2. Computer Aided Design (CAD)¶
This week was all about exploring 2D and 3D modeling, making mistakes, and slowly getting the hang of it.
What is CAD?
CAD (Computer-Aided Design) is like using a digital drawing board used to create detailed designs of objects before making something in real life. It’s used for everything from laser cutting to 3D printing and CNC milling. It allows us to visualize, modify, and test ideas before fabrication, ensuring accuracy and efficiency in the production process.
Part 1: 2D Design¶
2D design is the process of creating flat images that have only two dimensions: width and height. You can think of it as drawing or painting on a piece of paper, but in the digital world!
2D design is often used for things like logos, illustrations, posters, web graphics, and more. The focus is on shapes, colors, textures, and how they interact with each other to communicate a message or aesthetic.
Raster Graphics¶
Raster graphics are made of tiny dots called pixels. Each pixel holds a piece of the image, so when you zoom in, it starts to lose its clarity, and things get pixelated. Great for detailed imagery, but resizing? Not so much. Common formats include JPEG, PNG, and GIF.
Example of raster image that I worked on:
GIMP¶
GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program) is an open-source alternative to Photoshop, and it’s free, making it a great tool for those who want powerful features without the hefty price tag. Having already worked with Photoshop, I was curious to see how GIMP measures up in terms of functionality and usability compared to Photoshop.
1. Installing GIMP
The first step was getting GIMP onto my computer. Since GIMP is free (yay!), I downloaded it from the official website. It was a smooth process, and within a few minutes, I had the software up and running. Link to downlaod
2. Understanding the interface
When I first opened GIMP, the interface felt a bit busy, but nothing overwhelming. The main tools are on the left, and the layers are on the right. Rest all basic features are the same as into any other similar software. I followed this tutorial to get the hang of navigating the interface.
- Trying out Lithophanes
I decided to experiment with something unique by using this software: lithophanes. If you haven't heard of lithophanes, it’s the process of using a 3D printer to print pictures in a way that the image becomes visible when light is shone through it. Originally, lithophanes were created by engraving materials to produce different shades and textures based on thickness.
- Preparing a picture for lithophane
3. Exploring colour modes
For sample, I’ll use this picture of seagulls flying over rocks: Mumbai, India
First we need to convert our colorful picture into a grayscale image go to Image > Mode > Grayscale to focus on light and dark areas.
4. Balancing brightness and contrast
Then, I adjusted the contrast to limit the depth of the image Colour > Brightness > Contract.
5. Adding border
To create the border started by selecting the Rectangle Select Tool and drew a box around the image. Then, I inverted the selection using Select > Invert, which flipped the selected area. After that, I simply hit Delete to remove the inner part and left the border. To make the border bold and striking, I filled the outer area with black color using the Bucket Fill Tool.
6. Exporting the Image
I needed to export the file for further processing. In GIMP, exporting is simple: I clicked on File > Export As. You need to choose the destination. Then, a dialog box appears where you could specify any additional information if needed and click on export. Further I am going to import it into Creality Print
Adobe Photoshop¶
Few of my previous exploration in Photoshop
1. Brush Tool
I initially struggled with achieving smooth strokes and controlling the opacity to get the desired effect. It took time to get used to fine-tuning the brush settings to create realistic textures.
2. Photo Manipulation
In this I learnt using Lasso tool, Magic Wand to cut out elements from images and combine them.
Vector Graphics¶
These are more like blueprints or illustrations made from paths (lines, curves, and points) rather than pixels. This makes them scalable without any loss of quality. Formats like SVG, AI, and EPS are commonly used for such graphics, ensuring that they remain crisp and clear at any size.
Example of vector graphics that I worked on:
Inkscape¶
Since I already have a good grasp of Illustrator, I thought, why not dive into Inkscape? It's free and open-source, so I was curious to see how it stacks up.
1. Getting the software
First off, I downloaded Inkscape from their official site Inkscape.org. It's free (which is always a win)!
2. Familiarizing with the Interface
When I first opened Inkscape, the interface looked clean but slightly different from Illustrator. Here’s a quick breakdown:
- Toolbar (Left): Includes selection, shape, and drawing tools.
- Properties Bar (Top): Displays options for the selected tool.
- Layers and Fill/Stroke (Right): Used for managing colors and object organization.
- Canvas (Center): The main workspace where designs are created.
One thing I liked right away: the Fill & Stroke panel (Shift + Ctrl + F) keeps all color-related settings in one place—fill, stroke, opacity, blur. No need to switch between multiple menus like in Illustrator.
3. Navigating canvas
Inkscape’s canvas works similarly to Illustrator’s artboards, but one thing I had to get used to was the way the zooming and panning behave. The Zoom tool (or just using the mouse scroll) can sometimes feel a bit more sensitive than Illustrator, but once you get the hang of it, it’s easy to zoom in and out for detailed work or zoom out to see the entire character. Panning is also possible by holding the middle mouse button, which makes it intuitive once you adjust to it.
4. Creating a character wusing shapes
I used shapes to start blocking out my character’s body parts. Combining polygons, circles and ovals. I used the Union and Difference tools to merge and subtract shapes, which was pretty handy for creating the character's outline. But wait…here came the first little hiccup.The Shape Builder Tool in Illustrator is something I’m used to—it’s quick and intuitive. But in Inkscape, I had to rely a bit more on Boolean operations to get the same effect. At first, it was a bit tricky to wrap my head around, but after a few tries, I got the hang of it.
4. Flip and Mirror
I used the Flip function under Object > Flip Horizontal or Flip Vertical to easily mirror the parts of my character that I wanted to duplicate — like flipping the arms or legs. It was a fast way to keep the design symmetrical without having to redraw everything.
5. Adding details using Pen tool
Ah, the Pen Tool. The tool itself wasn’t much different, but the nodes and handles threw me off a little. I kept clicking the wrong spots and ended up with curves I didn’t want. But after a few missteps (and some deep breaths), I finally understood how to tweak the handles to get smooth curves.
Tip: Once I got used to the fact that the curves are more sensitive here, I had way more control over the lines.
6. Trying clip Mask
To create more intricate shapes and to make certain elements of my character appear to be "cut out" I used a Clip Mask. You basically take one shape, place it over another, and then right click, use it to clip (or hide) parts of the object beneath it.
7. Final touches and exporting
Once I was happy with the character design, I added a few last details like the reflections using simple shapes. After all the tweaks, it was time to export the design. Inkscape has a straightforward export option, and since I wanted the character as a PNG, I just went to File > Export PNG Image, selected my desired resolution, and bam! The file was ready to go.
One small note: when exporting in Inkscape, it's important to select the area you want to export (canvas or object) before hitting the export button. In Illustrator, this is a bit more automated, but in Inkscape, I had to manually choose the export area.
Adobe Illustartor¶
Logo Design for Final Project
I already had a basic understanding of Adobe Illustrator, so this week I focused on refining my skills and applying them to my final project. I designed a logo using typography exploration and modification techniques.
The logo follows a Double Entendre style, where the brand name "Birdy" is designed in a way that the letter "B" subtly incorporates the shape of a bird.
Process
I tested different typefaces to find one that had the right shape and character for modification.
Converting the Font
After selecting a suitable font, I converted the text into outlines Type > Create Outlines or right click on the font and click on create outline to make it editable.This allowed me to manipulate the shapes of individual letters.
Modifying the Font
I focused on the letter "B", tweaking its curves to resemble a bird. Using the Pen Tool and Direct Selection Tool, I adjusted anchor points to refine the shape. I added a beak and adjusted negative space to maintain readability for which I played with the Shape builder tool
Final Refinements
I fine-tuned the proportions to ensure the design looked balanced. I refined the spacing between indivuduial alphabets by exploring the kerning.
Part 2: 3D Design¶
3D design is the process of creating a three-dimensional object using specialized software. Instead of just drawing flat shapes, like in 2D design, 3D design involves building models that have depth, width, and height. In simpler terms, think of it like sculpting a clay figure on a computer. You start with a basic shape and then mold it, add details, and refine it until it looks exactly how you want. The cool part is that with 3D design software, you can rotate your model and view it from all angles
FreeCAD¶
FreeCAD was totally new to me. So I referred to a tutorial to get familiar with the software and know the basics.
1. Installing Freecad
Since I had never used FreeCAD before, the first step was to install it. I downloaded it from the official website, which was straightforward. Link to download the software
One thing I noticed was that FreeCAD doesn’t require an account or subscription, unlike Fusion 360, which was a refreshing change. Once installed, I launched the software and started working on it.
2. Creating a New File
After starting FreeCad I started by creating a new file. This was as simple as clicking File > New or using the shortcut Ctrl + N. The blank workspace opened up, ready for designing.
3. Choosing the Right Workbench
FreeCAD has multiple workbenches, each specialized for different tasks. Since I wanted to create a basic 3D shape, I switched to the Part Design Workbench View > Workbench > Part Design.
4. Creating a Sketch
In the Part Design workbench, I created a new sketch by clicking Create New Sketch and selecting a plane (XY, XZ, or YZ). This step is similar to Fusion 360, where everything starts with a 2D sketch.
5. Drawing Basic Shapes
Using the sketch tool I drew a basic rectangle.At first, everything looked normal, but then I noticed something interesting. The shapes were black, meaning they weren’t fully defined. Then by adding constraints (dimensions, alignments, and fixed points), my sketch gradually turned green—FreeCAD’s way of saying, “Yes, this is fully defined and good to go!”.
6. Extruding the Sketch (Padding)
Once I had my fully constrained rectangle, it was time to extrude it into 3D. I selected Pad, entered the thickness (like 10 mm or whatever), and hit OK. But nothing happened. At first, I thought I had broken something. I rechecked everything—was my sketch active? After some trial and error (and some mild panic), I realized that I hadn’t selected the sketch correctly. Once I did, the shape finally extruded.
7. Creating External Geometry
I explored External Geometry, a feature that allows me to link existing shapes from other sketches to my current one. By using the "External Geometry" tool, I could reference edges or points from previous sketches instead of redrawing them. This saved time and kept my design parametrically linked, so any changes to one part automatically updated others.
8. Polyline tool
I explored the Polyline Tool, which allowed me to create custom shapes by connecting a series of points in a single stroke. This tool is super handy when I need to draw freeform shapes, and it felt like sketching with precision.
9. Trying out fillet
Fillet Tool, which helps round off sharp corners and create smooth curves between two connecting lines. It's a lifesaver when you want to add a more polished, professional touch to your design. Using the Fillet Tool, I simply clicked on the corner I wanted to smooth, and voilà, the sharp edge transformed into a neat curve.
Overall, I don’t think FreeCAD is for me. The interface is a bit confusing, and simple tasks sometimes take more steps than expected.
Fusion 360¶
While I am already familiar with the basics, this time, I want to push my understanding further by working with more things in the software.
What is Parametric Design?
Parametric design is when you control the dimensions of your model with variables. Instead of adjusting each part of the design manually, you set parameters (like length, width, or angle) that define the model. Changing a parameter automatically updates the whole design, making it easy to adjust and refine.
1. Creating the Base
I began by creating the initial sketch for the bracket. I used Fusion 360's sketching tools to outline the basic shape.
2. Defining Parameters
Once the sketch was created, I defined the parameters for the bracket’s key dimensions. I set variables for the length, width, height and thickness.
3. Adding Parameters to the Sketch
After defining the general parameters, I linked them directly to the sketch.
4. Extruding and Mirroring
Then, I took my 2D sketch and turned it into 3D by extruding it. The thickness of the bracket was linked to a parameter, so I could easily change it later. To make the design more efficient, I used the mirror tool to create a symmetrical shape from one side to the other, saving time and effort!
5. Automatic Adjustments
After finishing the basic design, I tested the automatic updates by modifying the parameters. I adjusted the length and width. and observed how the entire design updated in real-time, without the need for manually changing each feature.
Blender¶
Blender is a free 3D software used for creating all kinds of designs. It’s really flexible and can be used for modeling, sculpting, animating, and rendering.
The best part? How easy it is to sculpt and render. Sculpting lets you shape models in a natural way, almost like working with clay, while rendering makes your designs look realistic with lights and shadows.
This is my project where i had worked with Blender.
1. Sculpting
Sculpt Mode is one of its most powerful tools for organic modeling. It allows you to push and pull on a model, much like working with clay in real life. I used various brushes to manipulate the geometry of my model to create smooth, flowing curves that give the lamp a natural, soft appearance.
2. Rendering
Once the sculpting phase was done, I shifted to rendering, which is another of Blender’s strengths. I used Blender’s built-in rendering engine, Cycles, which is known for its realistic output. During this phase, I focused on adding appropriate lighting, materials, and textures to bring the lamp design to life.
3. Animation
Animation is done here by setting keyframes to mark important points in time for an object’s position or movement. The software then fills in the gaps between these points, creating smooth motion.