2. Computer Aided design¶

This week I learned the difference between raster and vector, and how to create 2D、3D models by softwares. 2 D、3 D design software is useful that can help me to show and explain my ideas better than a rough draft. Online drawing is much easier than drawing on the paper with a pencil and a ruler.

2 D Software¶

Raster and Vector graphics is pretty different as the raster picture shows in pixels, the vector picture shows in paths when you zoom in on pictures. Compared with the raster graphics, the vector shapes are easily to be identified by robots and modified by other people. I could edit the vector shapes by nodes easily.

The 2 D design software that I am interested in is Photoshop(raster), GIMP(raster), Adobe Ilustrator and Inkscape(vector).

GIMP & Photoshop¶

Photoshop (PS) is a famous and powerful software. Many people like use it to beautify pictures because it’s very easily to operate. As PS is not free, so I attemp GIMP. GIMP is free and open resource, and can beautify pictures. But if you want to draw graphics by GIMP, I suggest to prepare a wacom.

Useful Link - https://www.gimp.org - https://www.gimp.org/tutorials/

Steps - Install GIMP 2.8.0

Change ppi in case the computer run slowly. Click ‘Edit-Perferences-Default Image-Advanced Options-resolution’, reduce ppi to 72, as 300 ppi is for printing, 72 ppi is enough for digital displaying in the computer.
Create a new image(or Ctrl N) and draw a robot I used the paintbrush tool with hardness 025 to draw. When I draw a straight line, click the starting point, press shift and click the ending point.

Problems & Errors

I installed the GIMP 2.10.22 at first,but it didn’t work as the GIMP window shows for seconds and disapear after it’s clicked. So I installed 2.8.0 version, it works well.

Adobe IIustrator 2021¶

Useful Link - https://www.adobe.com/cn/products/illustrator.html

Steps

Install the free version.
Design a robot.

Drag the square tool without stroke line, you can get the main body. Drag the circle tool without stroke line to get the eyes. Mouth, arms and legs are drew by the paintbrush with a wacom.

Inkscape¶

Useful Link

Steps

Install Inkscape 1.0
A simple shape

2 D robot model

Firstly, I downloaded one robot picture as the base picture in layer 2, reduce the opacity to 17.4%.

Secondly, I drew the robot in layer 1 with the basic shape. As the middle of face is empty, so the head is ‘stroke paint without fill’. And other parts of part is ‘fill without stroke paint’.

Thirdly, click ‘Path-Object to Path’(or Shift + Ctrl + C), the shapes change to path and edit the paths by nodes. For heads, click ‘Path-outset’, give the nodes to the inside circle of the head, edit the path to meet the robot in layer 2.

Thirdly, draw three circles as the eyes and mouth, edit them by nodes. And the final model is

Trace bitmap can change raster pictures into vector shape.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E7HwLTQu2FI

Problems & Errors

It’s not easy to design shapes as I didn’t use the mouse at first.
The graphics couldn’t open if it save as .dxf.

3 D design¶

3 D Design software that I’d like to try is Fusion, Tinkercad.

Tinkercad¶

It’s the first 3D software that I learned. Its function is simple and easy to learn, kids also can use it after few lessons’ training.

Useful Link

https://www.tinkercad.com/

3D Models by combining basic shapes

I dragged the square and cylinder tools, and put together by changing the perspective, then combine the shapes and the color of shapes become the same.