http://www.shapeways.com/forum/index.php Shapeways: Bring your creativity to life in 3D http://www.shapeways.com/forum/index.php?t=rview&goto=44622&th=8409#msg_44622 Jacobmccafferty 2012-02-29T02:22:41-00:00 http://www.shapeways.com/forum/index.php?t=rview&goto=44626&th=8409#msg_44626
It depends on what you want to design, but for free programs, Sketchup is good for geometric-type designs, and Blender or Sculptris are good for curvy, organic models.

Here is a list of (nearly) all apps that work with Shapeways.

]]> denali3ddesign 2012-02-29T05:07:52-00:00 http://www.shapeways.com/forum/index.php?t=rview&goto=44675&th=8409#msg_44675

I got Sculptris yesterday and was using that, but that's a lot more "organic", as you put it, than I need right now for logos and such. Although it will be fun to tool around with.

Thanks again.]]> lignum 2012-02-29T22:42:33-00:00 http://www.shapeways.com/forum/index.php?t=rview&goto=44680&th=8409#msg_44680

If you have your logo in vector format (like Illustrator or Inkscape), you can import those vectors into Sketchup or other modeling software and easily pull it into 3D.

Good luck, and post back here if you have any questions!

]]> denali3ddesign 2012-02-29T23:43:36-00:00 http://www.shapeways.com/forum/index.php?t=rview&goto=44689&th=8409#msg_44689 i think ill try sculptris]]> Jacobmccafferty 2012-03-01T01:24:20-00:00 http://www.shapeways.com/forum/index.php?t=rview&goto=44697&th=8409#msg_44697

Thanks!]]> lignum 2012-03-01T04:38:22-00:00 http://www.shapeways.com/forum/index.php?t=rview&goto=44698&th=8409#msg_44698
lignum, once you have run trace bitmap in Inkscape, export those vector lines as DXF and import to Sketchup with this plugin: DXF2SKP Any image imported to Sketchup will just be a rectangle, as you found out.

One option that may convert a PNG to edges inside Sketchup is this plugin: Image Trimmer. I've never tried it but I imagine it will run very slowly.

Hope that helps!



]]> denali3ddesign 2012-03-01T05:23:40-00:00 http://www.shapeways.com/forum/index.php?t=rview&goto=44705&th=8409#msg_44705
Still trying to figure something out. I have looked at other programs, but I am but a simple man. lol. I will figure out something! I must! I have taken it upon myself to do this for my guild and there's so many things in my head I want to experiment with and create. I just need to learn how to create them and which tools are best for what.

I am going to try that tracing thing for SU now just for the heck of it.]]> lignum 2012-03-01T13:50:06-00:00 http://www.shapeways.com/forum/index.php?t=rview&goto=44706&th=8409#msg_44706
I'm starting to think maybe I should use another program? Obviously I could try to recreate the logo within the program, buuut that would be rather troublesome, especially for future efforts on other projects and designs that have been created outside of the program.

thanks again for all the help and thanks to the OP for letting me hijack your thread ]]> lignum 2012-03-01T14:23:51-00:00 http://www.shapeways.com/forum/index.php?t=rview&goto=44708&th=8409#msg_44708
]]> aeron203 2012-03-01T14:40:08-00:00 http://www.shapeways.com/forum/index.php?t=rview&goto=44735&th=8409#msg_44735 Jacobmccafferty 2012-03-01T19:58:28-00:00 http://www.shapeways.com/forum/index.php?t=rview&goto=44755&th=8409#msg_44755 "Make all the curved segments into lines before you export to dxf."

@ jacob, I don't understand - what "3G app"?

]]> denali3ddesign 2012-03-02T05:08:21-00:00 http://www.shapeways.com/forum/index.php?t=rview&goto=44757&th=8409#msg_44757 denali3ddesign wrote on Fri, 02 March 2012 05:08
@ lignium, apparently Inkscape doesn't convert curves well, so maybe this Inkscape tip will help you: "Make all the curved segments into lines before you export to dxf."





Well there was a also an extension>modify path>flatten beziers that worked. Now the import dxf thing worked fine in SU, but it won't let me push/pull/extrude/etc. *weeps softly*

So many problems lol. One after the other. Is there just another good free program that I can import a previously designed 2D image (even if I have to tinker with it in Inkscape first as it seems I'm becoming rather efficient at that if nothing else)?

Thanks again for all the help.]]> lignum 2012-03-02T06:09:19-00:00 http://www.shapeways.com/forum/index.php?t=rview&goto=44759&th=8409#msg_44759
http://stonysmith.com/wired/stepvan/default.asp]]> stonysmith 2012-03-02T07:08:59-00:00 http://www.shapeways.com/forum/index.php?t=rview&goto=44780&th=8409#msg_44780 lignum wrote on Fri, 02 March 2012 06:09

Well there was a also an extension>modify path>flatten beziers that worked. Now the import dxf thing worked fine in SU, but it won't let me push/pull/extrude/etc.

There are probably tiny gaps between some of the lines - once you find them and close them up, you can create a face that you can push/pull. Here's a plugin that will help you find the gaps: http://www.smustard.com/script/StrayLines
I know it looks like you are patching together a Frankenstein program, but hey, its all free! Once you get the workflow down, its very easy.

]]> denali3ddesign 2012-03-02T16:14:09-00:00 http://www.shapeways.com/forum/index.php?t=rview&goto=44787&th=8409#msg_44787 Jacobmccafferty 2012-03-02T17:34:58-00:00 http://www.shapeways.com/forum/index.php?t=rview&goto=44806&th=8409#msg_44806 Jacobmccafferty wrote on Fri, 02 March 2012 17:34
i meant to say how do i upload a sketch onto a 3D app.

Do you mean import a reference sketch/picture to trace over? If so, here's a tutorial how to do it in Sketchup: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MJwOA1TWw_Q

If that's not what you meant, give us a little more info...help us help you!

]]> denali3ddesign 2012-03-02T20:49:44-00:00 http://www.shapeways.com/forum/index.php?t=rview&goto=44812&th=8409#msg_44812 Jacobmccafferty 2012-03-03T00:11:34-00:00 http://www.shapeways.com/forum/index.php?t=rview&goto=44814&th=8409#msg_44814
I am attaching my guild's logo (with some edits by me to make it one solid piece). I want it to be a 3D image. I won't give specifics because it's not important and I want to do it myself. The tools I am using are Inkscape and SketchUp. I am open to using other tools. If you have any favorites, please provide a link because when I google them I get all different versions (TrueSpace is the main one because it was bought out and discontinued etc etc).

I'm not too dumb though, so you don't have to be too step-by-step-ish. But I would like a little bit more of a comprehensive nudge in the right direction. Is there something I'm missing?

I hate being a pain in the butt. lol. But maybe this will pay off in the future and I'll be a wiz as it (hahaha suuure).

Thanks again to the "community" for the help and I hope someone might take the 5 minutes it should probably really take to do this and help me out further.

]]> lignum 2012-03-03T01:30:30-00:00 http://www.shapeways.com/forum/index.php?t=rview&goto=44815&th=8409#msg_44815 http://download.cnet.com/TrueSpace/3000-6677_4-10187286.html

I prefer version 7.6 to that of version 7.6.1 - in the latter version, they removed the native STL output, but both versions have VRML output which I've used with good success to create full color models.]]> stonysmith 2012-03-03T01:40:17-00:00 http://www.shapeways.com/forum/index.php?t=rview&goto=44820&th=8409#msg_44820 stonysmith wrote on Sat, 03 March 2012 01:40
Truespace is still available, just not formally supported.
http://download.cnet.com/TrueSpace/3000-6677_4-10187286.html

I prefer version 7.6 to that of version 7.6.1 - in the latter version, they removed the native STL output, but both versions have VRML output which I've used with good success to create full color models.


I appreciate it. I'll check it out now. It's just a bummer to have to go on a scavenger hunt to be able to do something that seems pretty basic. "See that flat thing there? Yeah. Make that not flat."

But here I go anyways!

Once I get past this step I want to start working on 3D models in a creative sense. That's the hardest part for me. I see all these things in my head that I would like to create, whether simple or complex. I sit down, and then becoming dumbfounded by the number of tools on the screen and don't know where to begin.

What am I getting myself into ]]> lignum 2012-03-03T03:18:35-00:00 http://www.shapeways.com/forum/index.php?t=rview&goto=44834&th=8409#msg_44834 http://www.ptc.com/products/creo-elements-direct/modeling-ex press/
Does a great job on exporting STL files,. The options can really smooth out your model.]]> JACANT 2012-03-03T12:10:33-00:00 http://www.shapeways.com/forum/index.php?t=rview&goto=45469&th=8409#msg_45469
Did you ever find something that works for you? I tried it doing it in Inkscape and Sketchup and got a very good model in about 5 minutes. Let me know if you want to know how.

]]> denali3ddesign 2012-03-14T02:23:26-00:00 http://www.shapeways.com/forum/index.php?t=rview&goto=49546&th=8409#msg_49546 http://www.cgtrader.com/ Here you can get good ideas for your models ]]> Zivile 2012-06-08T10:18:56-00:00 http://www.shapeways.com/forum/index.php?t=rview&goto=49919&th=8409#msg_49919
Blender
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ows2QTiMRPg


3d Studio Max
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qX6nhtjjdtM]]> SGDesigns 2012-06-16T16:20:47-00:00 http://www.shapeways.com/forum/index.php?t=rview&goto=60254&th=8409#msg_60254
For a 3D modeler I use a low-end Japanese program known as Metasequoia
http://www.metaseq.net/english/index.html
It's easy to use, but it still took me a long time to learn this program.
I've been using this program for over seven years, basically to make objects
and models for its "cousin" program DoGA CGA where I assemble the objects
as multi-jointed models for simple CG animations and still-image renders.

After learning about Shapeways recently, I've found that my latest version
of Metasequoia can export objects to the .STL format.
Of course, I'd still open the exported STL object in Netfabb to clean it up,
make repairs, and scale the object down to the size I want for printing
at Shapeways.

The attached image shows a robot character model I made in Metasequoia.
Some of you might recognize it as a popular Japanese character from
a '70s anime TV show (Mazinger-Z, known in the U.S. as "Tranzor-Z").
I wouldn't try printing this robot model at Shapeways, because it's got so
many complex shapes compiling its body.
I'd have to model a simpler version that Shapeways can handle, or disassemble
the model and upload its body parts a bit at a time.
I apologize for the size of this image...


Enjoy, and Thanks!
]]> magengar 2013-01-15T12:25:46-00:00