Grid Units: Can Someone Please Explain Them?

[Giacomo99]

Hello-

I've worked for years with other programs that use grids (Form Z, Illustrator) and I cannot for the life of me figure out how to read the grids in Lightwave--they shift as I zoom in and out. It's impossible in that context to get a sense of how much space something occupies: if I want to build a 5 cm-square box, for example, I have to do it using the "numeric input" panel. I'd like to be able to do it by drawing a box and measuring it by eye.

Is there any way to reconfigure the grid so that (for example) one grid square ALWAYS equals one meter?

Please advise.

[Nicolas Jordan]

I don't think there is any way to get the grid to remain the same unless you make your own grid with geometry and put it in the background layer. Your grid size is always shown in the bottom left corner. If you are in meters and you zoom out to much then intead of a grid square representing 1m it will represent 2m and so on. I always found it a bit weird too, but it keeps the grid from getting to dense to look at if you zoom out.

[UnCommonGrafx]

Nope.

However, the grid is always based on, for this example, a one meter 'master'. By this I mean if it says 200mm in the corner you should be able to see a larger box that encompasses a grid of 5 smaller boxes. There's your 'always' one meter box.

From there, it is based on 10s. So, if it says 2 meters in the corner then your larger box will be a 20 meter space broken up by 10x2meter boxes.

You can eye anything you might want but for precision sake, the numeric panel IS the way. Why would you be averse to it?

[Giacomo99]

Question: "You can eye anything you might want but for precision sake, the numeric panel IS the way. Why would you be averse to it?"

Answer: Because the long-standing industry standard for graphics programs is completely different (and also highly intuitive.) Whatever difficulties I may have had learning Illustrator, Photoshop, or Form Z, I still had no problem assimilating the grid tools in any of those apps.

It's hardly an issue worth fighting about--I'm pretty much committed to learning Lightwave and the bizarre grid tools aren't going to change that. But I'm still constantly amazed and irritated at LW's interface, which really seems to have been designed by Martians.

[UnCommonGrafx]

Hmm,
Not trying to fight... but would be more than willing to. ;)
No, my question was one for my own understanding. LW has never been either highly intuitive nor industry standard. It has been the case, though, that once you understand what the Martians had in mind that it begins to make a bit more sense.

As Nicolas so eloquently stated, this design is to minimize visual disonance when zooming in the viewports. I'm not familiar with Form Zs action but the other two really can't compare to a 3d program.

When someone asks a question to your question it is perhaps because of their Aristotlian upbringing than an attempt to start a fight.

Take care.