Sculpting Example 1

Introduction

This help topic explains how to use the Sculpting feature on embossed models. When using Sculpting, the mouse functions as a brush with which you can use a single-click or a click and drag method to add to, remove from, or smooth the model surface.

Example File

The BobCAD part file for this tutorial is available for download at: http://www.bobcad.com/helpfiles. If you are connected to the Internet, you can click the link provided to download and save the Sculpting Example 1.sldprt zip file. After downloading the zip file, extract the files on your system in a place that is easy to remember. You can then open the file to use with this tutorial.

 

In the example file provided, an Emboss from Image feature has already been created. After working with the file, some unwanted artifacts were created in the emboss. In this example, you learn how to use Sculpting to clean up these areas of the model.

 

The currently defined feature used in this example is shown next.

 

Part 1) Open the Example File

1. Click File > Open.
   
   

2. In the Open dialog, select the folder in which you extracted the example file.
   
   

3. Select Sculpting Example 1.sldprt, and click Open.
   
   

4. In the BobART Manager, next to Emboss Model, click to expand the tree. Notice that the Image Emboss feature already exists.
   

Part 2) Add the Smoothing Feature and Deposit Material

1. In the BobART tree, right-click Emboss Model, and click Sculpting.

 

The Sculpting parameters are displayed in the Property Manager tab of the Manager Pane.

 

Note: When the Sculpting feature is active, the system automatically reduces the model resolution slightly to help improve system response during the sculpting operation. You may or may not notice the minor visual difference, and the resolution is returned to the defined value when you click OK to finish the feature.

 

2. In the Method group, select Deposit. This adds material to the model.
   
   Confirm that the Diameter is set to 0.250 and the Strength is set to 0.050.
   
   

3. In the graphics area, point to a flat area of the model and click once to start the sculpting and immediately click again to finish the sculpting. Do not move the mouse between clicks.
   
   
   
   The amount of material created by the single click is exactly what was specified by the Diameter and Strength parameters. The material is deposited (added) with a 0.250 diameter and a height (in Z) of 0.050.
   
   

4. In the same area of the model, click once and move the mouse slowly from left to right, and then click again to end the sculpting.
   
   
   
   When dragging the brush, the amount of material deposited is still based on the Diameter and Strength parameters, but the speed at which you drag and how many times you drag over the same area determine the result of the sculpting.
   
   

5. Click once to activate sculpting and move the brush in a small circular pattern on the model. Click again to finish the sculpting.

 

 

When you rotate the view of the model, you can see that more material is added each time you drag over the same area. (A spike of material is created on the model.)

 

 

Tip: When using Sculpting, generally you should use the Top view, although it is not required. (You can press Ctrl+1 to set the Top view.)

 

You should experiment with dragging the brush until you become comfortable with its use.

 

6. In the Property Manager, click Undo Last Operation multiple times until all of the deposited material is removed. (Pay attention to what operations are removed each time that you click undo.)

Part 3) Remove Material

The Remove option is the opposite of the Deposit option as it removes (subtracts) material from the model. In this part, you perform the same actions as in Part 2.

 

1. In the Property Manager, select Remove.
   
   

2. Click once on a flat area of the model and click again to finish the sculpting without moving the mouse. The amount of material removed is equal to the Strength and Diameter values.
   

 

3. Experiment with dragging the brush to remove material from the model (as explained in Part 2).
   
   

4. After experimenting, click Undo Last Operation repeatedly to return the model to its original condition.

Part 4) Smooth Material

In a similar fashion to the Deposit and Remove methods, the Smooth method uses the Strength and Diameter parameters to define the amount of smoothing and the size of the brush (respectively).

 

1. In the Property Manager, select Smooth.
   
   

2. Set the Diameter to 0.500, and set the Strength to 0.250.
   
   

3. In the graphics area, point to the left wing of the dragon and click twice slowly (once to activate sculpting and once to finish sculpting, without moving the mouse).
   
   
   
   

4. In the same area of the wing, drag the brush to smooth the model appearance.
   
   
   
   When dragging the brush with the defined parameters, you can see that too much smoothing is being applied.
   
   

5. In the Property Manager, set the Strength to 0.050.
   
   Click Undo Last Operation so that the previous smoothing is removed from the model.
   
   

6. Repeat Step 4 to smooth part of the wing.
   
   
   
   The strength setting is now more appropriate for the task. You can continue in this fashion to smooth the entire model if you like. However, when you have a large model that needs smoothing, you may want to use the Smoothing feature instead of the Sculpting feature. To learn more, view the Related Topics links at the end of the example.
   
   

7. For the final point of this tutorial, the smoothing is used to remove unwanted material from around the dragon as shown next.

 

 

Drag the brush around the perimeter to remove the unwanted material. (Again, click once to activate sculpting, and click once to end sculpting.)

 

 

Remember that the speed at which you drag affects how much smoothing is applied.

 

 

The result should appear as follows.

 

Part 5) Finishing and Editing the Feature

1. When you are done using Sculpting, click OK to return to the BobART Manager.
   
   The Sculpting feature is added to the BobART tree.
   
   

2. To edit the feature, right-click Sculpting, and click Edit.

About Regeneration

The changes created by the Sculpting feature are added to the model as you make them, so there is no need to Regenerate the model after using Sculpting (as is needed for other emboss features).

 

This concludes the tutorial.

Related Topics

How to Use Smoothing

BobART Overview