[3D] Is there any workaround to drape an image in AutoCAD 2020?

[Anonymous]

I have an aerial photo that I want to use as a ground for my project. I have all the dimensions (including height) for trenches, fences etc. But my aerial photo is flat and I'm stuck with these weirdly looking shadows. From what I have seen it is possible to drape a photo in Autocad Civil 3D. Unfortunately I'm using regular AutoCAD. Is there any work-around way to add various dimensions to my JPG aerial ground without making everything flat?

[imadHabash]

Hi,

>> I'm using regular AutoCAD. Is there any work-around way to add various dimensions to my JPG aerial ground     

      without making everything flat?

The answer is NO . 

[Alfred.NESWADBA · Accepted solution]

Hi,

>> Is there any work-around way to add various dimensions to my

>> JPG aerial ground without making everything flat?

Command _MATERIALMAP lets you assign how an image is projected onto a geometry.

If you create a material which contains your aerial photo, assign this material to the surface, then you can use _MATERIALMAP to assign the coordinates of this mapping (using "Planar" as mapping type and using the gizmo to position/rotate/scale the image-mapping).

Civil 3D does the same, just the positioning is what Civil 3D can do automatically which you have to do manually.

- alfred -

[Anonymous]

@Alfred.NESWADBA 

and so... how does one go through the process of creating a material with an image assigned to it... seems like a pretty important step to elaborate on, if your intent is to provide help.

[Alfred.NESWADBA]

Hi,

>> how does one go through the process of creating a material

>> with an image assigned to it

Not sure what the question really is ... .creating a material can be done by starting command _MATERIALS, then create a new generic material, there you can:

• define an image in the "generic" section of the materialeditor for texture mapping
• define an image in the transparency section for opacity mapping
• define an image in cutouts section for cutouts (in newer versions of AutoCAD)
• define an image in bump section for bump mapping

Does this answer your question? More details about materials editor can be found >>>here<<<.

- alfred -