Working with a 3D model in AutoCAD but need clear 2D views for your drawings? Rather than manually creating multiple viewports and setting up front, top, side and isometric views individually, AutoCAD's VIEWBASE command can do much of the work for you.
VIEWBASE creates a base drawing view from your 3D model, which can then be used to generate additional projected views. This helps you create consistent 2D documentation while keeping your views connected to the original model.
We are going to breakdown how to use VIEWBASE to turn your 3D model into useful 2D drawing views.
What is VIEWBASE in AutoCAD?
The VIEWBASE command creates a base drawing view from a 3D model.
This base view becomes the starting point for additional projected views, allowing you to create different orientations of the same model without setting each one up manually. You can use VIEWBASE with visible 3D solids and surfaces in AutoCAD model space, as well as supported Autodesk Inventor models.
This makes it particularly useful when you've created your design in 3D but need traditional 2D drawing views for documentation, detailing or communicating the de
Why Use VIEWBASE Instead of Multiple Viewports?
One way of creating 2D views of a 3D model is to set up several layout viewports.
You could create separate viewports for the front, top and side of the model, adjust the orientation of each one, set the correct scale and then carefully position them on your layout.
VIEWBASE provides a more streamlined alternative.
Because your additional views are derived from a single base view, AutoCAD can maintain the relationship between them. This makes it easier to create an organised set of drawing views with consistent orientation and scale.
Step 1: Check Your Drafting Standard
Before creating your views, it's worth checking the drafting standard being used by your drawing.
Right-click on a Layout tab and select Drafting Standard Setup. Here you can configure options including the projection type used for your drawing views.
The two main options are:
- First Angle Projection
- Third Angle Projection
The correct choice will depend on the drawing standards you're working to.
For UK engineering drawings, First Angle Projection is commonly used, so make sure the setting reflects your organisation's requirements before creating your views.
Once you're happy with the settings, click OK.
Step 2: Go to Your Layout
Next, open the Layout where you want your 2D drawing views to appear.
If your layout already contains a standard viewport that you don't need, you can remove it to give yourself a clear sheet to work with.
You can now start creating your drawing views.
Step 3: Start the VIEWBASE Command
There are a couple of ways to access the tool.
You can type: VIEWBASE into the AutoCAD command line and press Enter. Alternatively, from your Layout, use the ribbon to find the tools for creating drawing views and select Base, followed by the option to create the view from Model Space.
AutoCAD will use the eligible solids and surfaces from your model to create the base view.
Step 4: Position Your Base View
AutoCAD will now display a preview of the base view. Before placing it, you can control several properties, including:
- Orientation
- Scale
- Hidden line display
- Visibility options
Choose the orientation you want to use as your main view and position it on the drawing sheet. For example, you might use the Front orientation as your base view. Click to place the view.
Step 5: Create Projected Views
Once the base view has been positioned, AutoCAD allows you to create projected views from it.
Move your cursor away from the base view and AutoCAD will preview the appropriate projected orientation based on the direction you move.
You can then place views such as:
- Top
- Side
- Isometric
Click to position each view you need. When you've finished adding projected views, press Enter to complete the command. You now have a set of 2D drawing views generated from your 3D model.
Step 6: Edit Your Drawing Views
You're not locked into the settings you chose when you first created the views. If you need to make changes later, select a drawing view and use the available drawing view editing tools.
The VIEWEDIT command can also be used to edit the properties of an existing drawing view.
Depending on the view, you can adjust settings such as its scale, orientation, appearance and visibility. Because projected views are derived from the base view, they maintain a relationship with it, helping you keep your drawing layout organised.
Keep Your Views Up to Date
One of the biggest advantages of this workflow is that your drawing views are linked to the source model.
If the 3D model changes, the associated drawing views can be updated to reflect those changes rather than having to recreate your 2D views manually.
Keeping automatic updates enabled where appropriate can make this particularly useful when you're continuing to develop the 3D model while producing your drawing documentation.
VIEWBASE Options Worth Knowing
Once you're comfortable with the basic workflow, there are several VIEWBASE settings worth exploring.
Hidden Lines
You can control how hidden geometry appears within the base view, allowing you to choose a display style that suits your drawing.
Scale
Set the scale of your base view to suit your drawing sheet. Projected views created from the base view automatically inherit its scale, helping maintain consistency across your drawing.
Tangent Edges
For models containing rounded or filleted geometry, you can control whether tangent edges are displayed.
Object Selection
You don't necessarily have to include every eligible object from your model. VIEWBASE allows you to select the objects you want to include or remove objects from the selection, which can be useful when working with more complex models.
A Faster Way to Move from 3D to 2D
If you're already building models in 3D, manually recreating or configuring every 2D view can add unnecessary work to your drawing process.
The VIEWBASE command provides a straightforward way to generate organised 2D drawing views directly from your model.
By creating a base view and deriving your additional views from it, you can maintain consistent scales and orientations while making it easier to keep your drawing documentation aligned with your 3D design.
It's a relatively simple AutoCAD tool, but one that can save a considerable amount of setup time if you regularly move between 3D modelling and 2D documentation.
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