Digitizing a 3D line graphic in ArcGlobe

Available with 3D Analyst license.

You can set the default properties such as size, color, and symbol prior to digitizing new line graphic elements. You can also set display options such as drawing the line as a draped image or vector and set Pin to surface. For more information, see Setting default properties for 3D graphics in ArcGlobe.

In ArcGlobe, pinning is an option to fix the line graphic to the globe surface. To do this, select the line using the Select Graphics tool, right-click the element, and click Pin to surface. You can also set Pin to Surface from the Properties dialog box by right-clicking the selected line and clicking Properties.

There are different viewing options to consider when making a 3D line graphic. The table here describes these different settings. As well it is depicted in the screenshot below outlining the four configurations.

Display option	Description
Vector hugging 3D lines	The digitized vertices of the line are locked to the surface of the globe and will adjust to match the elevation layer(s) being displayed, with direct 3D lines used between the vertices.
Free floating 3D lines	The 3D position of the line vertices define its position in 3D space and the graphic does not adjust based on the elevation layer(s) being displayed.
Surface hugging vector lines	The entire length of the line is locked to the surface of the globe, using simple line and color symbology, and it will remain draped over the surface based on the elevation layer(s) being displayed.
Surface hugging rasterized lines	The line is converted into an image and then draped on to the surface of the globe. It's 3D location will remain draped over the surface based on the elevation layer(s) being displayed.

To digitize a 3D line graphic, do the following:

1. Click the New Line tool on the Globe 3D Graphics toolbar.
2. Click the first point on the surface or object you want to digitize.
3. Click around the display to add any additional vertices, double-clicking the final point.

A line graphic is drawn between the vertices you digitized.

Tip:

• You can also make a digitized line conform to a surface by digitizing additional vertices along the line. Since the New Line digitizing tool is not a profiling tool (heights are obtained at digitized points and not interpolated between them) adding more vertices will make lines conform more closely.
• A shortcut to rasterizing your 3D Line graphic is to right-click the selected graphic and use the element's context menu and click Rasterize.