Commands

3DCLIP command in AutoCAD : Opens the Adjust Clipping Planes window, where you can specify what portions of a 3D model to display

If you need to control what parts of a 3D model are visible in AutoCAD, the 3DCLIP command is a fast way to create view-based clipping planes. This guide explains what 3DCLIP does, how to use it step by step, useful alternatives for cutting or sectioning geometry, common reasons it may not appear to work, and practical tips to get reliable results.

What is the 3DCLIP command?

3DCLIP opens the dialog or interactive controls that let you create and adjust near and far clipping planes for the current view. These clipping planes are visual — they hide parts of the model from the view to reveal interior details or to frame a camera-like view. They do not permanently modify geometry. Use 3DCLIP when you want to temporarily slice the view for visualization, screenshotting, or presentation.

Key points:

  • Controls near and far clipping relative to the current view or camera.
  • Applies to the active viewport or view.
  • Is a visual operation (doesn’t physically cut or Boolean the model).

When to use 3DCLIP

  • Inspecting internal components of a complex assembly without changing the solids.
  • Preparing views for renderings or documentation where you want a partial cut-away.
  • Narrowing the depth of field in a perspective view to remove distracting far-away geometry.
  • Working interactively while orbiting a model to isolate an area quickly.

How to use 3DCLIP — Step by step

  1. Prepare the view:

    • Switch to a 3D view (e.g., SW Isometric or use 3D Orbit).
    • Apply a visual style that shows solids/surfaces (for example Shaded or Realistic) to better see the clipping effect.

  2. Start the command:

    • Type 3DCLIP at the command line and press Enter.
    • The Adjust Clipping Planes dialog or on-screen controls will appear (depending on your AutoCAD version and settings).

  3. Enable clipping planes:

    • Turn on Near and/or Far clipping planes (checkboxes or toggles in the dialog).
    • If both are enabled, you can define a slab of visible space between the two planes.

  4. Position the planes:

    • Use the distance fields in the dialog to type an exact offset from the camera/viewpoint, or
    • Drag the interactive handles in the viewport to move the planes visually.
    • Use the Flip or Invert option (if available) to swap which side of the plane is visible.

  5. Preview and adjust:

    • Orbit or pan while adjusting to confirm the clipping position.
    • Use REGEN or REGENALL if the display does not update correctly.

  6. Apply or cancel:

    • Click OK or Apply to keep the clipping.
    • To remove clipping later, run 3DCLIP again and disable the planes or use a reset option.

Shortcut: type 3DCLIP at the command line.

Example workflows (before / after)

  • Inspecting a mechanical pump:

    • Before: Solid model hides internal impeller arrangement.
    • Use 3DCLIP: enable a near plane positioned just inside the housing.
    • After: Internal impeller and clearances are visible without altering the model.

  • Preparing a perspective render of a building lobby:

    • Before: Background façades clutter the view.
    • Use 3DCLIP: enable a far clipping plane to remove distant context.
    • After: Render focuses on lobby architecture only.

Alternative commands and methods

If you need something beyond the visual clipping that 3DCLIP provides, consider these alternatives:

  • SECTIONPLANE — Create a dynamic section plane object that can generate 2D section geometry and section views. Useful for documentation and producing section drawings.
  • SLICE — Cut solids with a plane and keep both resulting solids (or discard one). This actually modifies geometry and is appropriate for model edits.
  • BOOLEAN operations (UNION, SUBTRACT, INTERSECT) — Permanently modify solids when you need solid modeling results.
  • XCLIP — Clip an external reference (XREF) or block by defining a polygonal clip boundary (2D clipping of referenced content).
  • VPCLIP (Viewport Clip) — Clip a layout viewport to a boundary shape (affects how the viewport displays modelspace content on a sheet).
  • SECTION / FLATSHOT — Create 2D representations from sections for drawings and annotations.

Use 3DCLIP for temporary visual control; choose SLICE, SECTIONPLANE, or Boolean tools when you need permanent geometry changes or formal section output.

Troubleshooting — Why 3DCLIP doesn’t work (and fixes)

Problem: Nothing changes when I run 3DCLIP.

  • Fixes:
    • Ensure you are in a 3D view (not Top/Plan). Switch to an isometric or perspective view or use 3D Orbit.
    • Check the visual style (wireframe may make clipping harder to detect). Use a shaded style.
    • Zoom to the area of interest or run ZOOM → Extents so the clipping distances are within view.

Problem: Clipping appears but only in model space, not in a layout viewport.

  • Fixes:
    • Activate the layout viewport, set its view to the 3D view/camera you used, then apply 3DCLIP while the viewport is active.
    • Ensure the viewport is not frozen on the layer containing the section/clip objects.

Problem: Clipped objects still appear or rendering ignores clipping.

  • Fixes:
    • 3DCLIP is a display operation; some render pipelines or viewport overrides may ignore it. For render-ready cuts, use SECTIONPLANE or permanently slice the geometry.
    • Run REGEN or toggle hardware acceleration if the display is stale.

Problem: Clipping plane control is hard to position precisely.

  • Fixes:
    • Use numeric distance entry in the dialog when available.
    • Create a named view or camera first, then apply clipping relative to that camera.

Problem: I want to animate or parametrize the clipping plane.

  • Fixes:
    • 3DCLIP is not meant as an animation tool. Consider exporting the model to a dedicated animation or rendering package, or script repeated 3DCLIP changes and capture frames externally.

Tips for reliable results

  • Save a named view or camera before applying clipping so you can restore the exact viewpoint later.
  • Use Section Plane when you need annotation-ready section geometry or plan extractions.
  • Keep clipping on a separate layer (if your workflow supports it) so you can freeze or isolate it for different views.
  • Combine 3DCLIP with visual styles and materials for clearer presentations: shaded surfaces and section hatch (from SECTIONPLANE) improve readability.
  • When working with large models, zoom to extents first to avoid clipping planes being set far outside the model extents.
  • Remember that 3DCLIP is view-specific—each viewport can have different clipping settings.

FAQ

How is 3DCLIP different from SECTIONPLANE?

3DCLIP is a visual clipping of the view (near/far planes); SECTIONPLANE creates an object that can generate actual section geometry and 2D outputs. Use SECTIONPLANE for drawings and documentation; use 3DCLIP for quick visual inspection.

Can 3DCLIP permanently cut or modify my solids?

No. 3DCLIP only changes what is visible in the current view. To permanently cut solids, use SLICE or Boolean operations (e.g., SUBTRACT, INTERSECT).

Why don’t I see 3DCLIP effect in my layout viewport?

Make sure the viewport is active and set to a 3D view or camera. Apply clipping while the viewport is active, or recreate the view inside the viewport and then enable clipping. Also confirm the viewport is not frozen or on a hidden layer.

Does 3DCLIP work in orthographic (Top) views?

It can, but the effect is most useful in 3D perspective or isometric views. In Top/Plan orthographic views the near/far clipping may be less obvious or not meaningful for the intended visual result.

Can I save clipping settings for reuse?

Yes — save a named view or camera after setting clipping so you can restore that exact clipping configuration later.

My viewport display didn’t update after changing clip planes — what should I do?

Run REGEN or REGENALL, toggle the visual style, or turn hardware acceleration off/on. These steps refresh the display and often resolve display-update issues.

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