Cadalyst - January 2008 - (Page 28)

cadlabsreview (figure 4). The Twist command lets designers twist their model around a given axis. Duplicate Place is similar to the Conform command. It applies geometry to a curve and copies however many you want along it. It’s history-based, so changes to the original geometry propagate. A Dynamic Section is a new addition — one that many solid packages have had for years, but it’s good to see it here. The Combination, Please . . . One of the most intriguing and useful capabilities of Alias is its ability to mix 2D and 3D geometry into one image. It can be done in two ways: One way is to build a model and then paint over it with Overlay Planes, and the other way is to build a model and apply a bitmap to its surface. Both methods are effective, but the second way is more flexible. When users paint over a model, they basically use the 3D geometry as a quick way to visualize things such as shading and form, but it often requires more work to get things just right. Users can paint highlights, reflections, and the like onto their models, but the problem is that it creates a static image. The things only apply from one particular angle. If the model rotates, the painting goes away. Viewers have to return to that angle to see it again. When a designer builds a model and applies a bitmap to it, he or she can take a relatively simple model and make it look far more complex than it is. Say, for example, you want to design a remote control for a television. You can model the overall shape of the device and then add controls, contours, and all sorts of things that enrich the model, but you don’t have to spend the time modeling them. Figure 4. The Conform command lets you model flat and then wrap your geometry onto a surface. The resulting geometry takes its shape from the surface. Figure 5. AliasStudio 2008 has some really impressive — and useful — lighting capabilities. Take a look at how the buttons on this model seem to glow. There are better ways to bring 3D into your life! There are better ways to bring 3D into your life! There are better ways to bring 3D into your life! Carlson Software is starting a revolution, a revolution in 3D design. We are doing this with Carlson Civil, Carlson Hydrology and Carlson Takeoff. The time is now; Carlson 2008 is shipping. There are numerous firsts: I Carlson Civil has 3D street intersections and cul-desacs built into its fullfeatured 3D design tools; I Carlson Hydrology works directly from an accurate 3D terrain model and layers to design entire stormwater systems; and I Carlson Takeoff contains unique elevating routines that take other “non-3D” or “partial 3D” drawings to fully accurate, gradable surfaces for estimating and machine control. It’s time to start working and living in 3D. Call for a demo now or visit us on the web to learn more: www.carlsonsw.com ® 800-989-5028 Works Simply Simply Works 28 January 2008 | cadalyst | www.cadalyst.com http://www.carlsonsw.com http://www.carlsonsw.com http://www.cadalyst.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Cadalyst - January 2008

Cadalyst - January 2008 Contents Editor's Window Cad Central Chasing the Dolphins CAD that Won’t Break the Bank AliasStudio 2008 — Design and Visualization Software VectorWorks 2008 — CAD/BIM Authoring Software Dell Precision M4300 — Mobile Workstation What’s in Store for 2008? Low- or No-Cost CAD Goliath Reinvented Doin’ the DEED Cad Cartoon Issue Indexes The Return of Hot Tip Harry

Cadalyst - January 2008

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