Canvas > New Overlay Canvas

Overlay canvases are canvases that are only visible from a particular viewpoint. They are used in the perspective window to create perspective texture projections, 2D roughs, or for annotation purposes (to create bookmarks).

You can grab a screen shot of a work in progress, and use the 2D image as a basis for further painting. The painted image can either be used for presentation of rough concepts, or you can project that painting back on to the model as a texture, and see it in 3D.

Transparent planes can be used to annotate a model. The annotations are associated with the particular viewpoint, so you can be sure they are seen in their proper context.

The viewpoint is accessible through one of the following methods:

Click on the overlay canvas in the Construction Plane Editor
Click on the Look-At icon at the top of the Canvas Layer Editor
Select the overlay canvas from the pull down menu in the Paint window.
See Windows > Editors > Construction Plane Editor .

See Bookmark an annotated model.

To create a new overlay plane, choose Canvas > New Overlay Canvas . The options are almost identical to Canvas > New Canvas .

New Overlay Canvas Options

Canvas Name: Remove the default name, and type a meaningful name for your overlay canvas in this field.

The name can also be changed later in the Construction Plane Editor or the Canvas Layer Editor..

See also Windows > Editors > Construction Plane Editor
Grab window: If this option is checked, you can grab a screen shot of a work in progress, and use the 2D image as a basis for further painting. The image is added to the overlay canvas as a new layer called Screen Grab.

NoteThe Screen Grab layer is completely opaque and will obscure any layers and geometry below it.
Create bookmark: If this option is checked, a new bookmark is created that captures the camera position, shading information and annotations.

Size and Resolution

Paper Size: Choose a standard paper size (default is A4) to print on, or choose one of the following:

Custom – Lets you specify the dimensions of the overlay canvas in world size units (cm or in).

User defined – Lets you specify the dimensions of the overlay canvas in pixels only. The default values are 1900 by 1200 and can be changed in the Paint section of Preferences > General Preferences ❒.

Fit to screen – Lets you specify the dimensions of the overlay canvas in pixels only. The default values correspond to the current size of the window.
Unit: Specify if you want sizes to be displayed in inches or centimeters.
Pixels: Specify the width and height of the overlay canvas in pixels.
in (or mm): Specify the width and height of the overlay canvas in inches or centimeters. This option is only available when Paper Size is set to Custom.
Pixels Per in (mm): Specify the number of pixels per inch (or mm), that is, the resolution of your overlay canvas.
Portrait/Landscape: Choose between a Portrait (vertical) or Landscape (horizontal) orientation for your overlay canvas.