Week 02: Image Editing & Computer Aided Design (CAD)

Taking a Screenshot

• command + shift + 3 takes a screenshot of your entire screen
• command + shift + 4 takes a screenshot of your selection

Image Editing

Crop

1. Open image in Preview
2. Go to Tools -> Crop
3. Crop out unneeded space

Resizing Images

Open folder with image inside, the size is listed as well as the type of file.

1. Open image in Preview
2. Go to Tools -> Adjust Size

Image Editing Software

I looked at the tutorials for GIMP. I was surprised to see how similar the commands are to Preview on my computer. For simple pictures I will continue to use Preview instead of installing another program.

Link to GIMP Quickies Tutorial

Video Compression

Video Compression Guide

This guide documents the setup of an automated video compression system for Fab Academy documentation on macOS. Claude.ai was used to walk me through the steps, and to create this workflow with the options I chose. A custom Quick Action was created that allows me to right-click any video file in Finder, and compress it to a smaller size suitable for GitLab repositories.

Unfortunately I must have added the wrong video file when I uploaded my first compressed video, because I broke my GitLab. It took many long nights into the wee hours of the morning, but with the help of Dr. Taylor, Garrett, and Claude.ai, I was able to get my git back up. As this took so many hours, I asked Claude to write up what we did.

I did find 2 other issues while tracking down the cause of my problems:

1. I saved a large document with spaces in the name. I immediately deleted it, but did not put quotes around the name.
2. I have a ton of .DS_Store files. They are mac software files that are not needed on gitlab. I ignored them, but they just keep coming back. I must make sure not to push them to my repository.

I have lost some documentation despite my multiple copies being made. Also, when I open up a copied .md file it opens in vscode, and I'm getting confused between copies and old versions.

CorelDraw

I like using CorelDraw a lot, because:

• I find the most useful commands are relatively easy to find intuitively
• If I need anything complicated there are answers available through the internet
• I use it for editing screenshots, turning drawings into svg files, and creating 2d vector cutting files. Every year I use it to create new Girl Scout cookie thank you receipts like this.

I do get frustrated with some limitations like:

• Not being able to align centers of objects in 1 click? You must align centers horizontally and vertically unless you are aligning to the center of the page.
• How often it crashes! I pay for the full subscription, and it crashes all the time. For instance, I still do not use the commands for "remove the back object from the front object," because that would cause a crash every time for the first year before I gave up on using that command. I update it in hopes that that will fix the issue, but updating has its own problems.
• How each update changes where commands are. I swear I have used certain commands, and knew where to find them, but after an update I have to learn all over again. This makes it difficult when using CorelDraw at school, which uses a different version than my own.

CorelDraw Flowers

I did work on a possible engraving design for my magic top, but I strongly dislike it. I want to wait, and see what interesting electronics I can use first. Then I think about how my performance will play out to decide where those devices will go. Finally, I will be able to draw a design that maps out the "magical pathways" throughout the top.

TinkerCad

TinkerCad Anvil

A simple program, easy to figure out, but very limited. Boolean operations only. You can make complicated shapes using simple shapes through subtraction and addition of those simple shapes (union, difference, intersection).

Fusion 360

Fusion 360 Trials

I created an account from CLS. I had a personal account made, but not linked to any purchased software before the link from Fab Academy was sent. I am now having trouble getting the student version for myself.

The assigned YouTube course was only 1 video, but I searched for it online, and found more resources.

The link above to my Fusion360 trials contain my notes as I worked through the YouTube tutorials, and my digressions. At the top of the document is my running list of helpful reminders. My notes on my experience are below them. The original files are saved in my online account. I didn't want to add my .f3d files for these tutorials lest I take up too much memory.

I have been working on my final project in fusion360. Here is my project so far. Here is a document about my efforts with 3D software as I tried to render my project.

For .stp files:

• Grabcad.com (best for finding STEP files or other native formats)
• Thangs.com (best for general models, and creativity, including many for 3D printing)
• Thomasnet (best for gears, mechanisms, and more)

Helpful shortcuts:

• Esc key to get out of anything, but make sure to finish the line first
• X construction option
• A appearance
• C center circle
• R rectangle
• S shortcut (search)
• P project (adapts to any changes in size on the parametric model) - Projected geometry is purple
• F fillet makes a rounded edge (chamfer makes a sloped edge in drop down menu)
• M move/copy
• Right click -> sketch -> constraints to change size of lines

I do not find Fusion to be intuitive. To make any changes you must click on the particular item in the browser on the top left or double click it the time bar on the bottom. Then the item needs to be "right clicked" (2 finger click on Mac) to pull up a menu in which you must find what you need.

Onshape

Click here for my notes as I try Onshape to draw a part of my final project.

Blender

• General 2D animation for drawing
• Sculpting like clay
• VFX for video effects

Angela gave me a quick Blender tutorial, and we made a cloth fall on a monkey head.

Click here for a brief Blender tool rundown, a cloth falling over a monkey head, and to see my attempt at the SculptGT 10 minute cat challenge using Blender.

SculptGT

A free online modeling software that is like using clay.

Click here for a brief SculptGT tool description, and to see how I did in the 10 minute cat challenge!