Canvas is Tiny when imported

[Drewpan]

Hi All,

My latest Modelling attempt is an Airliner, based upon a Tutorial Set I have located.

How To Start Designing RC Airplanes in Fusion 360 Tutorial [Episode 1] - YouTube

As in the Tutorial, I located a Three View of the Airliner and imported it into Fusion. The only processing I did was to

cut the largest .jpg of the image into three separate views but otherwise left them the same relative size. The original

image, from memory, was about 1200 x 800 pixels.

When I imported the .jpg into Fusion I did not know what Scale to use. My initial thought was that the original

image was not small, so I only Scaled it to 5 times. After importing and lining everything up, I started my first

Sketch to find that the Canvas was Tiny. Below are the Front Views that after being Scaled to 5 the Fuselage is only

9.5 MILIMETERS! Way too small. (The round cabin bit without the wings for those who don't speak Aeroplane 😎).

 

I made the Scale only 5 as when I enlarged the images they began to Pixelate and fade, as .jpgs do. The Tutorial,

after I had imported mine, used a Scale of 20. This would give a Fuselage Diameter of 36mm. This is still too small

for the final Model I want. A quick calculation of the Diameter of the Fuselage would make 6.22m about 260mm for

a 1/24 Scale Model. In theory this Model could be set up as an actual Radio Controlled model. The Tutorial involves

setting up Laser Cutting and such from the Model, which is what peaked my interest to extend my skills.

After all of this explanation, I suppose I should ask a Question.

Why was my Canvas so Small? If I want a Canvas of a Specific Scale, how do I calculate the Scale Factor before I

start drawing? If I have to make a BIG scale, what can be done about Pixelation?

In theory I could convert the original .jpg to a .svg file for scaling. I had to convert my .png to .jpg to start and I

am concerned that something will be lost with all this converting. Is it just me or does Fusion not like importing

other than .jpg as a Canvas?

I have also found that .svg files slow my machine down heaps when I re-scale just the view sometimes.

Final question. I imported the Front View of the Cockpit (Pointy End), but in the Tutorial they used the Cutaway

View. I didn't try it but, does Fusion get upset if I put two Canvas images on the same Plane in the same place

or do I need to create another Plane, or can I put them both there separately and just turn them on and off like

normal?

Thanks in advance for help.

Cheers

Andrew

[TheCADWhisperer · Accepted solution]

@Drewpan 

Reference Sketch in history before image.

Calibrate

Click two points

Enter desired distance (260 in this case).

Edit to move the canvas image...

Grab the square plane and drag to desired position relative to the Origin...

Compare to sketch.

Repeat Calibrate and Position if needed until satisfied.  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=11UX1XWxfas

[TrippyLighting]

I personally would not follow these tutorials if the goal would be to pick up sound and solid parametric CAD modeming techniques.

I've watched several of his videos at least good part of them and they are well produced and presented, but ...

Granted, I don't often watch tutorials for Fusion 360 for hopefully obvious reasons. However, every now and then someone references a tutorial, or tutorial series and often enough they are well produced "glossy" videos.

You'll have do decide on your own if you prefer superb video creation and editing skills, which many of those folks clearly have, over sound educational CAD content.   

[TheCADWhisperer]

In the previous response I show two different techniques, one using Calibrate and the other simply by eye.

Scale factor could also be calculated - but it isn't necessary given the simple Calibrate tool..

Image types for Canvases.

You can have as many canvases on a plane as you need. Simply toggle visibility as needed.

[Drewpan]

Thank you.

[Drewpan]

Hi,

In this case it isn't so much the specific workflow they use, more about how would you tackle a problem like this.

This particular guy is smart when he Models his aeroplanes but his technique is horrible. Guys like you would eat

him alive.

One of the first things he does is turn off the Timeline. Then he makes a statement about how for these models you

shouldn't be using Parametric modelling. None of his Sketches are Constrained either.

I just think to myself - So the real designers of these aircraft don't use Parametrics, does this mean that they hand

model certain bits with Push Pull and there is a Panel Beating Shop in the Factory where they beat metal into

shapes that "look about right"? I don't think so.

Considering the usefulness of the Timeline, now that I have some idea of how to use it, I cannot see why he would

just turn it off. In the very first video he modelled the Fuselage Frames and left out two Bulkheads. Instead of just

rolling back the timeline, fixing it, then moving back forward (like I did) he deleted what he had done and did it again.

He seems to do a lot by eye, but I cannot see why you wouldn't do some stuff with Constraints. When I worked out

approximately what Scale he was using, it made sense to me that if you have an actual NUMBER for a Part then you

could and probably should Scale it properly, even just to get the proportions right so it "looks" right.

I am using the Timeline, and used it to fix his error in the Video. I am using Constraints on my Sketches.

I will continue to follow the Tutorial to practice and see if MY Model is as good or better than his. I will also at

least be introduced to the Tools to Laser Cut and a few things that I want to know about. I can always ask for help

when I give them a go myself in my own Project for practice afterwards.

Thanks for your reply.

Andrew

[Drewpan]

Hi,

Using the Calibrate Tool I forgot about. It was in more than one of the Videos I watched on YOUR YouTube Site.

I have not used Canvas for about 6 weeks.

Do you know why the Canvas was so small? That seemed VERY strange. I suppose that when you import the Canvas

then Calibrate it you wouldn't notice. I would have guessed that if I imported a Big .jpg then the Quality would be better

when I did Scale it. That is why I used the biggest I could find and why I got surprised when it was small.

Cheers

Andrew

[TheCADWhisperer]

@Drewpan 

If you have actual dimensions -I recommend modeling at 1:1 scale so that you don’t have to do calculations (prone to error). Then scale the entire model when finished (if needed). 
One problem with this technique is if your end purpose is to 3D print - you might spend time modeling features that can’t possibly be printed when scaled down. 
Bottom line - in the 3D world it is usually best to replicate the real world 1:1. Scaling can wait for 2D drawing views.