Project grayscale image and get a relief map or extrusion on a surface?? 3

[skanskan]

Hello.

How can I convert a grayscale image to a relief on the object? (with more or less depth depending on the darkness of the area)

Something like this:

I can't find more examples now but I think you get the idea.


I mean define an extrusion or face deformation/movement proportional to the darkness of the image area. Or other options: cummulative or differential.

I know that some programs, such as geographic programs do something similar.

The decal command it's not the solution because it only paints the image on the surface, without creating any 3D relief or surface. decal?, global shaping?, x-forms?, offset?

Would I need an additional plugin, macro or external software?. I don't mind first modifying the image with Photoshop.

I'm using NX 9.

Thank you.

 

[Arkance/PhoeNX]

Hate saying it, but I would recommend Delcam's Artcam to do that. I was one of the first users of it in Australia almost 20 years ago and it is designed to do exactly that.
Not sure what it's like now (it still exists) but it used colour not grayscale to generate reliefs.


Anthony Galante
Senior Support Engineer


NX3 to NX9 with almost every MR (18versions) plus the NX10 Beta

 

[skanskan]

Thanks, but I only need to do it a few times, and I would like to try with NX.

Regards.

 

[skanskan]

I've been reading and found that other engraving programs do it, such as Vectric Aspire, VCarve Pro, Carvewright Sculptor or diyCAM.
Anyway I'll wait for the NX experts.

 

[cowski]

Anyway I'll wait for the NX experts.

PhoeNX IS an NX expert, one of the best you'll find on this or any NX forum. He makes a living by selling and supporting NX; he has a vested interest in supplying you the NX way of doing things. When he says he "hates" recommending a different software, I believe him.

www.nxjournaling.com

 

[skanskan]

Thank you,
I hope you don't think I am ungretful with your help, I was just wondering if other options exist.

 

[Toost]

I did some investigation on the subject a couple of years ago, and, the software which are specialized on this task, such as Delcam -something, use facets which they deform based on the image. Not surfaces.
In the particular case I investigated, the final was that they ( this particular company) bought a single license of Delcam- something which was used for this purpose, then the process was that 1) export the faces/ surfaces to Delcam from NX 2) deform a facet representation using the image 3) export the facets to NX.
In NX there then was both the underlying faces of the model and also a faceted/deformed representation in the same place.

The problem in this particular case is that the underlying face-s are high quality / class A but we know nothing about the quality / shape / smoothness of the facets, and we must use the facets to create the mold. There is no method that i know of that can be used to assure the "quality" of facets. The visual stuff are all based on facets , which in turn are approximations.

Regards,
Tomas

 

[Arkance/PhoeNX]

@Cowski, I have a tear in my eye! (Maybe that's the conjunctivitis I've got at the moment). Thanks for the pat on the back.


Anthony Galante
Senior Support Engineer


NX3 to NX9 with almost every MR (18versions) plus the NX10 Beta

 

[skanskan]

OK, and iof the image is not greyscale but just two colors, white and black, would it be easier in NX?

 

[Arkance/PhoeNX]

Without seeing the image I'm guessing here but you could try converting the image into vectors. Anything with images for NX I use a program called Inkscape (it's freeware). It lets me convert an image into vectors by tracing edges, colours, grayscale and other methods. It might work in your case but without the image and and idea of the intended outcome I don't know.

http://vimeopro.com/phoenxplm/tips-and-tricks/video/83654051

is a video on a simple workflow to use it to convert an image for NX.

Anthony Galante
Senior Support Engineer


NX3 to NX9 with almost every MR (18versions) plus the NX10 Beta

 

[skanskan]

Thanks PhoeNX, it seems easy, I'll try.
I guess I could also try to do it with a greyscale image by converting it to several 2-color images with different thresholds. Then repeat the process shown on the video and at the end try to soften the edges or even get a surface defined by them.
Anyway is tedious.

Regards

 

[Arkance/PhoeNX]

NX is the wrong tool for what you are trying to do and that's why it's tedious.
Don't know about the others that you mentioned, but I would suggest a look at Artcam only because I know the capabilities and can definitively say it does exactly what you want.

There is a free trial of Artcam Express

http://www.artcam.com/free-trial-software.asp

Anthony Galante
Senior Support Engineer


NX3 to NX9 with almost every MR (18versions) plus the NX10 Beta

 

[PSI-CAD]

Hi,

It's not an automatic process but you can try Realize Shape in NX9

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cXH2u_2oI_I

Here are all the NX10 possibilities

Regards
Didier Psaltopoulos

http://www.psi-cad.com