

Opens the Content Paradise website in Shade’s web browser. Content Paradise is an online marketplace for 3D and 2D content, for free and for purchase.

Project Guides

Select one of the interactive Project Guide tutorials from the submenu to open that Project Guide in Shade’s HTML browser.

System Info...

Displays the System Info dialog with information about Shade, the operating system and OpenGL graphics.

Enter Serial Number

Opens the Input Serial Number dialog, allowing you to register your copy of Shade with e frontier, sign-up for the e frontier newsletter, and enter a serial number you have purchased to activate more of Shade’s features.

About Shade (Windows)

This screen displays information about the Shade program, such as version, revision, and copyright. This window is the same as the screen which appears when you start the program.

This window can be closed by pressing a key or clicking the mouse button.

Video Lessons and Other Content

Additional content and help may be listed at the bottom of the Help menu.

By default, Fujii Taiyo’s Shade video tutorial is available, in which he teaches you how to create a wonderful character in Shade using curved surfaces. Special thanks to:

Fujii Taiyo ~Tutorial design and movie capture

Michi Catanese ~ Voice narration

Steve Rathmann ~ Recording and editing