Distorted decal (possible bug) + Decal insertion problem

[Scoox]

I've inserted a decal onto a component. The decal appears distorted on a flat face, which seems odd, I wonder if it might be a bug. And here is my project for reference: http://a360.co/2DRAzKG

And now the issues. The first two may be intentional, in which case I would like to understand the reasoning.l

1. While the Edit Decal dialog is open, adjusting the X Distance resets the Y Distance value, and vice versa, when using the mouse to make adjustments (vs typing in values). Typing in values also behaves this way some times. This problem also affects other parameters of the Edit Decal dialog.
2. All decal parameters (X Distance, Y Distance, Z Angle, etc) get reset (i.e. set back to zero) each time the Edit Decal dialog is opened.
3. The decal resize + move controls are always at the centroid of the decal. If you are trying to align a decal to geometry the exact location of whose centroid is unknown, it's impossible to get the two to line up without an unreasonable amount of trial-and-error.

I invite Autodesk technical support to open my project above and attempt to align the decal to the body (which involves both moving and resizing). This simple exercise should highlight all of the above issues.

Thanks!

[jodom4]

Does the same distortion appear when you do a render?

[Scoox]

Thanks for chiming in. I've just checked and the distortion appears in both in the render environment and in the rendered image.

[paul.clauss · Accepted solution]

Hi @Scoox

Thanks for posting! I had a look at the issue with the distorted decal today and was able to reproduce this one - I've logged a ticket (FUS-38015) with the dev team to investigate why this distortion may be occurring - we appreciate you bringing this to our attention.

I was unable to get this decal to show without distortion - I apologize for any inconveniences this may cause you. To work around this, you could try applying smaller decals to individual faces in the model - this will be time consuming but may help avoid the distortion.

To answer your other questions:

1. The Decal dialogue box appears to refer to its own coordinate system, based off the manipulator handle shown during the command. The axes for the manipulator handle are clarified below. 

2. The decal parameters move incrementally, so this is expected that they reset to zero every time the Edit Decal dialogue is opened. You will always be moving the decal from its current position rather than on the absolute coordinates.

3. I agree that the centered control point does make it difficult to position decal edges to model edges - this is a current limitation in Fusion 360. I would recommend giving this Ideastation post a vote if you'd like to see this tool edited in a future update. This forum thread discusses how to use sketch geometry to ensure a decal is centered, which may be helpful.

Hopefully this helps! Please let me know if you have any questions.

[Scoox]

Cheers Paul, much appreciated. Also voted on that FR you mentioned.

[Scoox]

Regarding the relative coordinate system used by decals, why is it that way? I mean, if the decal can be inserted at a specific point in space, wouldn't it be more logical to reference all parameters as deviations from the initial position?

Maybe that's the problem, that ATM decals are not inserted at a point but on a face (the dialogue requests the user select a face, not a point). Personally I find the current system counter-intuitive.

[tommVS2MB]

Here is what I remembered and just tried.

I created a box then applied a decal to a face. The decal was larger than the face and then flowed down the sides. 

I remember seeing a tutorial. The decal followed the undulating surface.

I believe that your image is following the face down into the holes.

The behavior is intentional but unexpected.  It follows the face not the plane that might or might not be a face.

Solution for you: apply the decal to a planar face; put a planar face on the top of the non-planar face (face with holes) and apply the decal there. That is what I just did with good results.

Tom Meyers