Display Three-Dimensional (D3D) User's Guide
3. Working with Graphic Products
3.1 Product Legends
3.1.1 Toggle Product(s)
To toggle graphics in the Large Display Pane, you can click the pointer on the product legend.
3.1.2 Linking Cross Sections
Cross sections of the same orthogonal type (e.g. cross sections of a horizontal temperature image,
horizontal humidity contours, and horizontal wind barbs) can be linked together. The purpose of
linked cross sections is the ability to move cross sections in unison when sampling data.
To link two or more cross sections together, press and hold down the Shift Key, on your
keyboard while you click the pointer on the desired product legends. Patiently wait to observe a
"+" symbol attach to the product legend description (indicating the cross section is successfully
linked) before clicking on another product legend. The Shift Key needs to be held down during
the entire linking process.
To unlink the cross sections again press and hold down the Shift Key while you click the pointer
on the product legend you want to unlink.
3.1.3 Missing Data
A "~" symbol attached to the product legend description indicates that the product is missing
data at all pressure levels for that time step.
3.1.4 Hiding All Product Legends
Clicking anywhere in the Large Display Pane with Mouse Button 3 toggles (on or off) the
legends for all displayed products. Only the date and valid time labels remain.
3.2 Practice Modules on the Volume Browser
Subsection 2.3.1 introduced the Volume Browser Dialog Box's layout and menus. The following
modules show you how to operate the Volume Browser using increasingly complex examples.
You should have reviewed Subsection 2.3.1 before using these modules.
3.2.1 Module 1: Display Model Data as Isosurfaces
This module contains step-by-step instructions on how to load and display model data as
isosurfaces using the Volume Browser. Module 1 recreates the scene in Figure
38,
Subsection
2.3.2, "The Volume Browser - Rendering Techniques," using current data.
3.2.1.1 Objective 1 - Display Model Data as an Isosurface
This objective illustrates how to load an isosurface object.
Steps
- From the View Menu in the Menu Bar, select Clear All.
- From the Scale Option Menu in the Toolbar, select CONUS.
- From the Volume Menu in Menu Bar, select Browser.
- From the Volume Browser's Source Menu, load the ETA Model by
selecting it from the list.
- Under Fields, open the Isosurface Pull-Down Menu and select
WndSpd.
- Move the pointer over the product name that appears in the Volume Browser's Product List
and click Mouse Button 3 (Right). The Wind Speed Isosurface Property Editor should
now be opened.
- Using Mouse Button 1 move the slider value to 95 kts.
- Again move the pointer over the product name in the Product List and again click Mouse
Button 3. This closes the Property Editor for WndSpd.
- Press Load.
- Continue to display this product for Objective 2.
3.2.1.2 Objective 2 - Working with Graphics in the Large Display Pane
Steps
- From Objective 1, the ETA 95 kts Wind Speed Isosurface Field should be displayed
in the Large Display Pane on the CONUS Scale.
- Place the pointer in the direct center of the Large Display Pane.
- Press and hold Mouse Button 1 (Left) and slowly move the pointer two inches toward the top
of the screen. Release the button. You should see the 3D objects rotate slightly to the north.
- Press and hold Mouse Button 2 (Middle) and slowly move the pointer two inches toward the
top of the screen. Release the button. You should see the 3D objects become larger. This is the
scaling/ zooming function.
- Press and hold Mouse Button 3 (Right) and slowly move the pointer two inches to the left.
Release the button. You should see the 3D objects move to the west. This is the translation
function.
- From the View Menu in the Menu Bar, select Default to reset to the default
top view and reset the scale. Or, press Top View (T directional arrow) from the Toolbar
to reset to the default without changing the zoom factor.
- Again rotate the 3D objects north (Step 3).
- Press the Toggle Perspective Button from the Toolbar to toggle a perspective
viewing projection. This adds depth to the 3D Display.
- Try looping and stepping the displayed objects from buttons available on the Toolbar.
- Turn looping off.
- Continue to display this product for Objective 3.
3.2.1.3 Objective 3 - Display Multiple Model Graphics as Isosurfaces - I
Steps
- From Objective 2, the ETA 95 kts Wind Speed Isosurface Field should be displayed
in the Large Display Pane on the CONUS Scale with a perspective view from the south looking
north.
- Under Fields, open the Isosurface Pull-Down Menu and select
SpcHum.
- Press Load.
- Continue to display this product for Objective 4.
3.2.1.4 Objective 4 - Display Multiple Model Graphics as Isosurfaces - II
Steps
- From Objective 3, the ETA 95 kts Wind Speed Isosurface and ETA 14 g/kg
Specific Humidity Fields should be displayed in the Large Display Pane on the CONUS
Scale with a perspective view from the south looking north.
- Under Fields, open the Isosurface Pull-Down Menu and select
PotTmp.
- Move the pointer over the PotTmp product name that appears in the Product List
and press Mouse Button 3.
- Using Mouse Button 1 move the slider to 285 kts.
- Select Press(ure) from the Solid Pull-Down Menu.
- Move the pointer over the product name in the Product List and again press Mouse Button 3.
This closes the Property Editor for WndSpd.
- Press Load.
- Continue to display this product for Objective 5.
3.2.1.5 Objective 5 - Changing Object Colors
Steps
- From Objective 5, the ETA 95 kts Wind Speed Isosurface Field, ETA 14 g/kg
Specific Humidity Field and ETA 285 K Potential Temperature Field colored by
Pressure should be displayed in the Large Display Pane on the CONUS Scale with a
perspective view from the south looking north.
- To color the Wind Speed Isosurface red, move the pointer over the WndSpd product name
that appears in the Product List and press Mouse Button 3.
- Select Immediate mode from the Property Editor.
- Select the red colored bar from the Set Colors Popup Menu and the isosurface
immediately appears in the new color.
- To color the Specific Humidity yellow, move the pointer over the SpcHum product name and
press Mouse Button 3. This replaces the Wind Speed Property Editor with the
Specific Humidity Property Editor.
- Select the yellow from the Set Colors Popup Menu and the isosurface immediately
appears in the new color, that is, if Immediate mode is still selected.
- From the Options Menu in the Menu Bar, select Reverse B/W from the
Display Options Cascading Menu.
3.2.2 Module 2: Display Model Data as Plan-View
This module contains step-by-step instructions on how to load and display model data as
plan-views using the Volume Browser. Module 2 recreates the scene from Figure
40,
Subsection
2.3.2.2, "The Volume Browser - Rendering Techniques - Plan-View," using current data.
3.2.2.1 Objective 1 - Display Model Data as Plan-View Contours
This objective illustrates how to load an plan-view object.
Steps
- From the Toolbar, select Clear to clear all products in the Large Display
Pane except for the map background and topography.
- From the Scale Option Menu in the Toolbar, select CONUS.
- From the Volume Menu in Menu Bar, select Browser.
- From the Volume Browser's Source Menu, load the ETA Model by
selecting it from the list.
- Under Fields, open the Plan-View Pull-Down Menu and select
WndSpd.
- Press Load.
- Rotate the 3D objects north. (Refer to Module 1, Objective 2, Step 3.)
- Continue to display this product for Objective 2.
3.2.2.2 Objective 2 - Display Model Data as a Plan-View Image
Steps
- From Objective 1, the ETA 500 MB Wind Speed Plan-View contours should be
displayed in the Large Display Pane on the CONUS Scale.
- Open the Wind Speed Plan-View Property Editor. (Move the pointer over the
WndSpd product name that appears in the Volume Browser's Product List and click
Mouse Button 3).
- Select Image from the Type option found on the Property Editor.
- Press Load Plan-View.
- Select the Edit Colors from the Set Colors Popup Menu.
- Place the pointer on the editable color table that appears showing graphs of red, green, and
blue over the range of data values.
- Tap the Left Arrow Key on your keyboard to move the curves left until the colors show a
better definition of values on the cross section visible in the Large Display Pane. The legend in
the Large Display Pane reflects changes to the color table.
- Close the Property Editor (move the pointer over the WndSpd product name that
appears in the Volume Browser's Product List and click Mouse Button 3).
- Continue to display this product for Objective 3.
3.2.2.3 Objective 3 - Add A Map to Plan-View Cross Section
Steps
- From the Map Menu in the Menu Bar, select Moveable Map.
- Using Mouse Button 1 move the slider value to 500 mb.
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