Object Clipping Widget Help
Object Clipping
Objects always have one unique dimension, which is usually the z-dimension.
This is because the pts files which specify the objects are composed of
outlines each of which has a constant z, or because the z-dimension is really
a time dimension for a 2 dimensional time series. The Object Clipping slider
controls which subset of an object (along this dimension) will be displayed.
The number above the sliders refer to the z coordinate specified by the slider
below it. The left slider should always stay less than or equal to the right
slider. The arrow buttons to the side of the sliders can move the sliders in
unit z increments (the double arrow sliders) or in sub-unit increments
(the single arrows - typically only useful for debugging bifurcations in an
object). The z-dimension is defined when the data is read in and does not
change depending upon the orientation of the object in the scene.
Note: All displayed objects are clipped based upon the current setting of
the Object Clipping slider. Thus all objects are clipped identically and
regardless of whether they are displayed as surfaces or wireframe outlines.
Volume data is not affected by the Object Clipping sliders.
Z-Clipping
Z-Clipping cuts away (ie, doesn't display) the nearest (left slider) and
furthest (right slider) parts of the objects. The larger the value of the left
slider the further away a part of an object can be and still be considered near
enough to be cut away. Similarly, the smaller the value of the right slider
the closer an part of an object can be and still be considered far enough away
to be cut away. Ie, anything in front of the left slider clipping plane or
behind the right slider clipping plane will not be displayed. Z-Clipping
affects all objects identically and does not affect volume data. "Near" and
"far" are relative to the screen of the workstation and hence as the objects
rotate different parts of them may be clipped away.
Lock
Clicking on this button locks the two object clipping sliders together
so that moving one causes the other to move also. Thus a constant separation
is maintained. The object clipping sliders can also be locked to the volume
clipping sliders, see the Volume Clipping widget (gotten from the menu on the
Edit Volume Widget).
Copyright 1995 by Lawrence M. Lifshitz and the University of
Massachusetts Medical School. All rights reserved.