3. Computer-Aided Design¶
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Individual Assignment
- Model (raster, vector, 2D, 3D, render, animate, simulate, …) a possible final project
- compress your images and videos, and post it on your class page
Research¶
The FabAcademy website discusses many of the technologies that could be used for completing the assignment.
2D design¶
Options were mentioned on the FabAcademy website:
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2D design (raster) options include GIMP, Photoshop, MyPaint, Krita and ImageMagick.
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2D design (vector) mentioned include odraw, Illustrator, Scribus and QCAD
Raster¶
After learning more about each of them, it was decided to experiment/learn GIMP GIMP.
“GIMP is a free and open-source raster graphics editor used for image retouching and editing, free-form drawing, converting between different image formats, and more specialized tasks.”
An image was selected to remove its background using GIMP. The following video shows using GIMP to:
- Import the image file.
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Using a Selection tool to select a desired region.
Tool > Selection Tools > Fuzzy Select
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Using Clear function.
Edit > Clear
Vector¶
When it comes to 2D design (vector), Inkscape](https://inkscape.org/) was used for editing pictures picture.
“Inkscape is a professional vector graphics editor for Linux, Windows and macOS. It’s free and open source.”
Also, CorelDraw was perviously experienced to some extent.
“CorelDraw is a vector graphics editor developed and marketed by Corel Corporation. It is also the name of the Corel graphics suite, which includes the bitmap-image editor Corel Photo-Paint as well as other graphics-related programs.”
Inkscape was chosen for working on the final project and completing Fab Academy.
We followed an Inkscape tutorial: Tracing bitmaps. These are main steps:
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Open image in Inkscape.
Path menu > Trace Bitmap.
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check Live Preview.
- Brightness cutoff (a threshold to determine if a pixel considered as black/white).
- Edge detection (to adjust the darkness or thickness of the edge)
Video using Inkscape for editing the image.
Figure below shows coffee image before Inkscape. Figure 2 shows coffee image after Inkscape.
3D design¶
When it comes to 3D design, we are familiar SketchUp SketchUp and Tinkercad Tinkercad for modelling.
“SketchUp is a 3D modeling computer program for a wide range of drawing applications such as architectural, interior design, landscape architecture, civil and mechanical engineering, film and video game design. Tinkercad is a free, online 3D modeling program that runs in a web browser, known for its simplicity and ease of use.”
Some of the options, mentioned on the FabAcademy website, for 3D design include * Shapesmith: Parametric, Open source, 3D modelling in browser, FreeCAD: 3D parametric modeler, Fusion 360, AutoCAD: CAD software to design and SOLIDWORKS: solid modeling computer-aided design and computer-aided engineering computer program. However, SketchUp and Tinkercad Tinkercad feel limited in the long run.
It was decided to go with Blender. The reason is that 1) Unity natively imports Blender files –this works by using the Blender FBX exporter 2) simulations can be done. Unity will be used for the final project.
Project preliminary modelling¶
The desired shape of the controller is not realized. So it was decided to go with modelling a generic gaming controller (an Xbox one).
3D design using Blender¶
The outer shape with no textures was modeled. A reference image was used as a starting point and the model was built around it. Blender documentation is found to be helpful.
The following steps were followed (links to Blender documentation for each of the steps):
- Clean the workspace
- Set up some reference images
- Reset the rotation of the reference image (lock-in front facing view)
- Drop in a cube
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Move and Scale cube
Viewport Shading > Wireframe
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Object Modes > Edit Mode
- Loop Subdivide
- Mesh the controller to the desired shape using Extrude and transform
- Mirror modifier
- Subdivision Surface Modifier
Result Model is shown below.
A Video using Blender for modelling the controller.
Video Documentation Process¶
A video documenting the whole process was captured using - OBS on Windows (screen recorded).
“Open Broadcaster Software is a free and open-source cross-platform streaming and recording program built with Qt and maintained by the OBS Project.”
The video was then compressed using HandBrake. HandBrake is a tool for converting video from nearly any format to a selection of modern, widely supported codecs.
Reasons for using HandBrake:
- Convert video from nearly any format
- Free and Open Source
- Multi-Platform (Windows, Mac and Linux) HandBrake was suggested by elegantthemes.