An activated grid helper object creates a true plane in 3D space. No matter how small an activated grid object appears on the screen, its plane is effectively infinite, just as if it were a plane of the home grid. However, you can view a given grid object in different ways.
Setting the Display Plane
You can adjust the visible plane of a selected or activated grid object on the Modify panel.
To set the display plane:
- Open the
Modify panel to display the Parameters rollout for the selected grid. - In the Display group, choose any of the three planes: XY, YZ, or ZX.
The grid rotates in world space to display the corresponding plane, always based on the grid's local axis.
You can move or rotate a grid, either before or after setting its display plane.
Setting Grid Views
You can set the view in any viewport to an orthographic view as well as the display view.
To set grid view:
- Activate the grid object.
- Click or right-click the Point-Of-View (POV) viewport label and from the POV viewport label menu choose Extended Viewports
Grid to display a submenu of possible views. - Choose Front, Back, Top, Bottom, Right, Left, or Display Planes. Display Planes corresponds to the current setting on the Parameters rollout (XY, YZ, or ZX).
The viewport now shows this view of the grid.
You can set different viewports to different views of the grid. Objects are always created on a view's orthographic grid, even if you rotate the angle of view. In other words, you can set up a convenient view and still construct on the chosen plane.
Deactivating Grid Objects
You can deactivate a grid object in any of the following ways:
- Select and activate another grid object.
- Choose Tools menu Grids And Snaps Activate Home Grid.
- Delete the grid object.
When you deactivate a grid object, any viewports based on that grid switch to the corresponding orthographic view. For example, a Grid (Front) viewport becomes a Front viewport. A Grid (Display Planes) viewport always switches to Top view, regardless of the currently displayed plane.