02-Computer Aid Design

Week 2’s assignment

Model a possible final project
**2D, 2.5D design

Inkscape

Inkscape is an open-source vector graphics editor similar to Adobe Illustrator, Corel Draw, Freehand, or Xara X. What sets Inkscape apart is its use of Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG), an open XML-based W3C standard, as the native format.

Vector design is often the preferred method of image creation for logos, illustrations and art which require high scalability. The Inkscape application is used across a wide variety of industries (marketing/branding, engineering/CAD, web graphics, cartooning) and individual uses.

This year is the Chinese Year of the Monkey, I’d like to engrave a monkey logo on the base station of the the final project. So I decide to use it.

First, I find a image from goole advanced images search, with keyword monkey. I got a colored toy monkey image as this:

monkey_from_web

Then I copy a block of image to the clipboard and past it to Inkscape.

monkey_to_inkscape

By adjusting Trace Bitmap and set Brightness cutoff to 0.46. I got a black and white image.

monkey_to_inkscape

Then reduce the nodes using path simplify tools, it will reduce the points of the vectors and retain the outline of the original picture.

monkey_to_inkscape

monkey_to_inkscape

Change the stroke type with Fill none, Stroke paint no color, and Stroke style with 1.2 mm width.

monkey_to_inkscpe

Duplicate the path with alternative using CTRL+L and CTRL+9, adding more inset vector path to form a picture like the original raster picture. And this file will be ready for print.

monkey_to_inkscape

ImageMagick and GraphicsMagick

On Mac OS, first need to install brew. Then get imagemagick and graphicsmagick via brew.

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ruby -e "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Homebrew/install/master/install)" 
brew install imagemagick
brew install graphicsmagick

GraphicsMagick is originally derived from ImageMagick 5.5.2 as of November 2002 but has been completely independent of the ImageMagick project since then. Since the fork from ImageMagick many improvements have been made (see NEWS) by many authors using an open development model but without breaking the API or utilities operation.

So it’s roughly same as imagemagick, just add gm before the imagemagick command like this:

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ImageMagick: 
convert -resize 75% -quality 80 /Users/liujun/Desktop/2016-02-08\ 上午1.19.05.png monkey_11.jpg  

GraphicsMagick:
gm convert -resize 75% -quality 80 /Users/liujun/Desktop/2016-02-08\ 上午1.19.05.png monkey_11.jpg

Here are just a few examples of what GraphicsMagick can do:

  • Convert an image from one format to another (e.g. TIFF to JPEG)
  • Resize, rotate, sharpen, color reduce, or add special effects to an image
  • Create a montage of image thumbnails
  • Create a transparent image suitable for use on the Web
  • Compare two images
  • Turn a group of images into a GIF animation sequence
  • Create a composite image by combining several separate images
  • Draw shapes or text on an image
  • Decorate an image with a border or frame
  • Describe the format and characteristics of an image

AutoDesk and SolidWorks

This is sketch design of my final project.

autocad_2014
solidworks_2015