The aim of this week work is to explore a number of possible 2D and 3D modeling strategies using different design software.


3.1. 2D Design.

3.1.1. GIMP.

GIMP is a Raster graphic software (also called Bitmap or pixel map). This type of graphic consists of pixels matrix, so graphics lose quality when zooming in.

First of all, I downloaded GIMP and installed it on my laptop. Then I decided to draw a simple sketch of Lisa from the Simpson family cartoon. I have recorded the drawing steps in the following video.

Final design image from GIMP: Simpson_raster

Click here to download the GIMP file.

In order to enable 2D cutting for the designed model on GIMP, it should be converted from raster to vector image. To do that directly from GIMP:

  1. Go to Path menu on the right bottom corner.
  2. Right click on one of the paths.
  3. Name the path as you want and don't forget to add .svg after the name.
  4. There are two options on the down menu.
    • Choose (Export Path to SVG) if you want to export the selected path only.
    • Choose (Export all paths from this image) if you want to export all history paths.

I found this method easy and straightforward. However, I couldn't export only the paths I want. So, the exported file was messy and includes all paths history even the ones that I already erased and don't want them. Also, it will not export other shapes created, such as ellipses and rectangles. Therefore, I searched about another method to convert from raster to vector images and followed this useful tutorial. on youtube, which use inkscape to do that.


3.1.2. Inkscape.

Inkscape is a vector graphics modeling software. vector means images consist of a mathematical formula that can scale images without loosing quality. Steps to convert from raster to vector image:

  1. Open the file as png image in GIMP.
  2. Right click on the layer and click on (Add Alpha Channel). alphaChannel
  3. Use (Select by Color Tool) and click anywhere in the white area. select_by_color
  4. Press (delete) on your keyboard.
  5. Go to (Edit > Stroke Selection) and check the (Solid color) option change line width in px as you want and press (Stroke) when you finish. stroke_selection
  6. Export the image as .png. export
  7. Open the exported image in Inkscape.
  8. Use Select tool at the top left to select the image.
  9. Go to Paths menu and click on Trace Bitamp then OK. bitmap
  10. Pull the image and you will see there is two copies, the previous one (raster) and the new one (vector). So delete the previous one. pull
  11. Save it as .svg if you want to edit it again or as an image.

simpson_vector_image

Click here to download the Inkscape vector svg file.


3.2. 3D Design.

3.2.1. Fusion 360.

By doing this design, I have learned some essential 3D printing techniques using Fusion 360 designing software. The object created was an enclosure (i.e. rectangular box) for Arduino UNO. The following steps explain the design:

  1. Create a blink design.
  2. Create a 2-point rectangle sketch. rectang
  3. Extrude the sketch up to 80 mm. extrude
  4. Shell out the body created. shell shell_settings
  5. Fillet the edges. fillet
  6. To create a square hole in the box front view:
    • Create a new 2-point rectangle sketch.
    • Create a symmetry constraint and choose two objects (up and down lines of the new sketch) and the third object (the midline of the box front view) as the symmetry line.
    • Extrude the sketch (start: from object 'i.e. the new sketch', extent: to object 'the box front view from inside').
  7. To create a round hole in the box front view:
    • Create a new circle sketch.
    • Create a midpoint constraint and choose two objects (the circle and the midline of the box front view).
    • Extrude the sketch (start: from object 'i.e. the new sketch', extent: to object 'the box front view from inside').
    square_and_hole
  8. Create a construction midplane between the top and the bottom half. midplane
  9. Split the body into two halves (up and bottom half). split
  10. To create a text hole in the box top view:
    • Create a new text.
    • Extrude the sketch (start: from object ‘i.e. the new text’, extent: to object ‘the box top view from inside’).

Here is my final design: Enclosure_for_Arduino_Uno

Click here to download the original design file.


3.2.2. Blender.

There are many 3D design softwares. I chose 'Blender' for modeling since it is open source and free to use. Also, I chose it becuase I have found many incredible animations results on the internet, which caught my attention to learn it since I am looking for such an opportunity to learn about this type of art.

The task of this week is to desgin a possible final project, so I have decided to model a physical part of my initial final project idea, which is a car key. I have started by downloading and installing Blender 2.81a on my laptop. The following figure shows how Blender looks like when it just opened.

default_window

Since it is my first time to use Blender, I started by watching this youtube playlist tutorials.It contains many useful inforamtion about Blender shortcuts and tricks. However, I found it very difficult for me to design my first object based on only these tutorials. Therefore, I referred to another tutorial on youtube that shows the design steps of a key. I have summarized the steps I followed from the tutorial in the following points:

  1. Delete the default cube and create a new object by pressing (shift + a), then choose (Mesh > Plane).
  2. To scale object:
    • Press (7) on the number pad or if you don’t have a number pad on your keyboard, click on the blue icon labeled (z) for the top viewpoint.
    • Scale the created plane by pressing (s + x + 0.4 + Enter) then (s + y + 1.25 + Enter).
    • Enter edit mode by pressing (TAB) or from the top left menu.
    • Click on the left bottom edge of the plane to select it.
    • Click on the (Move) icon on the left side bar and drag the selected left edge point toward the y-axis (green line)
  3. To add loop cuts on the (z) view:
    • Press (ctrl + R) and move the mouse pointer to the top of the plane and when a yellow line shown left click to confirm the cut and right click to release.
    • Press (ctrl + R) and move the mouse pointer to the right center of the plane and when a yellow line shown scroll the mouse when up to increase the number of cuts and left click to confirm the cut and right click to release.
    • Go down to the (Loop Cut and Slide) window and set (Number of Cuts) to (10).
    • Click on the viewport area to exit this window.
  4. For further shape modifications:
    • Press and hold (ctrl) key and drag the middle down point one grid line down.
    • Press (a) key to select all.
    • Right click and select (Subdivide).
    • Click on (Face select) tool to activate it.
    • Press (a) key twice to deselect all.
  5. To add snaps:
    • Press (k) key to activate knife tool.
    • Place the knife 5 faces down from the left top edge.
    • Snap to the corner and click to confirm snap.
    • Snap the knife two faces down and one face right.
    • Left click to confirm when you done and press (Enter) to release.
    • Press and hold the (shift) key and select all of these outer faces.
    • Press (x) and click (faces) to delete the selected faces.
  6. To extrude:
    • Press (1) on the number pad or if you don’t have a number pad on your keyboard, click on the green icon named (Y) for the front view.
    • Press (e) and move your mouse up to extrude up one and a half gridlines.
    • Left click to confirm when you done and press (Enter) to release.
  7. To add loop cuts on the (Y)view:
    • Press (ctrl + R), place the mouse on the center of the object and when a yellow line shown scroll up the mouse to increase the number of cuts to three.
    • Left click to confirm the cut and right click to release.
  8. To add more loop cuts on the (Z) view:
    • Press (7) on the number pad or if you don’t have a number pad on your keyboard, click on the blue icon named (Z) for the top view.
    • Add a loop cut by pressing (ctrl + R) and drag the shown vertical orange line near to the bottom edge.
    • Add another loop cut from the other side and drag it also near to the same edge.
    • Add another loop cut to the right and press (r + z + -0.3 + Enter) to rotate it on the z axis a little bit.
    • Repeat the step for the other side.
  9. Add (Z) scale.
    • Make sure then Edge Select tool is activated from the left top corner icons.
    • Press and hold (alt) key and click on the center edge to select entire edge loop.
    • Scale it by pressing (s + z + 1.4 + Enter).
    • Repeat for the other cuts.
  10. Add a Lattice.
    • Enter (Object Mode).
    • Press (7) on the number pad or if you don’t have a number pad on your keyboard, click on the blue icon named (Z) for the top view.
    • Press (Shift + a) and click (Lattice).
    • Press (s) key to scale the lattice.
    • Press (Y) key to restrict scaling on Y-axis and scale it until the lattice little bit longer than the object, left click to confirm scaling.
    • You can adjust its position further using the (Move) icon on the left vertical tool bar.
    • Rotate the lattice on Z-axis by pressing (r + z + 3.26 + Enter).
    • Move the lattice to the left.
  11. Add lattice modifier.
    • Press on the object to select it.
    • Click on (Modifier Properties) icon on the right bottom corner.
    • Click on (Add Modifier).
    • Click on (Lattice).
    • From the (Object) menu choose (Lattice).
  12. Scale lattice:
    • Enter (Edit Mode).
    • Press and hold (Shift) key and select the four vertices on the Y-view.
    • Press (s) for scaling and (z) to restrict scaling to z-axis, then move the mouse pointer up and down and click to release when done.
    • Enter (Object Mode).
    • Click on the object to select it.
    • Click (Apply) button on the Modifier section.
    • Select the lattice and delete it with (x + Enter).
    By this way, the one side of the key will be more thin than the other, which simulate the real world keys shape.
  13. Smooth object:
    • Click on the object to select it.
    • Click on (Modifier Properties) icon on the right bottom corner.
    • Click on (Add Modifier).
    • Click on (Subdivision Surface).
    • Set Render to 3 and Viewp to 2.
    • Right click on the object and select (Shade Smooth).
  14. Create the circle part:
    • Grab the green arrow and drag the previous object down.
    • Add a circle by pressing (Shift + a) then Mesh > Circle.
    • Set the vertices of the circle to 12 from the left down window and press (Enter).
  15. Create three inner circles and extrude them:
    • Enter Edit Mode and click on the top left icon to activate vertex.
    • Press (e) key to extrude and scale it by pressing (s + 0.9 +Enter).
    • Click on the upper left vertex to select it, press and hold (Shift) key, and click on the opposite vertex on the top right side to add it to the selection.
    • Press (Shift + s) and from the shown menu click on (Cursor to Selected).
    • From the middle up icon (Pivot Point) drop down menu click on (3D Cursor).
    • Press and hold (Alt) key
    • Click on inside edge area to select entire inner vertices.
    • Press (e) to extrude and (s + 0.4 +Enter) to scale it.
    • From the middle up icon (Pivot Point) drop down menu click on (Bounding Box Centre).
    • Press (e) to extrude and (s + 0.8 +Enter) to scale it.
  16. Extrude up the circle:
    • Click on the top left icon to activate face select.
    • Press (a) to select all of the faces.
    • Press (e) to extrude up a little bit and click to confirm.
    • Press and hold (Alt) key and click on the outer circle edge to select entire circle of the faces.
    • Press (Alt + Shift) keys and click on the edge of the inner circle to add entire face to the selection.
    • Rotate the view and repeat for the bottom part to add to the selection.
    • Press (e + s + z + 1.75 + Enter) to extrude the selection.
  17. To remove edges:
    • Enter Object Mode.
    • Click on (Modifier Properties) icon on the right bottom corner.
    • Click on (Add Modifier).
    • Click on (Subdivision Surface).
    • Set the Render value to 3 and Viewport value to 2.
  18. To merge objects:
    • Click on (Move) icon on the left vertical bar.
    • Drag up the other object and place it to the center of the height of the other object (the ring).
    • Click on the ring to select it, then right click and select (Shade Smooth).
  19. To add a floor:
    • Press (shift + a), then click on Mesh > Plane.
    • Move the plane below the key.
    • Scale the plane up by pressing (s + 10 + Enter).
    • Press (0) for camera view, if you don’t have number pad, go to View > Cameras > Active Camera.
    • Press (n) key to open properties panel.
    • Click on View tab and check the Lock camera to View box.
    • Press (n) key again to hide properties panel.
  20. To add colors:
    • Press (z) and click on (Material Preview).
    • Click on the metallic part of the key to select it.
    • On the right vertical bar menu, click on the last icon called Material Properties, then click on New button.
    • Click on Base color and choose a color of your own.
    • Set Metallic value to 1 and roughness value to 0.075.
    • Repeat the steps for the rubber part of the key and the floor.
  21. For Rendering:
    • Press (z) and click (Rendered).
    • Go down to View Layer Properties section, scroll to the bottom and check the (Denoising).
    • Go to the Render top left menu and click (Render Image).

You can download the Blender file by clicking here.

To reflect on, GIMP has almost all features and design tools of Photoshop, so it can be considered as an alternative for Photoshop. It is a powerful 2D design software and it doesn't take long time for me to learn the basic tools and strategies because I have used sketching programs on iPad before and it almost has the same tools and works in the same way. The only problem I found on GIMP is that the graphics type is raster, which require more time and efforts to be converted to vector graphics. However, Inkscape can solve the problem and convert raster images to vectors.

Moving on to the 3D design programs, I found Fusion 360 more flexible in using and less complicated in tools and functions than Blender. Blneder gives more reality for the designed object as it can provide reflection lights, but it takes more time to learn and to memorize the keyboard shortcuts.

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