CPlane

Toolbar	Menu
CPlanes Standard	View Viewport title Viewport context menu Set CPlane

Toolbar

Toolbar: CPlanes | Standard

View

Viewport context menu

Set CPlane

The CPlane command sets the origin and orientation of the construction plane in the active viewport.

A construction plane is like a tabletop that the cursor normally moves on. The construction plane has an origin, x and y axes, and a grid. The construction plane can be set to any orientation, and each viewport’s construction plane is independent of those in other viewports.

The construction plane represents the local coordinate system for the viewport and can be different from the world coordinate system.

Rhino’s standard viewports come with construction planes that correspond to the viewport. The default Perspective viewport, however, uses the world Top construction plane, which is the same construction plane that is used in the Top viewport.

Steps

Pick a new origin point or choose an option.

Command-line options
All	The construction planes in all viewports change so their origin is at the picked location.
Curve	The Curve option sets the construction plane perpendicular to a curve. Curve steps Select a curve to orient construction plane. Drag the construction plane's new x and y axes to a new location. Note Use the Curve option to quickly position your construction plane at various stations along a central rail curve as preparation for doing a one rail sweep, for example. Once your construction plane is positioned, you can use drawing tools to draw a cross-section curve in the 3 D location where it needs to be. This direct drawing method can be quicker and more convenient than drawing the curve on a world plane and then trying to move and rotate it into place in 3‑D. The direction of the curve affects the direction of the axes. If the construction plane does not go the direction you want, flip the direction of the curve with the Flip or Dir commands.
SubCrv	Type subcrv to select part of a curve as input.
Elevation	The Elevation option changes the elevation (z direction) of the construction plane. Elevation steps Pick a new elevation. Or Type a distance to move the origin from its previous location. Note Positive numbers move the construction plane up along the positive z axis. Negative numbers move the construction plane down.
Gumball	The Gumball option sets the construction plane to match the gumball orientation of the currently selected object.
Object	The Object option sets the construction plane in the active viewport to an object. Object steps Select a curve, surface, or mesh face. The origin and tangency of the new construction plane is based on the "midpoint" of the untrimmed version of the surface. In the case of a mesh face, the plane goes to the center of the face and the face normal determines the construction plane z direction. In the case of a circle or an arc, the origin will be placed at the center. The X-axis will point to the start point. The Y-axis will be 90 degrees away from the start point in the curve direction.
Rotate	The Rotate option rotates the construction plane. Rotate steps Pick the start of the rotation axis. Pick the end of the rotation axis. Type the angle to rotate the construction plane. Or Pick two points to specify the angle.
Surface	The Surface option sets the construction plane to match a surface. The placement is constrained so that the construction plane is tangent to the surface. Surface steps Select a surface. Pick an origin or press Enter. Pick an x axis direction or press Enter. Surface options Flip Reverses the direction. IgnoreTrims Uses entire untrimmed underlying surface.
Through	Moves the construction plane in the current viewport in its z direction, so its xy plane intersect the selected point. Through steps Pick a location to move the CPlane in its z direction. Through option All Moves the construction planes in all viewports in their z directions, so their xy planes intersect the selected point.
View	Sets the construction plane in the active viewport parallel to the view. View steps Click View or type V.
World	Restores the specified default construction plane. World steps Specify an option. Back Bottom Front Left Right Top
3Point	The 3Point option sets the construction plane in the active viewport by specifying points to establish the x, y, and z directions. 3Point steps Pick a new origin, or press Enter. Pick the x axis. Pick the y axis. 3Point options Vertical Sets the construction plane perpendicular to the current construction plane. ZAxis Sets the construction plane z axis direction.
Undo	Restores the previously used construction plane in the current viewport. Undo steps Click Undo or type U. Shortcut
Redo	Restores the construction plane that was active before the Undo option was used. Redo steps Click Redo or type D. Shortcut