A method for operating a processor-controlled machine, and a machine having a processor, operate on an object-based model data structure from which a first image has been produced in order to produce a second image for display in the spatial context of the first image. A viewing operation region (VOR) is displayed coextensively with a first image segment of the first image in the display area of the machine's display device. The first image segment includes a display object representing a model data item in the object-based model data structure. In response to the display of the VOR, a second image is produced using the model data item in the object-based model data structure. The second image is displayed in the VOR, in the spatial context of the first image, simultaneously with the display of the first image, replacing the first image segment in the display area. The method may operate cooperatively with a graphical object editor application executing in a graphical user interface environment. A machine user moves the VOR over a portion of a graphical object image, and in response to the user's movement action, a viewing operation associated with the VOR operates on the editable object-based model data structure that produced the graphical object image to produce a second modified view of the portion of the graphical object image coextensively positioned with the VOR, displaying the second modified view in the VOR.