3. Computer Aided Design

What is Computer Aided design?

CAD (computer-aided design) software is used by architects, engineers, drafters, artists, and others to create precision drawings or technical illustrations. CAD software can be used to create two-dimensional (2-D) drawings or three-dimensional (3-D) models.

Some of the well knownn 2D softwares includes (Raster) : Photoshop, GIMP, Krita, etc.

(Vector) : Illustrator, AutoCad, FreeCad etc.

Some of the well known 3D softwares are Rhino 3D, Fusion 360, Blender etc.

First of all I stared refereing various websites and forumes to get understand various aspect of each software, then i sketched out what i wanted to make through various softwares which I’m goinng to explore through week.

The first started I stareted was GIMP.

GIMP

Many website stated that GIMP has all the functionality that Photoshop has. Since photoshop was the software that i used a lot through my Architecture study, I wanted to explore GIMP. Thus I started with GIMP.

Then I referred various tutorials which made me understand the User Interface of GIMP which looks like Photoshop but the way it function was quite different in some sense.

Tutorials :

Getting Started Tools Logo Making

5 Softwares that I used :

Photoshop GIMP Illustrator Blender with Meshmixer and Sverchok

You can see the final output that I achived using GIMP.

Process :

After opening GIMP, the screen looks like as given below. (Nice premium looking black theme with intutive tools and file menu.)

Photoshop Vs GIMP

Creating a new file :

Go to File > New

A new box will open with many options as below.

(Here i found that you can’t actually do custom canvas ratio, it opens with default ratio. I wanted to make square canvas but i could only change layer size annd not canvas size. )

I gues GIMP treats every layer as new and we have to manually change the size of each everytime.

I was uneasy with it. Thus I turned up on Photoshop. It will look like as given below created file with setting below. The advantage is that it has many print and web options and easy to access. Even a layman can use.

I dragged an image into canvas and pressed enter. Then I wanted to make adjustment in the picture that i was going to use as base in GIMP.

Image > Adjustment > Brightness and Contrast. You’ll see the image has merged into white background. (Varies accoding to image.)

Then i was ready to export it to use it for GIMP. To export the file : File> Export > Quick Export as PNG.

GIMP

Getting started

Note

You should always work in layers. Different layer for each object. Photoshop creates new layer for each entity. But GIMP doesn’t so you have to manually make it.

I opened the file that I created. File > Open (select file and enter)

Path Tool

I found Path tool to be the most useful tool. I selected Path tool from tool bar on the left.

Then I traced path to make the wrist brace/support for my project. As about.

Then I used brushes too to fill. Before that do not foreget to make new layer.

Now as we don’t have backgrounnd layer, we need to create one. Add layer from right bottom corner, and drag it to bottom.

Now select it.

Go to Edit> Fill with BG colour. (colour on back is background colour inn dual colour cards.)

Now add new layer and select path tool again.

Trace the path and make boundary of hand as shown.

Then Fill it with Bucket tool on left tool bar with desired colour.

Put that layer below brace layer and subract the brace layer to generate above effect.

Note : You can do various things with various blend mode. Subtract mode subtracts given colour from other colour.

Make new layer and select the shape as given below and then fill it as below.

Then subtract it.

Now select Ellipse selection tool and hold shift and make two circles as given, After making Sensors layer.

Now fill it with colour as given.

Then onwards select the parts shown below and make finger brace layer and fill it with brush we used previously .

Also make a box with any selection tool and fill it as given with pale blue.

Now using path tool, Connect lines from electrical box to all the finger braces, in new layer called cables.

Now go to : Edit > Stroke path. Select the thickness that you want and stroke it.

Now use Blend mode called LCh Chroma and make opacity of Wires layer 75%.

Now we are done. Save it in .XCF if you want to work onn it later and edit it. Or you can export it in desired format by:

File > Export As.

Happy GIMPing.

Download : [.XCF]

[.PNG]

Illustrator

I previously worked with illustrator, but I never explored it in its true sense except tracing sketches. I wanted to get better at it so i decide =d to explore more in it. I reffered various tutorials to use illustratior in different way.

Getting Started Tools Blend Pucker and Bloat

I found very interesting tools in illustrator and I tried exxploring that.

When you open illistrator it looks like above. (Adobe UIs are great and user friendly.)

To get started I made a new file from pop up box with settinngs below.

Now use rectangle tool and cover the canvas with it. Lock the layer by Command + 2.

Fill it with black as given.

But before moving on check this settings otherwise your computer will hang up.

View > CPU preview. Turn it on.

Now use star tool. The dilogue box will appear. Set it according to your preference.

Now use direct selection tool. Drag the point, all the corners will turn into curves.

Now use gradient tool on the right and set gradients and color style on all shapes. You can refer adobe color swatches and select colours.

Now select the shapes and then go to

Object > Blend > Blend Options.

Specify numbers of step.

Object > Blend > Make

It will apear like this.

Now select it and Effect > Distort and Transform > Plucker and Boat

Then use, Zigzag tool.

Effect > Distort and Transform > Zigzag

Modify annd you’ll get different generations. Here is output of few more attemps.

Download Final Output : AI

PNG

Other Attempts : PNG

Blender and Meshmixer

I refered various tutorials regarding Blender and Parametric Design. Some of them are as given.

Getting Started Modelling With Blender Parametric Modelling With Blender Download Final Outout : PNG STL