topic Re: Exporting a 3D view to line art? in Inventor Forum

Exporting a 3D view to line art?

rtorcellini563M6 — Wed, 21 Aug 2024 23:01:38 GMT

I need to export 50+ image views for a patent application. Currently I'm setting up the view as "wireframe with visible edges only", exporting to a png file, then importing it into CorelDraw (or Illustrator) and having it automatically somewhat poorly trace over the image. This allows me to make a few modification to the artwork.

Is there a way I can export the view directly to lineart? It would save me a ton of time!!!

Re: Exporting a 3D view to line art?

blandb — Thu, 22 Aug 2024 13:05:05 GMT

Have you tried setting the background color to white, then changing the view style to Sketched illustration, water color or Technical drawing?

Re: Exporting a 3D view to line art?

chris — Thu, 22 Aug 2024 13:18:08 GMT

Just set your background to "One Color" and change your view style to "Wireframe With Visible Edges Only"

Re: Exporting a 3D view to line art?

kacper.suchomski — Thu, 22 Aug 2024 13:21:36 GMT

Why don't you use a drawing environment?

Re: Exporting a 3D view to line art?

chris — Thu, 22 Aug 2024 13:34:40 GMT

@rtorcellini563M6 If you do use the drawing environment, you can then export to pdf, which as you know will open in Illustrator.

Re: Exporting a 3D view to line art?

rtorcellini563M6 — Thu, 22 Aug 2024 14:34:32 GMT

I already have the background set to white and and have the Visual Style set to "wireframe with visible edges only". As an example, I have this gear: I want to be able to export it as a vector image....it looks 3D, but it's a 2D vector art.

Exporting it as a png, jpg, or even a PDF the file is a bitmap image. I need it to be vector linework so I can edit some of the lines, for example make some of them bolder, stretch them to other locations, delete, etc

I am able to import the PDF or PNG into Illustrator and do a trace, but it's a bit sloppy.

Re: Exporting a 3D view to line art?

kacper.suchomski — Thu, 22 Aug 2024 14:38:28 GMT

If you use the drawing environment, you will receive vector graphics after exporting to PDF.

In addition, you will have all views and positions clearly defined, which is very helpful in the case of updates.

Re: Exporting a 3D view to line art?

rtorcellini563M6 — Thu, 22 Aug 2024 15:23:39 GMT

Getting closer! If the view is set to Raster, when saving it to PDF, it is still a bitmap in the PDF. However if I set it to precise, it is a vector in the PDF....but some of the details have been removed. Shown is the before and after.

And how the file is loaded into an editor, but it's missing a few of the lines. It's exactly what I'm trying to do but need the original lines that showed up in the raster view. It's easier to delete the lines vs trying to draw them back in!

Re: Exporting a 3D view to line art?

kacper.suchomski — Thu, 22 Aug 2024 15:39:37 GMT

Turn on visibility of tangent lines.

Re: Exporting a 3D view to line art?

rtorcellini563M6 — Thu, 22 Aug 2024 15:51:01 GMT

Finally found the setting. Autodesk could certainly make this feature easier to use! Everything works....just a few steps to get there. Thanks.