How to Do a Projected View in SOLIDWORKS

A projected view creates an orthographic or related drawing view from an existing parent view. It is one of the fastest ways to add front, top, side, and isometric views to a SOLIDWORKS drawing.

Start with a parent view

Open a drawing and place the first model view. This parent view controls the orientation used by the projected views. Pick a parent view that makes the part or assembly easy to understand.

If the parent view is poorly chosen, every projected view becomes harder to use. Start with the view that best represents the main shape or the orientation your drawing standard expects.

Create the projected view

1. Select the parent drawing view.
2. Go to View Layout > Projected View.
3. Move the cursor to the side where you want the new view.
4. Click to place the projected view.
5. Continue placing other projected views if needed.
6. Press Esc when finished.

Control the view layout

Place projected views with enough space for dimensions, notes, and balloons. A drawing can become hard to read if the views are too close together. Move the parent view if the projected views need more room.

Projected views usually stay aligned to the parent view. Keep that alignment unless there is a clear reason to break it, because aligned views are easier for readers to compare.

Check projection angle

Drawing standards may use first-angle or third-angle projection. Check the sheet format and title block symbol so the projected views match the expected standard. A view placed on the wrong side can confuse the reader even if the geometry is correct.

This is especially important when sharing drawings with vendors or customers in different regions. A third-angle drawing and a first-angle drawing can place views differently while showing the same model.

Use projected views with other view types

Projected views can be combined with section, detail, auxiliary, and isometric views. Use them to show the main shape first, then add specialized views only where they make the drawing clearer.

Do not add every possible projected view by default. Use the views needed to define the part or assembly clearly. Extra views can make the sheet crowded without adding useful information.

Troubleshooting

If a projected view is not aligned correctly, check whether alignment was broken manually. If the view orientation is not useful, change the parent view orientation or place a different model view before projecting from it.

If a projected view appears empty or incomplete, check the referenced configuration, display state, and hidden component settings on the parent view.