Be Careful When Using Web-Based Mails!

Dear Friends,



I suppose there is nobody lacks of a web-based mail. The competition between Google and Microsoft is getting more excited day by day and Yahoo have become the first in this war. Thus we make use of the web-based mails of these big companies.

Using our brand new notebooks, which we have bought by lots of instalments, to check e-mails in shopping malls with wireless network connection has become the new trend nowadays. Even some ladies access to their bank accounts via wireless connection yet this is not our topic. You could not imagine how it is dangerous to access your mails via wireless connection.

Hoffman, the speaker of the Black Hat Internet Security Lecture held in Las Vegas in August 2007, displayed the Gmail account of the one of the listeners in big screen. In fact Gmail has POP3 service and I advise you to install and use it with an e-mail programme. If you are using someone else’s computer and are not able to use POP3 service, you can use the safe connection of Gmail. To do this, simply add a ‘s’ letter to http:// and type https://www.gmail.com.



Gmail serves with a security certificate. Unfortunately, it is not the same with Yahoo and Hotmail. So to speak, do not trust aerial lines. It will be almost impossible to get back your MSN or Google password if it is stolen.

I am going to write more articles about the disadvantages of wireless network soon.

Goodbye.

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Selecting Overlapping Objects

[AutoCAD 2011 & Higher Versions]



You may want to read following articles before start this one:

• Selecting Similar Objects With SELECTSIMILAR Command
• Making Selection In AutoCAD

Sometimes we just have to select some objects that are overlapping. I used to delete the ones on top to reach those at the bottom. However, sometimes your project necessitates overlapping objects and you may have to select one of them. Luckily, AutoCAD 2011 has some new features to make the process a lot simpler.


Fig.1

There is a little line coinciding with my axis lines in Fig.1. Moving my cursor over to select one of them, you’ll notice how they appear offset just a lttle bit. Clicking while they are so will bring up a list of the overlapping objects (Fig.2).


Fig.2

As you can see below in Fig.3, you can select the desired objects from the box where the overlapping objects are listed.


Fig.3

As you navigate through the list (1), the properties window shows the properites of the objects in the list (2) and these can be observed in real time on the drawing (3).

My advice to AutoCAD 2009 and 2010 users is to hold down SHIFT and SPACE keys simultaneously and click on the object. As you keep clicking, you’ll see that the overlapping objects are toggled to the front.

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AutoCAD 2011 Offers Easy View Management With the NAVBAR

[AutoCAD 2011 & Higher Versions]
[Command: NAVBAR, System Variable: NAVBARDISPLAY]

Hello dear friends,



The first changes that caught my attention in AutoCAD 2011 was the improvements regarding views. Dark backgrounds with grids in all visual settings and the chick NAVBAR placed on the right side of the screen caught my attention. AutoCAD has been taking serious steps in visualizations with the recent releases. The NAVBAR introduced with AutoCAD 2011 is one of these steps.


Figure.1

The NAVBAR comes docked on the right side of the AutoCAD 2011 screen (Fig.1). If it is not visible, you can switch it ON using the NAVBAR command or by defining as the NAVBARDISPLAY system variable to 1.

Visualization commands on the NAVBAR are transparent and always accessible (even when other commands are active). The NAVBAR contains the view commands that are found in every Autodesk product. You can configure (2) these commands in the little menu (1) under the NAVBAR (Figure.2).


Figure.2

You can also adjust the on-screen position of the NAVBAR using the “Docking Position” option.

Looking at the NAVBAR, you’ll notice that it also contains commands like NAVSWHEEL, PAN, and ORBIT. You can also access the options of these commands through the NAVBAR. (Fig.3)


Figure.3

I wish you all a pleasant week.

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Two Towers in 3Ds MAX (Taper, Twist)

[Author: Emrah Yalman]

Hello,

In this tutorial, we'll try to construct two towers. Hopefully, it will look something like this:


Fig.1

This tutorial was prepared as a guide to beginners, new to "modifiers" in 3D max. Try to repeat what I've done once with the figures I used, and if you have the time, once trying other figures. They'll prove a lot more useful that way.

*****

Construct a box: 30X30X300

Make segments visible by pressing the F4 key and adjust the height segments as 45, the length and width segments as 6.


Fig.2

Copy the box along Y axis and from the dialog box that appears, select "Copy".


Fig.3

Click on the "Modify" tab and while the newly created box is selected, adjust it's height as 225.


Fig.4

While the box is still selected (click on it if it's not), add the "Taper" and the "Twist" modifiers from the "Modify" section.


Fig.5

Now click on "Taper" and set the "Angle" and "Bias"both to -0,4.


Fig.6

Then select "Twist" and set it's value to -65


Fig.7

Select both the "Twist" and "Taper" (hold down the CTRL key while one is selected and then click on the other). While they're both selected, right click on them and select "Copy" from the menu.


Fig.8

Now click the other box to select it. Click on the "Box" in the "Modify" segment, right click on it and then select "Paste Instanced". This applies all the modifiers to the selected objects. By selecting "Paste Instanced" rather than just "Paste" makes them associated, so any changes made on one will be applied on the other too.


Fig.9

Click on one of the boxes (I choose the shorter one) and select “Convert To / Convert to Editable Poly” from the list that comes up.


Fig.10

This box has now become an "Editable Poly" object and in the "Modify" section, we will be seeing "Editable Poly" rather than a "Box". While this tower is still selected, find the "Edit Geometry" section in the "b" segment and click on the "Attach" button, and then click on the other tower. Click on the "Attach" button once again to end this process. We have now obtained an "Editable Poly" mesh with two components.


Fig.11

Now click on the plus sign in the "Editable Poly" heading. This will let us see sub-objects. Click on the "Polygon". The surfaces will now be selectable. You can simply use the CTRL+A combo to select all surfaces at once.


Fig.12

Click on the "Settings" button of "Inset" in the "Edit Polygons" heading (the little box beside it). Set the "Inset Amount" as 0,3 in the window that comes up and select "By Polygon" as the "Inset Type". This will apply the inset to all the surfaces separately. Do not forget to hit "OK".


Fig.13

Click on the "Settings" button next to the "Extrude" button and set the "Extrusion Height" to 0,3. Select "By Polygon" once again and hit "OK".


Fig.14

Find a photo of the sky and save it on your computer. You can easily find lots of them from the address: "images.google.com". Press the "8" key on your keyboard and then hit the button that reads: "None". Double-click on "Bitmap" from the list that comes up.


Fig.15

Find and double-click on the image that you saved on your computer from the window that appears. I'm specifically omitting a screenshot of this step


Try to get an angle that you like and ask for a render simply by pressing F9.

I know that this has been quite a long article. I wanted to take it really slow for beginners in 3Dmax. Your second try in these features will be ten times as fast as your first try :)

Best regards

Author: Emrah Yalman

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My Thoughts on 3D TV Technology

Hello dear friends,

News about 3D televisions started appearing not long ago, about a year or so; and I told my friends that “This technology is stillborn and it’s never going to get as satisfactory as HD technology." This might sound all too much like Bill Gates’ prediction “We don’t see any future in the Internet, we have no intentions in investing in this field”.

3D TVs have been spreading widely for the past one year, EUROSPORT even broadcasted (in some countries) the winter olympics in 3D. American NHL made a deal with TiVo and got all games broadcasted in 3D. All these seem to imply that obviously, the technology is ripening quickly and will get into every household but is that really the case?



Nowadays a 3D TV stand can be found in almost every tech store. 3D devices are plentiful in supply. There are even 3D cameras for the enthusiasts.

So let’s get an indepth look at the technology on hand here. The 3D technology requires a 3D TV set and an expensive pair of glasses to be able to “see” with. 3D content is required for all these to work obviously.  Although 3D broadcasts are starting in our country, they are yet to get widespread. However 3D BD players and 3D movies can be easily found. All you need to do is shell out some money to buy the 3D devices.

I’d like to include my personal thoughts here. Before I go about my predictions, I do intensive researches. When 3D first came out, articles mentioned that for 3D support a TV would at least need to support 240 Hz and have a 3D compatible receiver. Now, however, you can see every company except Panasonic stamp on 3D stickers on their 100 Hz and 200 Hz TVs (and most probably there is just a little chip in it). Panasonic however offers 3D tech in their 400 and 600 Hz TV with their NeoPD. We ought to hold Panasonic aside in this regard.

I read an article with the first impressions of an editor that watched “Monsters vs Aliens” movie with SAMSUNG’s BD-C6900 bluray player and 3D capable 46” TV. The article says that 3D effect is evident only in the center parts of the screen and that the viewer may even feel dizzy or nautious if he/she focuses on the edges of the screen. I experienced this first hand on a Panasonic 3D TV in Electroworld’s Astoria store with the same movie and I concluded that we’re all better of focusing on the center of the display. The glasses are far from providing a comfortable experience over long periods. It’s impossible to just lie down and watch TV at home in 3D because you actually need to be looking at nearly right angles to the screen.

Let’s talk about 3D in cinemas. I had previously been able to see a 3D movie in iMAX cinemas and was actually quite impressed with crappy glasses. Unfortunately I have not been able to see Avatar in 3D with new tech and new glasses but my friends who have say that its wonderful. The articles I’ve read hav a similar comments. We can say that 3D cinema is way ahead of 3D TV.

Summary;

3D TVs can easily impress when displaying content captured with 3D cameras under the circumstances I mentioned above. The technology also has a lot of down sides like the neccessity of dark medium, a sitting position, focusing only on the center of the screen and glasses that run out of batteries.  I have a full HD Panasonic TV at home and also have access to HD networks. Although the cable package may be worthless otherwise, it gives me access to 6-7 HD channels.I’ve also seen some BD movies from my PHILIPS BDP7300 Blu-Ray player. High Definition is definitely a necessity for large screens (my screen actually is just 37”) and viewing HD movies and sport events especially is enjoyable. My personal opinion is not to let this technology that packs with itself so many discomforts into my household, I can only consider this if I were to throw away my current TV. What I’m saying is that I can live without this tech in my living room. Meanwhile, I also promise not to miss any 3D movies that come to the cinemas.

Please share your thoughts on this topic in the comments below. Thank you.

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Managing Visual Styles in Autocad 2007

Visual Styles are one of the best features that have entered our lives with AutoCAD 2007®. Orhan had already prepared the relevant article about Visual Styles. We also started to get use of this feature frequently in our projects. As you know Visual Styles can be accessed by DASHBOARD command. You don’t need to use the command if your DASHBOARD is already open. We can reach Visual Styles by just enlarging the relevant part (Fig.1)


Fig.1

Just under the relevant icon, there is a button with double arrow symbol on it, and it is becoming active when you come on it. It is really a nice user-interface design. In the list, which is over the menu, there are 5 default settings that is prepared by AutoCAD, as you already know from before (Fig 2.).


Fig.2

During this article, you will also learn how the 6 default settings, which is seen in Fig.2, is added. We will reach ‘Visual Styles Menager…’(Fig.4) with the button ()that is located on the upper right corner in Fig. 2.


Fig.4

Autodesk used a palette in this window. We have no objection :). There are 4 small icons just under the list with pictures in the upper side. Among the New, Edit, List, Add and Delete commands in the list, “Delete” command is not working on the 5 default settings coming with AutoCAD. Of course, we have nothing to do with these settings, we already need a new visual style, and in order to prepare one we press the ‘Create New Visual Style…’ button on the left end. After entering name and definition, 6th default value is added in the list with pictures. Let’s look at its properties by choosing this setting (Fig.5).


Fig.5

Let’s have a short look at all of the titles:

Face Settings: Setting that is about how the surfaces will be shown. It has Face style, Real (Real colors coming from the layers or the blocks, Gooch (Cartoon of concept view) or None (Does the same job as Hide command. Like old wireframe) options. Lightning quality, can be adjusted as Smooth or Faceted (gradual color transition). With the other options, we are adjusting the effect of light over the surfaces and the opacity level (X-Ray mode uses this option).

Materials and Color: Material display, determines how the materials will be applied over the surfaces. There are Materials and textures (It applies the material properties and textures), Materials (it applies only the material properties) and Off options. Face color mode is about the application of surface colors, and is composed of Normal (no change), Monochrome (Makes hatching with the chosen single color), Tint (It prepares concept views by changing saturation and color properties), Desaturate (It decreases the saturation of the material to 30%) options.

Environment Settings: It controls the shadow and background. Shadow modes are No shadows, Ground shadows only (It makes shadows on fall only on grounds) and Full shadows (all shadows are applied). It has two options as background open and close.

Edge Settings: It has Facet Edges, Isolines (Makes all edges of surfaces except background, visible), Faceted ( concept view, background invisible lines are optional) ve None (surfaces are only identified with colors) settings.

Edge Modifiers: They are view options of edges; diffusa rate of Overhang lines. When this option is on, you will see that the lines diffuse from corners. Jitter Edges makes edge lines as if they are drawn by hand with a thick pencil. Pencil thickness can be adjusted. Crease angle enables the joints etween the surfaces to be shown up to an angle and a smooth transition. It is same as ‘Smoothing Angle’ settings in 3DS. Halo gap setting enables a space between the main object intersections and the invisible lines on the back. It creates a nice effect if it is used together with Jitter.

Fast Silhuette Edges: It is used for silhouettes to be drawn thick. We are using it especially in architecture in general view drawings.

Obscured Edges: Here, it is adjusted how (hidden lines) will be seen. Especially it is useful for concept view.

I suggest you to come up with a main idea on what kind of a view you would like to prepare, and focus on the relevant settings accordingly. By using different values, you can observe their effect on the drawing. This will be great use to you. After you complete your settings, you can transfer this default setting to DASHBOARD by pressing the third button (Export selected…) among the four buttons just under the list with pictures.

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Editing Solids Without Command Input

[AutoCAD 2009 & Higher versions. Level: Advanced]

Hello dear friends,



Did you know that we can easily edit a solid primitive wihtout command input? If you care to know, please read on. This article will be a lot more useful after reading these articles:

• Introduction to AutoCAD 3D
• Introduction to AutoCAD UCS
• Adjusting the Workspace to Better Suit 3D Modelling

Let’s firstly set our workspace as “3D Modeling” and draw a simple box through a nice viewing angle, Fig.1


Fig.1

Notice how GRIPs appear all over the solid once you select it. It is possible to use these GRIPs to edit solids without command inputs. Let’s get started.

STRETCH

Fig.2

You can adjust the height of the model by dragging the top grip of the model (STRETCH). As Erhan mentioned in his article about GRIP Editing Operations, it is possible to switch between MOVE, ROTATE, MIRROR and SCALE operations by hitting the spacebar. Using just the STRECTH mode will be sufficient here, as we’ll be adjusting just the height and the width of the solid model.

SCALE

Fig.3

Grabbing a corner GRIP of the model as in Fig.3 activates the SCALE mode that enables you to quickly scale the whole solid.

MOVE

Fig.4


Holding the base point as in Fig.4 activates the MOVE mode. You can set the BASE point as you wish or hit the spacebar to switch to other modes.

Selecting Faces to Edit

As we learnt in a previous article, faces of solids can be easily edited. Hold down the CTRL key and click on a face to select it.


Fig.5

Holding the red GRIP in the middle of the model once you select it will activate the STRETCH command. You’ll see that you can now drag it left and right, changing the shape; rather than just the height.

Selecting Edges to Edit

Fig.6

As I mentioned in my previous article, you can easily STRETCH a solid by selecting it’s edge. Do this by holding down the CTRL key and dragging the red GRIP on that edge.


Fig.7

Notice the stuff happening down there at the command prompt when you select the red GRIP after selecting the edge of a solid. You’ll see the STRETCH, MOVE, SCALE and MIRROR commands being toggled, Let’s now create a solid like the one in Fig.7:

• Select the solid’s edge and grab the red GRIP.
• Hit the space-bar until the SCALE command is active.
• Enter 0.5 as the SCALE factor.
• Hit the space-bar again to switch back to the STRETCH command and stretch the edge backwards.

Editing Using Point Selection

Just like in edges and surfaces, you can hold down the CTRL key to select the vertices of solids. Fig.8 shows a vertex being stretched.


Fig.8

So, this is how solid editing can be done without cumbersome command input.

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Another Free and Effective Software: Revo Uninstaller

Windows XP and Windows 7 are near-perfect operating systems, but ever the faulty beings, we tend to try a lot of programs and uninstall them over time. Although Windows pretty much removes the programs, there are still some bits of information left.



It can also be the cause of careless software packages. Preferences, files, registry entries etc. can leave traces on your system. In all likelihood, uninstalled programs will cause problems in your operating system, be it XP or Windows 7. A good uninstaller program helps keep your system minty fresh.




After intensive researching, I decided that the best piece of software inş this field is the Revo Uninstaller. Even the free version functions perfectly and rids your system of almost all traces. You can also see a comparison of the free and premium versions by following the link I gave you. The pro version is around $ 40.

Definitely try it, a very brilliant software.

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Selecting Solids’ Edges Easily

Hello dear friends,



Previously, we discussed how solid surfaces can easily be selected, we’ll now be discussing how edges can be selected.

It’s actually quite simple when we’re working on primitive solids.


Fig.1

Hovering your cursor over the edge while holding down the CTRL key gets the edges highlighted and you can select the edge. You can keep selecting additional edges as you keep holding down the CTRL key.


Fig.2

If you’re trying to select the edge of a solid made from a complex POLYLINE, you’ll have different options upon selection and after selectrion Fig. 3.


Fig.3

You will have selected edges nevertheless and you can perform operations on them.

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Selecting Solids' Surfaces Easily

[AutoCAD 2009 and higher versions. Level: Intermediate]

Hello dear friends,



We can select and edit surfaces of solid objects without having to activate any command. Selecting is also part of the editing process. With the new viewing and dynamic selection tools that were introduced with AutoCAD 2009, selecting solid surfaces has become really easy.

Firstly I must say that changing my visual settings to "2D Wireframe" helps me out a lot. You may want to give it a try too.

Hold down the CTRL key and hover your cursor over the solid and notice the changes. The surfaces get highlighted (Fig.1)


Fig.1

Selecting a face while holding down the CTRL key displays the surface selection window in AutoCAD 2011 (Fig.2)


Fig.2

Other surfaces can also be added to your selection from this window.


Fig.3

You can keep holding down the CTRL key to add more surfaces to your selection.


Fig.4

I hope this tip will be of use.

Kind regards.

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