COMPUTER AIDED DESIGN
This week is dedicated for understanding 2D, 2.5D and 3D designs and representaion. Softwares tools that are available for this etc, here is a summary of what I tried to explore in this dimension,
To Start with I started exploring the basic terminologies used in basic image representation world.
Rastor
In computer graphics, a raster graphics image is a dot matrix data structure representing a generally rectangular grid of pixels, or points of color, viewable via a monitor, paper, or other display medium. Raster images are stored in image files with varying formats.
A bitmap, a single-bit raster, corresponds bit-for-bit with an image displayed on a screen, generally in the same format used for storage in the display's video memory, or maybe as a device-independent bitmap. A raster is technically characterized by the width and height of the image in pixels and by the number of bits per pixel (a color depth, which determines the number of colors it can represent).
Resolution : Raster graphics are resolution dependent, meaning they cannot scale up to an arbitrary resolution without loss of apparent quality. This property contrasts with the capabilities of vector graphics, which easily scale up to the quality of the device rendering them. Raster graphics deal more practically than vector graphics with photographs and photo-realistic images, while vector graphics often serve better for typesetting or for graphic design.
Raster-based image editing SOFTWARES
Here is the list of some of the commonly used raster based Image processing softwares,
These softwares revolve around editing pixels.. When an image is rendered in a raster-based image editor, the image is composed of millions of pixels. At its core, a raster image editor works by manipulating each individual pixel. Most pixel-based image editors work using the RGB color model, but some also allow the use of other color models such as the CMYK color model.
Vector Based Image Editing
Vector graphics is the use of polygons to represent images in computer graphics. Vector graphics are based on vectors, which lead through locations called control points or nodes. Each of these points has a definite position on the x and y axes of the work plane and determines the direction of the path, further each path may be assigned a stroke color, shape, curve, thickness, and fill.
Vector-based image editing SOFTWARES
Here is the list of some of the commonly used vector based Image processing softwares,
These softwares revolve around editing lines and shapes ie , vectors.
2D Representation
2D computer graphics is the computer-based generation of digital images—mostly from two-dimensional models (such as 2D geometric models, text, and digital images) and by techniques specific to them. The word may stand for the branch of computer science that comprises such techniques, or for the models themselves.
In physics and mathematics, two-dimensional space or bi-dimensional space is a geometric model of the planar projection of the physical universe. The two dimensions are commonly called length and width. Both directions lie in the same plane.
2.5D Represenation
2.5D is just a convienient way of saying 2D that looks 3Dimentional image. The 2.5D describes effects in visual perception, especially stereoscopic vision, where the 3D environment of the observer is projected onto the 2D planes of the retinas. Thus, while the effect is still effectively 2D, it allows for depth perception. A specific aspect of stereoscopic vision in the perception of depth is that the depth perception is easier when it involves evaluating the disparity between two items in the field of view compared to evaluating the exact depth of a lone, single item in the environment.
2.5D (visual perception) has become an automatic approach to making human face models. It is an individual system with the input in the form of a range data set and a color perception image of a human face. To derive the information needed to instantly synthesize a lifelike facial model, these two sources are processed separately.
3D Representation
3D computer graphics use a three-dimensional representation of geometric data (often Cartesian) for the purposes of performing calculations and rendering of 2D images.
Different Types of 3D representation available are..
Constructive Solid Geometry
Constructive solid geometry (CSG) (formerly called computational binary solid geometry) is a technique used in solid modeling. Constructive solid geometry allows a modeler to create a complex surface or object by using Boolean operators to combine objects.[1] Often CSG presents a model or surface that appears visually complex, but is actually little more than cleverly combined or decombined objects.In 3D computer graphics and CAD CSG is often used in procedural modeling. CSG can also be performed on polygonal meshes, and may or may not be procedural and/or parametric
B- Rep ( Boundry Representation )
In solid modeling and computer-aided design, boundary representation—often abbreviated as B-rep or BREP—is a method for representing shapes using the limits. A solid is represented as a collection of connected surface elements, the boundary between solid and non-solid.Boundary representation models are composed of two parts: topology and geometry (surfaces, curves and points). The main topological items are: faces, edges and vertices. A face is a bounded portion of a surface; an edge is a bounded piece of a curve and a vertex lies at a point. Other elements are the shell (a set of connected faces), the loop (a circuit of edges bounding a face) and loop-edge links (also known as winged edge links or half-edges) which are used to create the edge circuits.
Function (f-rep) representations
Function Representation (FRep[1] or F-Rep) is used in solid modeling, volume modeling and computer graphics. FRep was introduced as a uniform representation of multidimensional geometric objects (shapes). An object as a point set in multidimensional space is defined by a single continuous real-valued function of point coordinates f(x_1,x_2, ..., x_n).The geometric domain of FRep in 3D space includes solids with non-manifold models and lower-dimensional entities (surfaces, curves, points) defined by zero value of the function. A primitive can be defined by an equation or by a "black box" procedure converting point coordinates into the function value. Solids bounded by algebraic surfaces, skeleton-based implicit surfaces, and convolution surfaces, as well as procedural objects (such as solid noise), and voxel objects can be used as primitives (leaves of the construction tree). In the case of a voxel object (discrete field), it should be converted to a continuous real function, for example, by applying the trilinear or higher-order interpolation.
Softwares Used in 3D Modelling and Designing
Here is the list of some of the commonly used 3D Modeliing and designing sofwares,
ASSIGNMENT : ATTEMPT TO DRAW FINAL PROJECT USING 2D & 3D SOFTWRES
As I am not much exposed to using CAD softwares, I consider this as a great opportunity to acquire the drwaing skills as part of the course. Though it is quite difficult to learn all the softwares in a week's time, I thought to get accustomed to using one software atleast for raster based, vector based and 3D Modelling applications will be a good start, keeping this in mind and exploring a bit, I decided to play with the following softwares.
Exploring the Raster Based Softwares
For this I thought to start playing with GIMP, an excellent documentation is provided in the online help session. The documents can be reached using the following LINK
The design files can be downloaded from here.
Exploring the Vector Based Softwares
I tried Inkscape to get a hands on experience for this and the following is a screen shot of this.
The design files can be downloaded from here.
Exploring 3D Softwares
I tried onshape to just get a feel of it, I could only spend soome time with it so could not explore in detail, but the novel idea to work from the cloud is good, I will explore more as I find time and update here..
Another view..
Rhino
Rhino is a powerful free form surface modeler which works in the windowos and Mac OS platforms. I have tried this software during my prefab course and hence the lincence is expired. I tried a few drwaings but did not dig deeper as I cannot save my files for the time being, I will explore deeper once I can find a fix for the licence, some of the screenshots are included.
SketchUp
SketchUp (formerly Google Sketchup) is a 3D modeling computer program for a wide range of drawing applications such as architectural, interior design, civil and mechanical engineering, film, and video game design and is available in a freeware version, SketchUp Make, and a paid version with additional functionality, SketchUp Pro. I have used sketchUp long back but though very user friendly I do not like this software much and prefer Rhino over this. Some of the screenshots are attaached for reference.
The design files can be downloaded from here.
ANTIMONY
I wanted to learn some thing powerful which can be used for the whole course to design and develop 3D objects so I decided to move to Antimony as it is being Highly recommended by Neil and Francisco.
Another view,
The design files can be downloaded from here.