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Create Stylish SolidWorks Graphics without PhotoWorks

Started by Josh M · 10 months ago

I had a conversation with someone yesterday about how to create really great looking images without using the SolidWorks rendering add-in, PhotoWorks. I told him it was simple and you can do it in just a few steps. ‘No way, show me.’, he said.
If you have PhotoW ... Continue reading »

12 comments

  • Charles

    12 months ago

    Realview + Shaded (no edges) is good, but can be even more with "Shadows In Shaded Mode" turned on. I keep it off for performance, but turn it on when I need the screenshot.
    reply
  • Josh

    12 months ago

    Hey Charles. Shadows are really cool, but sometimes I get weird shadows along the 'ground' - like really long dark shadows. It happens in some models and not others and messing with lighting only effect it a little. Any ideas about this?
    reply
  • Charles

    12 months ago

    From what I've seen, it has to do with the location of the first light in the list. If it is just on the horizon, then the shadow will be long. Make sure that the first light is one mostly overhead.

    The reason why I like shadows in realview is that in 2008 they will cast shadows on the part itself. This adds more realism and depth to the part. The shadows left on the "ground" are not all that important, imho.
    reply
  • Chris

    12 months ago

    Another tip if you have photoshop:

    Save one image in shaded(no edges) mode, then again with shaded+edges. Take those 2 images into photoshop and lay them on top of each other with the shaded+edges layer on top. Change the transparency of the top layer so that the edges are more subtle. I find doing this makes the images look a little less "strait out of CAD". You can also go in and erase any "extra" edges that don't look right or just clutter up the image.

    Also, I've had good luck saving images as .tiff then converting to .jpg in a image editing program. Jpegs in solidworks seem to be highly compressed.
    reply
  • Josh

    12 months ago

    @Chris, thanks. I just did something similar that I think turned out pretty well. Lines are a little heavier, but still looks good. I usually just do a 'Print Screen' screengrab and paste it into photoshop. Quick and easy with no conversion necessary!

    @Charles - I also added shadows in the link above, but had to clean it up a bit in Photoshop. I'll mess with that first light a bit more. thanks!
    reply
  • Michael

    11 months ago

    Use the Ambient Occlusion scene. This gives more realistic self-shadowing and does not have a floor. As a side note, SolidWorks Labs has a blog entry on how to add Ambient Occlusion to any scene. http://labs.solidworks.com/Blog/Blog.aspx?post=40

    I also recommend using shaded-no edges and a camera view for the best results.

    To be totally honest, there are many cases where I had a better looking RealView screenshot instantly than my PhotoWorks rendering after a couple of hours of dinkering with it.
    reply
  • Josh

    11 months ago

    Hey Michael, I love using that Ambient Occlusion Scene. My GPU has a bug where I can switch to it, then back to the Light Card scene to get the reflection.

    When using photoshop, sometimes I'll make a config for just internal parts, turn edges on for that one, then no edges for external parts. take screenshots of each and add to separate layers in photoshop and change transparency on the external no edge layer. really gives focus to internal parts.
    reply
  • 1966_1966

    10 months ago

    can anybody output these views in vector line form, i have a brochure man giving me grief for high res. vector outputs. any help appreciated
    reply
  • Josh M

    10 months ago

    Hey Roy, you can't get vectors directly out of SolidWorks. You could try
    something like http://vectormagic.com/

    I used a product ages ago, I just can't remember the name of it, that
    converts raster to vector. I'll update this if I find it.
    reply
  • 1966_1966

    10 months ago

    Cheers for that Josh much appreciated,
    my brochure man has told me to send jpg version and dwg version (which
    works in vector form)
    then they can colour in to look like jpg version.!.
    roy
    reply
  • tleedz

    1 month ago

    I know this is an old thread, but I have found if you use Ambient Occlusion, with real view on, shadows on and perspective on, the shading is amazing and gives the effect of a nice looking "concept sketch".

    Try it, you will see!
    reply
  • Josh M

    1 month ago

    Love it! Thanks. I'm gonna have to try this out again. I was on an loder graphics card when using AO with RealView and it just didn't do it for me. I'll try it again for sure. Thanks.
    reply

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