To Create Snapshot Views in a Presentation

Snapshot views store component positions, visibility, opacity, and camera settings. Snapshot views are independent or linked to a storyboard timeline. Use snapshot views to create drawing views or raster images for Inventor models.

The following methods are available to create snapshot views:

Use a storyboard to store and manage settings for a single snapshot view: Link the snapshot view to the end of the storyboard timeline. Edit the snapshot view by editing actions included in the storyboard.
Use a storyboard to store and manage settings for a sequence of snapshot views: You create a storyboard to animate model and camera changes, and create linked snapshot views for individual steps shown in the animation. When you edit the animation, all model and camera edits are automatically promoted to the linked snapshot views. The sequence of views can, for example, demonstrate assembling or disassembling of the model.
Use the scratch zone to create independent snapshot views: You create independent snapshot views without using animation timeline. You move the playhead to the scratch zone, arrange the model as desired, and create a snapshot view. You use the Edit View mode to change any model or camera settings for the snapshot view.

A Snapshot view tooltip specifies the Storyboard and time position with which the view is associated.

To Create Snapshot Views Linked to the Timeline

Create a storyboard to store the snapshot view settings. Arrange the model and camera, and create a snapshot view at the end of the timeline. Or, animate the model, and create a sequence of snapshot views showing the animation steps.

On the ribbon, click Presentation tab Workshop panel New Storyboard.
In the New Storyboard dialog box, confirm that Clean is selected as the storyboard type, and click OK.

A new storyboard is added to the Storyboard panel. The initial model settings are based on model view representations selected for the current scene.
Move or rotate components, set component visibility and opacity, and change the camera position to set up the desired model arrangement.

As you change the model and camera, actions are automatically added to the timeline, and the playhead is automatically moved to the end of the animation.
When the desired model appearance and view is ready, on the ribbon, click Presentation tab Workshop panel New Snapshot View.

A snapshot view linked to the end of the animation timeline is created.
To create a sequence of snapshot views, continue arranging the model and camera, and creating more snapshot views linked to the end of the timeline.

Tip: (Alternate method to create a sequence of snapshot views) Create a complete animation first. Then in the Storyboard panel, move the playhead along the timeline to find model and camera settings suitable for the snapshot views. Start at the beginning of the timeline and move the playhead to the right. When you find the model arrangement suitable for the first linked snapshot view, create the view. Continue moving the playhead to the right and creating snapshot views until you complete the view sequence.

To Create an Independent Snapshot View

An independent snapshot view is a standalone object in the presentation file. It has no connection to animations or other snapshot views.

In the Storyboard panel, place the playhead to the Scratch Zone.
Arrange the model and camera:
- To move or rotate the components, use the Tweak Components command.
- To set visibility for components, right-click the component in the graphic window or browser.
- To set opacity for a component, select the component, and then on the ribbon, click Presentation tab Transform panel Opacity. Use the Opacity slider to specify the opacity value, and click OK.
On the ribbon, click Presentation tab Workshop panel New View.

A new presentation view is added to the Snapshot Views panel.

To Convert a Linked Snapshot View to an Independent Snapshot View

In the Snapshot View panel, double-click a linked snapshot view to enter the Edit View mode.
Perform an editing operation forbidden for linked views. For example, change visibility, opacity, or position for a component.
In the message box, click Break Link.

The linked view is converted to independent, and you can edit the view without limitations.

Note: When you break the link for a snapshot view, the relation between the snapshot view and the storyboard is lost and cannot be restored.

To Manage Snapshot Views

Snapshot views are maintained in a panel that displays as part of the interface. If the Snapshot View panel is not visible, click the '+' sign in the model browser and select Snapshot Views to display the panel. For each snapshot view, right-click the view to access the tools for working with Snapshot Views. You can:

Edit make additional tweaks, change the camera position
Rename
Delete
Create Drawing View from the snapshot view
Publish to Raster creates an image from the snapshot view.