3. Computer-Aided Design¶
This week I worked on modeling (raster, vector, 2D, 3D, render, animate, simulate, …) and a possible final project, and post it in the class page.
I chose some software for raster, vector, 2D, 3D, render, animate and simulate and do the same task using them, in order to figure out the advantages and disadvantages of them.
I will explain to it what I learned from them.
Raster, Vector, and 2D software¶
Why I decided to try these raster, vector and 2D software?¶
The reasons why I chose this software are because I did not use before, is license is free and also that you can run them in Linux with low hardware requirement.
- GIMP¶
This is the official website of the GNU Image Manipulation Program (GIMP). GIMP is a cross-platform image editor available for GNU/Linux, OS X, Windows, and more operating systems. It is free software, you can change its source code and distribute your changes.
Results with GIMP¶
I decided to do the same thing in different software in order to compare with each other. This are the tools that I needed.
These images are the result of the software GIMP.
Front view
Side view
Bottom view
GIMP files¶
If you want to check by yourself these drawing download here:
Tutorial of GIMP¶
Comments about GIMP¶
This software surprised me because of its interesting tools that you can find in commercial software like Adobe Photoshop and so on. It is fascinating the variety of formats that allows you to work with.
GIMP also is a powerful tool that helps you to convert images and compress them when you are developing websites.
- Krita¶
Krita is a FREE and open source painting tool designed for concept artists, illustrators, matte and texture artists, and the VFX industry. Krita has been in development for over 10 years and has had an explosion in growth recently. It offers many common and innovative features to help the amateur and professional alike. See below for some of the highlighted features.
Results with krita¶
This are the tools that I needed.
Contiguous selection tool
Bezier curve selection tool
These images are the result of the software Krita.
Front view
Side view
Bottom view
Krita files¶
If you want to check by yourself these drawing download here:
Tutorial of Krita¶
Comments about krita¶
Is impressive how easy was to use Krita, and because its history with the software GIMP is the main competitor of it. Krita has similar tools like GIMP, but no compression tool.
- MyPaint¶
MyPaint is a free and open-source raster graphics editor for digital painters with a focus on painting rather than image manipulation or post-processing. MyPaint is available for Microsoft Windows, OS X, and UNIX-like operating systems. It is in some ways similar to Corel Painter.
Results with MyPaint¶
I tried to do the same job as I did in GIMP and Krita before but I could not do because it does not have the tool of image selection like “magic selector”, but is a great tool to create good images and edit images in order to make them more artistic.
Tutorial of MyPaint¶
Comments about MyPaint¶
This software is interesting if you are a designer and you want to create a product using images as a canvas. MyPaint is usually used with Inkscape or with GIMP obtaining incredible results.
Faced problems and solutions working with the MyPaint¶
Problem:¶
- I tried to do the same job using MyPaint but it has not tool for selection like GIMP or Krita.
Solution:¶
- In order to have the great brushes that MyPaint has you can add them to GIMP or Inkscape.
Comparison¶
| Description | GIMP | Krita | My Paint |
|---|---|---|---|
| Selector tool | Yes | Yes | No |
| image enhancement | Yes | No | No |
| Multi-platform | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Brush engine/types | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Multiple formats | Yes | Yes | Limited |
- Inkscape¶
Inkscape is professional quality vector graphics software which runs on Windows, Mac OS X and GNU/Linux. It is used by design professionals and hobbyists worldwide, for creating a wide variety of graphics such as illustrations, icons, logos, diagrams, maps, and web graphics. Inkscape uses the W3C open standard SVG (Scalable Vector Graphics) as its native format and is free and open-source software.
Results with Inkscape¶
This image is the result of the software Inkscape.
File of Inkscape¶
If you want to check by yourself this drawing download:
Tutorial of Inkscape¶
Comments about Inkscape¶
It was great to use Inkscape because it has many interesting tools such as snapping, lines and shape creator that you can use with the Boolean operations to get beautiful designs for laser-cutting or CNC routing. There are cool extensions, like measurement tools or gcode generator for 2D or 2.5D machines.
Faced problems and solutions working with the Inkscape.¶
Problem:¶
- The software that is used for vinylcutting and lasercuting do not import properly the design from SVG format.
Solution:¶
- The solution was use the software Uniconvertor or sk1 that allows you to convert in PLT or AI that are great format for vectors.
- Gravit¶
Gravit started it’s history online: an online, accessible and free design tool. As time went by, with amazing ideas and a lot of hard work from our passionate team, Gravit conquered the offline world too. Now, we launch another product, Gravit Klex, a design tool for non-designers, while the Designer app continues being improved day by day.
Results with Gravit¶
This image is the result of the software Gravit.
File of Gravit¶
If you want to check by yourself this drawing download:
Tutorial of Gravit¶
Comments about Gravit¶
I found the software Gravit cool because is very useful to artistic designs, and for laser-cutting without too much precision, the point of use this software is because it works in all platforms including the web and that feature allows you give quick solutions. Sadly Gravit does not have measurement tools and its snapping tool is not enough for complex parametric designs, but for websites developing is very powerful.
Faced problems and solutions working with the Gravit.¶
Problem:¶
- The snap tool is too limited it does not allows to snap in vertices.
Solution:¶
- The solution was use the software boxes as a ruler and snap to it the shape the you need.
- LibreCAD¶
LibreCAD is a feature-packed and mature 2D-CAD application with some really great advantages: No worry about trials, subscriptions, license costs or annual fees. Developed by an experienced team and supported by an awesome community, LibreCAD is also free to hack and copy. It’s available in over 30 languages with cross-platform support for macOS, Windows, and Linux.
Results with LibreCAD¶
File of LibreCAD¶
If you want to check by yourself this drawing download:
Tutorial of LibreCAD¶
Comments about LibreCAD¶
LibreCAD is a powerful software that allows you to make big and precise projects, it supports a bunch of open formats so you can export your models SVG or PDF. The only thing that I think this software miss is the measurement feature that allows you to modify the drawing instead of just showing you the actual measurement.
Faced problems and solutions working with the LibreCAD.¶
Problem:¶
- You have to design with the final Dimension, so you can not change it, and if you want to modify something you have to redraw everything.
Solution:¶
- The solution was use FreeCAD sketcher by exporting the drawing from LibreCAD to FreeCAD.
Comparison¶
| Description | Inkscape | Gravit | LibreCAD |
|---|---|---|---|
| Layers | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Text | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Grouping objects | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| SVG Format file | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Boolean operations | Yes | Yes | No |
| Dimension tool | Yes | No | Yes |
| Node movement | Yes | Yes | No |
| Precision | No | No | Yes |
| Snapping tool facilities | Yes | No | Yes |
3D software¶
Why I decided to try this 3D software?¶
I chose them because I am using a laptop with low hardware resources and it is running Xubuntu OS, and mainly because I did not used them before.
- FreeCAD¶
FreeCAD is a free and open-source (under the LGPLv2+ license) general-purpose parametric 3D CAD modeler and a building information modeling (BIM) software with finite-element-method (FEM) support. FreeCAD is aimed directly at mechanical engineering product design but also expands to a wider range of uses around engineering, such as architecture or electrical engineering. FreeCAD can be used interactively, or its functionality can be accessed and extended using the Python programming language and is currently in a beta stage of development.
Results with FreeCAD¶
I used this tools in FreeCAD
Body modifier tool
Sketching tool
These images are the result of the software FreeCAD.
Front view
Side view
Bottom view
Isometric view
If you want to check by yourself these 3D model download here:
-
So, if you like to 3D print this model you may need this: STL 3D model.
Tutorial of FreeCAD¶
Comments about FreeCAD¶
FreeCAD has a lot of bugs, despite it has great new features does not convince me ye because of it. Is a excellent tool for parametric designs,it is interesting useful work with LibreCAD.
Faced problems and solutions working with the FreeCAD.¶
Problem:¶
- It does not work the snap tool.
Solution:¶
- The solution was draw freely and use constraints after you finish.
- Blender¶
Blender is a public project, made by hundreds of people from around the world; by studios and individual artists, professionals and hobbyists, scientists, students, VFX experts, animators, game artists, modders, and the list goes on.
Results with Blender¶
These are the commands that I used working with Blender.
Sphere mode
alt + shift + s
Mesh from curve
alt + c
Fill hole
alt + f
Join Bodies
ctrl + j
Merge
alt + m
Join elements
j
Move Body
g
Rotate
r
Extrude
e
Scale
s
Modes
Type of selection
These images are the result of the software Blender.
Front view
Side view
Bottom view
Isometric view
Files of Blender¶
If you want to check by yourself these 3D model download here:
-
This 3D was made using add-ons called Import AutoCAD DXF format to import the 2D drawing from LibreCAD 2D drawing.
This add-on has to be enabled by going to the user preferences.
The next add-on used is called measureit that used to make measurements to your model.
This image shows how it looks.
Tutorial of Blender¶
Comments about Blender¶
Work with Blender was a bit difficult at the start because the environment is so complex and you have to access to its tools through shortcuts that you have to remember.
Before you start using Blender you have to configure the user preferences with add-on and set the measurement units.
I found that using LibreCAD drawings and using measureit add-on you can obtain great results in engineering modeling and architecture modeling.
The best thing about blender that it has not too many bugs than FreeCAD has, also Blender has layers and that feature awesome.
Blender allows you to edit meshes and repair them in an easy way. The filters for meshes that it has are interestingly useful.
I see Blender as a great free tool if you are moving from Windows to Linux.
Faced problems and solutions working with the Blender.¶
Problem:¶
- It does not configured in mm default.
Solution:¶
- The solution was change user preference to mm and save.
Comparison¶
| Description | FreeCAD | Blender |
|---|---|---|
| Sketching tools | yes | No |
| Facilities working with meshes | No | Yes |
| Parametric modeling | Yes | No |
| Animation tools | No | Yes |
| Rendering tools | No | Yes |
| Layers tools | No | Yes |
What I learned this week?¶
I learned how improves my documentation about what I done in the Academy.