Default 3-D Plan View Sees Ceiling

[ctc]

I'm trying to render an object in a plan view. To do so I created a default 3-D view and then used the view cube to orientate it to a plan view. The problem that I am having is that the object is always obscured by the ceiling and light fixtures. I can hide the ceiling in this view, but if I hide the light fixtures, then there is no light to illuminate the view. I tried moving the ceiling and light fixtures to an elevation above that of the camera, but for some odd reason the camera still sees them!? How can this be?

[cliff collins]

Drop some Studio Lights in and use them to light the scene; turn off the ceilings and "real" lights.

cheers

[SamuelAB]

Make a section where you camera is, select the camera in the Project Browser and right click. Select Show Camera. See if you can identify the camera problem from the section view.

You can try using a 3d view and simply use a section box, this will use sunlight since it will cut off the ceiling and lights above.

To obtain exactly what you are looking for, you would have to use 3ds Max and back face culling. It allows to see through objects but the invisible object still produce light or shadows. This is an advanced technique.