Getting Started
with VNS 3: Getting
Started
Part 1C. Components
1. You can also save the project
as a Component. So what is a Component? It's a building
block that can be saved, shared, and loaded into other projects.
In its current freeform mode, the Scene-at-a-Glance shows all Component categories. Bold
categories have Components.
2. Expand the Atmospheres
category by clicking the + in front of it. There you'll
see the Island Atmosphere Component.
3. Let's save the project as
a Component. We'll use a thumbnail image to identify it.
Click anywhere in the Island Camera view to activate it and key
F9 to make a preview render. You can also start a render
with the Preview Render 
button on the titlebar.
4. The render won't look like
much yet because we only have the default Island Ground Effect
covering it, but it will do for a start.
5. Go to the File menu
and select Sign & Save.
6. This will open the Component Signature window. To the right of the Image
for Thumbnail field, click the directory icon  .
7. Open VNSLastRender.png
in the WCSFrames folder. VNS
saves preview renders under this name, overwriting it each time.
8. VNS will update the Component
thumbnail. Add a complete description in the Comments
box, keeping in mind that this will explain what's in the Component
and how to use it. Save to Disk & Close to save the
Component.
9. The Save Project box will warn you that a project of that name
already exists, which we know, so Overwrite it.
10. Go to the menu and select
Help > Tutorials. Choose Existing Projects
and you'll see the project ready for use. Click the thumbnail
to bring up the project's description.
11. We'll need it in a moment,
so activate the Island Camera view and key F8 to
switch back to realtime mode. Enter past the View box to accept the default option.
12. Up to now we've left the
Scene-at-a-Glance in freeform mode. Let's break it down
into Task Modes. That's where the first 8 buttons on the
Icon Toolbar come in. They filter the upper pane and show only
task-specific Component categories.
13. Let's start with the last
one first, the Render Task Mode  .
We're only interested in the Cameras category, so expand
the listing. You'll recognize the 3 Cameras from the popup menu.
14. The first 4 buttons directly
above the Scene-at-a-Glance allow you to Enable  ,
Disable  , Add or
Clone  ,
and Delete  Components.
The next 3 buttons control item visibility in the upper pane.
The last one  expands the Scene-at-a-Glance and allows you to click and drag the
right edge.
15. Component operations can
also be accessed from a right-click on the Component itself.
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