Overview of the ViewCube

The ViewCube is a 3D navigation tool that also lets you switch between standard and isometric views.

Once the ViewCube is displayed, it appears by default in the upper-right corner of the active viewport, superimposed over the scene in an inactive state. It does not appear in camera, light, or shape viewports, or in other types of views such as ActiveShade or Schematic. While the ViewCube is inactive, its primary function is to show the orientation of the scene based on the North direction of the model.

When you position the cursor over the ViewCube, it becomes active. Using the left mouse button, you can switch to one of the available preset views, rotate the current view, or change to the Home view of the model. Right-clicking opens a context menu with additional options.

Control the Appearance of the ViewCube

The ViewCube is displayed in one of two states: inactive and active. When the ViewCube is inactive, it appears transparent over the viewport by default so as not to completely obscure the view of the model. When the ViewCube is active, it is opaque and might obscure the view of objects in the scene.

You can control the opacity level of the ViewCube when it is inactive as well as its size, the viewports it appears in, and the display of the compass. These settings are located on the ViewCube panel of the Viewport Configuration dialog.

Using the Compass

The ViewCube compass indicates the North direction for the scene. You can toggle the compass display below the ViewCube and specify its orientation with the Compass settings.

Procedures

To display or hide the ViewCube:

1. Do either of the following:
   • Press the default keyboard shortcut: Alt+Ctrl+V.
   • Open the Viewport Configuration dialog to the ViewCube panel and toggle the Show The ViewCube check box.

To control the size and inactive opacity of the ViewCube:

1. Open the Viewport Configuration dialog to the ViewCube panel.
2. In the Display Options group, click the ViewCube Size drop-down list and choose a size. The choices are Large, Normal, Small, and Tiny.
3. Also in the Display Options group, click the Inactive Opacity drop-down list and choose an opacity value. The choices range from 0% (invisible when inactive) to 100% (always fully opaque).
4. Click OK.

To display the compass for the ViewCube

1. Open the Viewport Configuration dialog to the ViewCube panel.
2. In the Compass group, turn on Show Compass Below The ViewCube. The compass is displayed below the ViewCube and indicates the North direction in the scene.
3. Click OK.

source : AUTODESK 3DS MAX HELP