The Canvas Definition Dialog
Introduction
This topic will explain the Canvas Definition dialog, describe how to access it, the options found in it, and will provide links to related topics.
The Canvas Definition dialog
The Create/Modify Canvas command opens the Canvas Definition dialog for you to set the length, width, origin location, resolution, texture, and color of the BobART canvas. The BobART canvas defines the area in which emboss features can be created. Geometry that is created for emboss features generally must be within the bounds of the canvas. There are however some creative situations in which only part of the geometry is contained within the canvas area.
If the canvas has not been defined and you add an emboss feature to the BobART tree, Canvas Definition dialog displays prior to the Feature dialog box for you to specify the canvas before continuing.
Navigation
To create or modify BobART canvas:
- In the
BobArt Manager, right-click 
Emboss
Model, and click Create/Modify
Canvas.
The Canvas Definition dialog displays.
Parameters
Origin
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| The list box will list the entity currently selected to act as the origin. | |
The Origin group sets the canvas location using the XYZ coordinate. The origin is the bottom-left corner of the canvas.
-
X - determines the location along the X-axis of the
-
Y - determines the location along the Y-axis of the
-
Z - determines the location along the Z-axis of the
Tip: You can also move the location of the canvas manually with your mouse. Simply hover over the canvas and your mouse icon will update with a pan icon: 
. You can now click and hold to drag and drop the canvas in the desired location.
.
Canvas Size
- X - sets
the canvas length along the X-axis.
- Y - sets the canvas length along the Y-axis.
Tip: You can also update the size of the canvas manually with your mouse. Simply hover over one of the resizing snap points, and your mouse icon will update with a resize icon: 
(diagonal), 
(X Axis), or
(Y Axis). You can now click and hold to drag the canvas to the desired size.
Parameters
-
Resolution - the DPI or dots per inch used to create the canvas. Higher values provide a more detailed appearance, and may increase calculation times. Lower values reserve system resources, create a less detailed appearance, and may be helpful to use during creation for slower systems.
-
Remove Non-Emboss Area
Select the check box to remove any area of the canvas that is not
part of an emboss.
Clear the check box to include the non-emboss area.
Material Appearance
- Canvas Color - click the drop down to select a Theme Color or Standard Color, or click More Colors to open the Select
Color dialog. Select the desired color for the feature, and
click OK to set the color, or Cancel to exit the dialog.
Note: The default color for the canvas and all emboss features use the Solids color that is defined in the Settings Part or Settings Default dialog boxes.
- Texture Appearance -
opens the Material/Texture Selection
dialog for you to add a textured finish to the canvas. Be aware
that this option only adds the appearance of the texture and does
not add to or change the emboss surface. To add a texture to the
canvas that can be machined, you use the Emboss Texture features.
- Merge Texture with Canvas Color
Select the check box to add the canvas
Color to any selected Texture Appearance. Clear the check box to allow the selected
Texture Appearance to define the color.
Wrap Canvas
You can wrap the embossed canvas to create
a cylindrical style model. Generally, you should first create the canvas
that you want to wrap. After its creation, you can then
modify the following parameters to create the wrapped version.
Select the check box to wrap an existing model.
Clear the check box when creating flat models or while creating the model
that you want to wrap.
Wrapping Diameter
The Wrapping Diameter defines the diameter around which the canvas is wrapped. This is measured to the canvas surface (and not the top of the model). You can type the value to set the Wrapping Diameter or use the following option.
- Full Cylindrical Wrap - after you have created the canvas/model, you can click Full Cylindrical Wrap to automatically set the Wrapping Diameter. This option does not work until after the canvas/model is created. This uses the size of the model perpendicular to the rotation axis and divides the value by pi.
Axis Origin
The Axis Origin defines the center of the wrapped model along each axis using the XYZ values. This works together with the Axis Direction. For example, with rotation around the X-axis (Axis Direction), the Y and Z values define the center of rotation. The X-value can then be used to move the model along the X-axis.
Axis Direction
The Axis Direction defines around what axis the model is wrapped. You can wrap the model around the X-axis or the Y-axis. When the Axis Origin values are X0Y0Z0, the model is moved to the WCS origin and wrapped around the selected axis. The location can then be moved using the Axis Origin values.
Zero Degree Location
The Zero Degree Location is a distance from the model origin (not the WCS) along the axis that is perpendicular to the rotation axis (Axis Direction). This location on the flat model is placed at the zero degree location of the wrapped model (this is the Z-axis or top of the cylindrical model).
- Middle Line as Zero Degree - sets the Zero Degree location to the center of the embossed model. This uses the size of the model perpendicular to the rotation axis and divides the length by two.
- OK
- accepts any changes. The canvas is created
(or updated) in the graphics area.
- Cancel - cancels any value updates and the creation of the canvas itself the first time the dialog opens. When editing the canvas definition, this cancels any changes and closes the dialog.
