Have you ever wanted to work in Gray-Scale...

[JohnRBaker]

We had a recent request for an option to change the display of an NX model from the normal full color to a gray-scale display. Unlike Photo Shop we don't have a 'Grayscale' mode, however since we use a color definition file (.cdf) which every object references, all you have to do is replace the current .cdf file with a modified one and you can make a global change to all of the object colors in an NX model or assembly. Now this will have no effect on Photo-Realistic rendering, since that's based on rendering material assignment, nor will this effect the new True Color display mode since again this is based on a special set of predefined hardware rendering colors. Rather the .cdf files control the normal shaded display (or for that matter, the display of any geometric object shaded or otherwise) of any NX part file.

So we did a little research and found a conversion scheme which is used to alter the RGB color video feed into black & white TV. So we took the standard 'ugcolor.cdf' file and used these conversion factors for each of the Red, Green and Blue values in the table. And what you get if you replace the default table with this new one is shown below with a pair of images, one using the standard .cdf file and one with the new gray-scale .cdf file:

Anyway, I've attached this new modified .cdf file for your enjoyment and usage in case there's ever a need for a gray-scale 'mode' when working with an otherwise full color NX Model or Assembly.

John R. Baker, P.E.
Product 'Evangelist'
Product Design Solutions
Siemens PLM Software Inc.
Industry Sector
Cypress, CA

http://www.siemens.com/plm

http://www.plmworld.org/museum/

To an Engineer, the glass is twice as big as it needs to be.

 

[JohnRBaker]

As for a possible application of this gray-scale capability, consider someone wishing to publish a PDF file of an NX Drawing but they wish it to not be in full color. Now the drawing itself is not a problem since you can use the Monochrome Drawing display option, but if you included a shaded view for illustration purposes, it would be in full color. However if you had our gray-scale .cdf file all you would have to do is take the Master Model Drawing and in this file alone, replace the 'ugcolor.cdf' file with the gray-scale .cdf file and the full color shaded view would now be 'rendered' in gray-scale, and when you exported the .pdf file and you used the 'As Displayed' option you would get your desired result.

Attached are a pair of .pdf files exported from NX showing a drawing with a shaded view added for illustration purposes, one in full color and the other gray-scale, based on my described workflow above.

John R. Baker, P.E.
Product 'Evangelist'
Product Design Solutions
Siemens PLM Software Inc.
Industry Sector
Cypress, CA

http://www.siemens.com/plm

http://www.plmworld.org/museum/

To an Engineer, the glass is twice as big as it needs to be.

 

[jerry1423]

When changing to the grey scale it probably is best to save your current setings to a cdf file , even if they are the default, because it is very easy to change back with that file readily available.

I really like these grey scale settings. I made up my own a while back, but only for the colors that we use the most.

 

[SDETERS]

Good Tip and thanks Could you put that in a Zip file? Thanks

 

[JohnRBaker]

SDETERS (Agricultural)

Could you put that in a Zip file?

You mean the .cdf file?

John R. Baker, P.E.
Product 'Evangelist'
Product Design Solutions
Siemens PLM Software Inc.
Industry Sector
Cypress, CA

http://www.siemens.com/plm

http://www.plmworld.org/museum/

To an Engineer, the glass is twice as big as it needs to be.

 

[looslib]

At 14.4KB file size, zipping won't change the almost instant download of the .cdf file itself.


"Wildfires are dangerous, hard to control, and economically catastrophic."

Ben Loosli

 

[redwingfan01]

If you need the illustration in a PDF to be b&w simply use your normal settings, make your pdf and then open and print your pdf in grayscale mode on your printer. Most PDF printers will also allow you to print to another pdf file and with greyscale output. No need to change your cdf files for the example you gave.

 

[JohnRBaker]

That's true, IF your final 'output' is paper.

John R. Baker, P.E.
Product 'Evangelist'
Product Design Solutions
Siemens PLM Software Inc.
Industry Sector
Cypress, CA

http://www.siemens.com/plm

http://www.plmworld.org/museum/

To an Engineer, the glass is twice as big as it needs to be.