ArtCAM Pro 5.5. Combining Reliefs Reliefs can also be generated from bitmaps as well as vectors and a combination of the two.

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1 ArtCAM Pro 5.5 Combining Reliefs Reliefs can also be generated from bitmaps as well as vectors and a combination of the two. Teddy Bear Example The vector artwork has already been created and saved, so it needs to be opened. Open the file Teddy.art from the Examples/Ted_bear directory using the Open File button on the File toolbar. The teddy is made up of a series of vectors that were created within ArtCAM Pro. The relief will be built up in stages. Select the body vector using the Left mouse button. Issue ArtCAM-P

2 ArtCAM Pro 5.5 Double click the selected vector. Select a Dome shape, with an angle of 45 degrees with No Limit and click the Add button. Select the 3D view using F3. The 3D view can display the relief shaded, wireframe and low, medium or high detail. The base plane can be displayed or switched off. This picture is low detail with the zero plane switched off. Select the Draw Zero Plane button at the top of the 3D View window to toggle the display of the base plane. Select Low Detail. Press the F2 key to select the 2D View. Using the Left mouse button, select the Outer ears vectors and then hold down the Shift key to select the Inner ears vectors so that they go pink. Double click and select a Dome shape with No Limit, an angle of 45 degrees with a start height of 0.5. Select Add. ArtCAM generates a shape for the area between the selected vectors. 56 Issue ArtCAM-P 5.5

3 ArtCAM Pro 5.5 De-select the vectors in the 2D View and select the inner ears vectors. Double click the selected group and select Reset button. Select a flat plane with a start height of 0.5 and press Merge High. The inner ears have been merged with the outer edge. Select the arm vectors. If the arms were added to the body, then a bulge would appear where the shape is added on the top of the body vector. The arms need to be merged high. Select a Dome shape, with an angle of 45 degrees with No Limit and click the Merge High button. The arms are generated. Issue ArtCAM-P

4 ArtCAM Pro 5.5 Select the face vector. The face will be given a more rounded appearance using a higher angle. Select a Dome shape with an angle of 60 degrees with No Limit and press Merge High. The face has been added. The higher dome angle makes the face higher and rounder. Select the circle vector. If a dome shapes is added on top, it will form a belly. Select a dome shape of 15 degrees with a start height of 0 to No limit and press Add. The teddy has a nice round belly 58 Issue ArtCAM-P 5.5

5 ArtCAM Pro 5.5 Select the feet vectors. The relief for these feet vectors will be generated using an angle plane. This will slope the feet at a specified angle making the toes point forwards and the heels lean back. Open Relief Editing on the Assistant. Generating an Angled plane and other relief operations such as smoothing are available from this part of the assistant. An Angled plane can be generated on the whole relief or within selected vectors. Select the Angled Plane icon. Click on Show Help. A minimum of two points must be selected to generate the plane, but to guarantee the correct orientation, it is advisable to use the maximum of three points. These points are best picked from the vectors. Once all three points are picked, then the Z vectors can be changed as necessary. Once the plane has been defined then you can choose whether to add, subtract, merge highest or lowest to the current relief. Issue ArtCAM-P

6 ArtCAM Pro 5.5 Click Set Third Point and press the Start button. Select the bottom point of the left vector with the mouse. Once Start has been selected, the First point is expected to be selected (this is the bottom point of the plane). As the mouse is moved over the vector it changes to a target symbol. The second point is at the top of the vector. Select the top of the vector with the mouse. A dotted line shows the distance from the first point to the second point. The third point is midway between the two vectors. Click in the centre of the vectors. Now all three plane positions have been captured, the Z value for each position becomes available. Set the First Point Z as 1.5, Second Point Z as 3 and Third Point Z as Select Highest and press Create. The angled plane has been generated giving the feet a slightly pointed look. Further relief can be added onto these areas. Select Close and double click on the feet vectors. Select a dome shape with an angle of 15 degrees with No Limit and press Add. 60 Issue ArtCAM-P 5.5

7 ArtCAM Pro 5.5 The dome shape has been added to the angled feet. Select the snout and the Paw print vectors, which have already been grouped. These will have the same shape so can be created at the same time. Select a Dome shape with an angle of 45 degrees with No Limit and press Add. Select the eyes and nose vectors. Select a Dome shape with an angle of 45 degrees with No Limit and press Add. To complete the teddy this relief can be smoothed to soften the edges between each shape. Smoothing is a progressive command, the more you smooth, the more you reduce your details and it blurs together. Click the Smooth Relief button on the Relief Editing Assistant. Issue ArtCAM-P

8 ArtCAM Pro 5.5 This displays the following dialog box: Enter the number of Smoothing Passes as 5 and select Apply. The teddy relief is smoother around the edges. ISO-FORM Letters Iso-form letters have a constant height set by the user, whereas text created using the Shape Editor can result in thin parts of the letters being lower than the rest of the relief. We are now going to add some lettering to the teddy s tummy, using Iso-form letters. A Grayscale view of the relief helps visualisation in the 2D view. Click the Grayscale from Relief button on the Model toolbar. The higher the relief the whiter it appears, so that you have an overall idea of the changing heights in the relief. 62 Issue ArtCAM-P 5.5

9 ArtCAM Pro 5.5 Generate the Vector Text TED using Times New Roman and a height of 3mm. Position the text on the belly. With the Text selected, click the Iso-form letters button on the Relief toolbar. The following dialog box appears: Give the letters a Top Height of 0.25mm and a Bottom Height of 0.25mm. Ensure Circular Cross Section is selected, select Add and click OK. Closer inspection of the letters will show that they have a constant height. Issue ArtCAM-P

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