Embossing a globe

[RogerInHawaii]

I've created a simple 3D hollow sphere. I've also prepared a 2D sketch of the outlines of all the countries on Earth. I want to "overlay" that sketch on the globe, i.e. wrap it around the sphere,  and have it so that each line in the 2D sketch becomes an embossed line (i.e. a "groove") on the sphere. How do I do that?

[etfrench]

What projection did you use to create the 2d outlines?

What is the resolution of your 2d outlines? 

How accurate do you want your globe?

p.s. Any 2d projection of the globe is distorted.

[RogerInHawaii]

None of that matters. The point is that I want to "wrap" a spherical object with a 2D sketch and have the lines on that 2D sketch end up being embossed into the surface of the sphere, as essentially grooves in the surface. Is that possible in Fusion 360 and if so, how do I do it?

[TrippyLighting]

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@RogerInHawaii wrote:
None of that matters. 

Depending on how you project the sketch onto the sphere the projected items end up in different locations on the sphere.

In Fusion 360 you can only choose "vector" and "closest" as projection options for a sketch , because when projecting sketches Fusion 360 lacks proper UV mapping options, which would only help you if you could UV-Unwrap.

As such if you did not take precautions in your sketch ew.e.g pre-distorted it, the projected items will end up in the wrong places on the sphere, in essence the image will be distorted.

If you really want to wrap an existing 360 degree image that requires spherical mapping around a spherical body, that cannot be done.

[PhilProcarioJr]

@RogerInHawaii

This can be done in Fusion but not the way you are trying to do it now.

If I get time I will try to put together a video showing you how unless someone beats me to it.

[RogerInHawaii]

I would definitely appreciate that.

[PhilProcarioJr]

@RogerInHawaii

Ok first let me make sure we are on the same page of what you want. Check this file and see if it looks correct. I will only do one continent for the example.

Also I want to note that @TrippyLighting is correct about the distortion problem, but the method I use deals with that so you will not have any problems with it.

[melvinbrian3d]

Hey @PhilProcarioJr i check your .f3d file, thanks for that method.. excellent!!

i just want to know, if was necessary to copy the sphere and have a second body?

[PhilProcarioJr]

@melvinbrian3d

A lot of times if you cut a surface with a texture map on it then the texture map gets trashed and you can no longer use it as a reference. Not always but I have run into it a lot in the past. I also copied it because it makes it easier to see what is cut and where. So the reason it is copied here is to solve those problems. Another reason for copying the sphere is because I don't like to cutup a final body unless it is absolutely necessary. I like to keep my reference stuff separated from my final forms....(just my personal preference). It also seems to keep the time line a little more stable during regens.

[melvinbrian3d]

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@PhilProcarioJr wrote:

@melvinbrian3d

A lot of times if you cut a surface with a texture map on it then the texture map gets trashed and you can no longer use it as a reference. Not always but I have run into it a lot in the past. I also copied it because it makes it easier to see what is cut and where. So the reason it is copied here is to solve those problems. Another reason for copying the sphere is because I don't like to cutup a final body unless it is absolutely necessary. I like to keep my reference stuff separated from my final forms....(just my personal preference). It also seems to keep the time line a little more stable during regens.

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ok i get it... thanks for sharing your knowledge!! its good to know how and why others do some things.

[RogerInHawaii]

Thank you, Phil, for taking the time to look into this issue and making a project that employs a projection method.

Unfortunately, that approach isn't going to work for what I need. It still results in an incorrect mapping onto the globe and it would require that lots and lots of separate projections would have to be done, with them likely not getting placed in the correct locations on the globe.

[PhilProcarioJr · Accepted solution]

@RogerInHawaii

If that method will not work then you can not use Fusion for what you want to do.