Raised Text with 3D Objects?

[shilala]

I was battling this the last couple days, trying to get raised lettering to work with 3D components in Aspire. I won't bore you with all the different angles I tried, but the last thing I guessed was that maybe I could achieve what I wanted by drawing the text in a vector box.
Ultimately I just v-grooved the lettering, but it's not what I wanted. I think raised lettering is far more sexy, and just plain works better with the other raised components.

I'll show you what I settled with, and hopefully someone can give me some ideas or lead me in the right direction on how to attack this in a fashion where I could end up with raised lettering in lieu of the v-grooved?

(Maybe someone can let me know if I can embed images on this bulletin board, or if everything needs done via attachments? I'm just going to use an attachment as I've not seen anyone embed images yet.)

[gene]

Try selecting the lettering and slide the slider bar to a positive number . I just watched a tutorial on doing this. I hope i helped but i just upgraded to aspire 3.5 yesterday. i got a lot of learning to do

[khaos]

Shilala, Check this out. http://joesboats.com/raisedletters/raisedletters.html :eek:

[shilala]

Wow, Joe, Thank You!!!
I didn't catch how you captured the noise and deleted it. I saw you drew a box around them and I assume you just used a shortcut delete command, but I'm not sure what mode you used to draw the box around the noise?
Then when you copied the traced model, you copied it to the model tree, did you delete the previous skull model?
I watched the sections of video 15 times each and just couldn't dig out the commands you used. It's proably because of this ancient laptop I'm on now (my good laptop is paused waiting to finish a 3D finishing pass, I needed to go to bed.) I'll look at it again in the morning on my desktop and see if I can see what you did more clearly in those couple places.
I'm working on another sign that's much the same, tecnically, and it's on the desktop. This will be a fun project for coffee in the morning
Man, this stuff is addictve. I never imagined I'd have so much fun learning. :)

[shilala]

I was fixing my sign on the bot during coffee, but I got right after this next...
I managed to delete the noise, it was a simple select and delete.
When you F8'd it, my Aspire doesn't give the option to "copy into model, so I'm going to try baking it and see what happens. :)
I've got to chop a piece off of a model before I get to where I can copy into model or bake all my 3D components, so it'll have to wait till tonight. I have to go to a family party this afternoon. I guess they don't know I'm busy. ;)

[khaos]

In the F8 screen I un-checked it. You can copy into model when the object is selected. The model tree IS your friend. If you copy to model you should turn off or delete the model from the tree to avoid a 'double exposure' or applying your model to itself.

HTH,
Joe

[joe]

Joe

That's one of the best video's I've seen. Everybody should be appreciative of your time and effort. That's what a good forum is all about

Joe Crumley
www.normansignco.com

[tmerrill]

Scott,

The problem is Joe is using Aspire V2.5 and the screen layout and work flow is significantly different (and improved) in the current version, 3.5.

All of this is covered in the tutorials you received on your Aspire DVD, have you found those?

Added a picture from a past project. Is this similar to what you are trying to do?

Tim

[khaos]

Joe

That's one of the best video's I've seen. Everybody should be appreciative of your time and effort. That's what a good forum is all about

Joe Crumley
www.normansignco.com (http://www.normansignco.com)

Thanks Joe. I appreciate it. I just couldn't figure how to write all those instructions down in a way that would be as clear.

[khaos]

Tim, I really looking forward the 3.5 version but I just don't have the bones for it now. :( I am looking forward perhaps most of all to the new tool database, templates and the ability to 'morph' the design within the bounding box!

I have been enjoying the economy since second week in Feburary. New Job supposed to start today! (Waiting on offer letter.) After I catch up on the bills I need a new clear gun, then, I can upgrade. :)

[tmerrill]

Joe, you are going to love it. I understand not everyone can upgrade immediately.

However, the changes make it very hard for a new user to relate how it was done in 2.5 to the current version as you can see by Scott's confusion. The minute I read he couldn't find "Copy to Model" I knew what was going on. That now takes place automatically, and behind the scenes so to speak, in V3.5.

Tim

[khaos]

Joe, you are going to love it. I understand not everyone can upgrade immediately.

However, the changes make it very hard for a new user to relate how it was done in 2.5 to the current version as you can see by Scott's confusion. The minute I read he couldn't find "Copy to Model" I knew what was going on. That now takes place automatically, and behind the scenes so to speak, in V3.5.

Tim

Sad, This seems like a real loss in control to me. :confused:

[shilala]

That is exactly what I am trying to do, Tim.
Yes, I just found the videos. I'm not sure why, but I assumed they were the same as those on Vectric's website. I'll go take a look at them now.
Joe has me headed in the right direction, his video was a HUGE help.
You hit the nail on the head, our layouts are a bit different, and I noticed he was working in what I thought was 2.0. I figured I'd find the functionality somewhere if I just spent some time with it.
I hoped to get back on this yesterday but we never got home until late last night. I'm right on top of it now, though. :)

Scott,

The problem is Joe is using Aspire V2.5 and the screen layout and work flow is significantly different (and improved) in the current version, 3.5.

All of this is covered in the tutorials you received on your Aspire DVD, have you found those?

Added a picture from a past project. Is this similar to what you are trying to do?

Tim

[tmerrill]

Joe,

No, I don't agree with that. Once you get used to the improved work flow you won't want to go back.

I keep 2.5 on my computer to help those still using it and grit my teeth every time I need to open it. Basically everything that you had to manually do in 2.5 related to 3D modeling happens automatically in 3.5 and you only have to think about the design, not all the steps to make it happen.

You should download the trial version and take a look at the introductory videos if time allows. Yes, it will be a change and like all changes they can be hard to initially accept, but put a couple of samples under your belt and you won't look back.

This webpage will take you through the changes from 2.5 to 3.0:

http://www.vectric.com/WebSite/Vectric/aspire/whats_new/aspire_v3/whats_new_overview.htm

and there is a link at the top of that page that further adds what was added in 3.5.

Tim

[shilala]

..."Copy to Model"...That now takes place automatically, and behind the scenes so to speak, in V3.5.

Tim
That makes perfectly good sense. I can trace all the 3D components and then create my pocket, and I'm all set. I don't need to bake or "copy to model". I noticed the tracing line stays highlighted once I've traced it.

Last night I was brushing my teeth and thought "It's just a line around the model, I shouldn't have to do anything with it, it's like it's already masked." (Masking is a Photoshop thing, and it's kind of like what we're doing. It hides or "masking tapes off" the part of the project. Then I'd deselect the mask and I'd have just what we're doing here.)

Anyways, I'll watch those videos and I think I have the attack I wanted.
Thank you very much, everyone. You have no idea how much I appreciate the help. :)

[shilala]

The videos worked, I fixed the problems I had, and the sign turned out just like I wanted. My stepdaughter works at this place, and their logo and signage incorporates herons and rope and cattails. There's rope everywhere on the property. The stock 3D models worked perfectly. :)
Thanks again for everyone's help!!!

[joe]

Joe,

Melissa, my companion teacher at the Indiana workshop has encouraged me to engage in how to video's. Anything like you've done is so effective in helping.

Last week I enrolled "on-line" for Illustrator at our local community college. When I opened it up for the first class I was dissapointed to find it was a learn by book. No audio and no live films. Somethings you need a voice or video to be effective. Next thing they'll be teaching piano by book. As a certified teacher I know how people learn. And you're doing a good jov

One reason I like Aspire is their CD.s Unfortunate their forum isn't laid out as good as this one. They should have taken my suggestion to open up a heading for signs.

Keep your video's coming. I love em.

Joe Crumley

[shilala]

I agree with you 100%, Joe. The amount of stuff I learned just from Joe's video and this thread is incredible. The video caused me to branch out in a number of directions in my reading and video watching, and I picked up a ton of stuff that I would have thought was way over my head.
The project I was working on is still running, but it's turned out absolutely gorgeous. It's going to make a great gift, and if my work makes someone happy, I've put in a good day. It makes it just that much better knowing I had help. :)

[khaos]

I will Joe. I think its a great way to do it. :D

[joe]

Joe,

Would you please post your video's over on the 3dsignforum.com?
Everyone over there would learn from it.

Joe

[joewino]

In my opinion, one of the best sources of tutorials is www.lynda.com

They have tutorials on a wide range of software, with short lessons that you can view over and over. Unfortunately, there are none on dimensional signage, but I've learned a tremendous amount on the various design programs I have on my computer.

The cost is $25 a month, or cheaper if you pay by the year. It's the best bargain around.

[dana_swift]

Joe Johnston- what software did you use to capture the screen and your voice at the same time? That makes very effective tutorial videos.

TIA-

D

[khaos]

Joe Johnston- what software did you use to capture the screen and your voice at the same time? That makes very effective tutorial videos.

TIA-

D

Hi Dana, I initially used Jing but then switched to Snagit (http://www.techsmith.com/snagit-whats-new.html). Tossed the callouts and the transition into it with camtasia studio (http://www.techsmith.com/camtasia-whats-new.html). There are additional things that I could have added if i had thought about it such as clicked object highlights audio and visual. This video is in high res I did adjust the output HTML to allow a 98% width for folks with lower resolutions. The actual vid is an MP4. I could have made one for mobile devices but decided the added value would be < 1% effort. :)

-Joe

HTH,

[khaos]

Joe,

Would you please post your video's over on the 3dsignforum.com?
Everyone over there would learn from it.

Joe

I can't get to the registration page from work. Our mucky mucks are blocking the page. :( You are welcome to post the link over there. This is a donation to the community. ;)

-Joe

[joe]

Thank ya Joe.

I'll do that when I get back from vacation

Thanks again,

Joe