The Resource Preview pane allows you to view a fully rendered Resources object before you place it in the world. You can move the object within the preview using the same Arcball or Maya navigation that you use within the Design View. In addition, you can change the object’s render mode and perspective.
To preview an object:
You can right-click within the Resource Preview pane to alter the render mode (solid, wireframe, textured, rendered with back faces, or lit) and the view (front, back, top, bottom, left, right, or perspective) for the previewed object. These selections apply to the Resource Preview pane only, and do not affect the render mode or view within the Design View.