Convert 3D to Vector

[Anonymous]

Anybody know how to convert a 3D model to a Vector graphic (while maintaining the same shading/colors of the 3D model)?

Thanks in advance.

[john.vellek]

HI @Anonymous,

Can you attach a sample drawing? I have a few ideas but would like to try them out before sending you down the wrong path.

[john.vellek]

Hi @Anonymous,

I haven't seen an update on your post. I would like to get this taken care of for you before the long weekend hits. Please attach a file(s) if you want me to take a look at the issue.

[Anonymous]

Thank you for your response. My goal is to have these exact views in the attachment looking exactly how the look, but in vector format. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[john.vellek]

Hi @Anonymous,

While I can create files I don't necessarily have the proper software to verify that they are ending up in the correct format.

I will take this home though where I have some more toys to play with.

These are my thoughts:

• PDF - Vector entities in AutoCAD should be retained when creating a PDF using one of the AutoCAD PDF drivers.
• PSOUT which should create a postscript file that I believe will contain vector entities.
• ExportDWFX
• Export> Encapsulated Postscript.

If you have the opportunity to try these on your side before I do please post your results.

Please select the Accept as Solution button if my post fully solves your issue or answers your question.

[Anonymous]

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@Anonymous wrote:

Thank you for your response. My goal is to have these exact views in the attachment looking exactly how the look, but in vector format. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

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Which vector format specifically?  

[Anonymous]

Any format that can be utilized by Illustrator.

[Anonymous]

Tried it out and it worked enough to generate the drawing in wireframe. Any way to adjust that for it to produce the entire drawing?

[john.vellek · Accepted solution]

Hi @Anonymous,

Which method did you try? Or did you try all of them?

I was going to explore this a bit more this morning but I suspect that wireframe is all you are going to get in Vector. I saved the dwg to 2007 format. I then opened Illustrator and used Place, selected the dwg. I am still waiting for my ancient copy of Illustrator to finish processing but will add the results here.

Importing AutoCAD files

Note:

Illustrator will not open AutoCAD files saved in a version later than AutoCAD 2007.

AutoCAD files include both DXF and DWG formats. You can import AutoCAD files from version 2.5 through version 2007. During import, you can specify scale, unit mapping (custom unit for interpreting all the length data in the AutoCAD file), whether to scale lineweights, which layout to import, and whether to center the artwork.

Illustrator supports most AutoCAD data, including 3D objects, shapes and paths, external references, region objects, spline objects (mapped to Bezier objects that retain the original shape), raster objects, and text objects. When importing an AutoCAD file that contains external references, Illustrator reads the contents of the reference and places it at the appropriate locations in the Illustrator file. If an external reference is not found, the Missing Link dialog box opens so you can search for and retrieve the file.

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[Anonymous]

Thanks for your help and for looking into this for me. It's good to know what AutoCAD can/can't do in regards to vectors. Even though it appears as if the solution is that AutoCAD just can't do what I'd like for it to do, this information is still useful. I'm going to close this out and thank you for your time.

[Anonymous]

I have a request similar to this one, I have a 3D logo file I created in Cinema 4D and my client would like for it to be put on to swag material, ie. hats, jackets, water bottles etc. Do you have a way for me to somehow get this logo in illustrator to convert to vector for while maintaining the same look, reflections shading?

[Alfred.NESWADBA]

Hi,

>> I created in Cinema 4D[..]

>> get this logo in illustrator

This here is an AutoCAD forum, AutoCAD is not really a conversion software, especially not for raster files (the rendered result of your content is a raster file).

>> get this logo in illustrator to convert to vector

Not sure why you think that will work well. Seeing your raster has thousands of colors, a vector can only have one color (except fillings with gradient definition), that would make thousands of small vectors, that is nothing better than an image with a good resolution.

The best chance I see is to create a rendering with a resolution as high as needed by the output device(s) for your hats, jackets, water bottles etc.

- alfred -

[Anonymous]

You have a good day Alfred.