What's the best way to get a high-quality wireframe view of a part or 
assembly?  Photoworks doesn't seem to know how to do this.  I've resorted to 
simply screen captures of the workspace, but the quality isn't all that 
good, even though I'm running on a very high resolution monitor.

Any ideas?

Thanks,

-Martin

In PhotoWorks you can use Contour Rendering to achieve this.  You could also 
create a drawing view and save it as a tiff file.  When you save as a tiff 
the options tab lets you specify the image quality.


"Martin" <0_0_0_0_@pacbell.net> wrote in message 
news:0zSfe.665$3%4.26@newssvr13.news.prodigy.com...
> What's the best way to get a high-quality wireframe view of a part or 
> assembly?  Photoworks doesn't seem to know how to do this.  I've resorted 
> to simply screen captures of the workspace, but the quality isn't all that 
> good, even though I'm running on a very high resolution monitor.
>
> Any ideas?
>
> Thanks,
>
> -Martin
>
> 

Thanks, that's good to know.  I'll play with both approaches.

-Martin


"Rob Rodriguez" <toyrock@pshift.com> wrote in message 
news:b0bc2$427ff9ca$401e223e$21955@PSHIFT.COM...
> In PhotoWorks you can use Contour Rendering to achieve this.  You could 
> also create a drawing view and save it as a tiff file.  When you save as a 
> tiff the options tab lets you specify the image quality.
>
>
> "Martin" <0_0_0_0_@pacbell.net> wrote in message 
> news:0zSfe.665$3%4.26@newssvr13.news.prodigy.com...
>> What's the best way to get a high-quality wireframe view of a part or 
>> assembly?  Photoworks doesn't seem to know how to do this.  I've resorted 
>> to simply screen captures of the workspace, but the quality isn't all 
>> that good, even though I'm running on a very high resolution monitor.
>>
>> Any ideas?
>>
>> Thanks,
>>
>> -Martin
>>
>>
>
> 

It's a long road, but it gets me there...

You will need Ghostscript (free download, you'll find it readily via
Google)
1.) Print your SW view to a PDF file
2.) Open the PDF in GHostscript
3.) Use Ghostscript to convert PDF to PNG

PNG format supports vector graphics and fonts, so fine detail isn't
lost in a pixelated blur.  This is what I use to make pics for reports,
etc. in MS Word.

I have Corel Draw 12, which has an amazing range of file export/import 
capabilities.  I'll see if it can handle what you propose.

-Martin


"That70sTick" <rol4@liquidschwarz.com> wrote in message 
news:1115730928.125459.213640@f14g2000cwb.googlegroups.com...
> It's a long road, but it gets me there...
>
> You will need Ghostscript (free download, you'll find it readily via
> Google)
> 1.) Print your SW view to a PDF file
> 2.) Open the PDF in GHostscript
> 3.) Use Ghostscript to convert PDF to PNG
>
> PNG format supports vector graphics and fonts, so fine detail isn't
> lost in a pixelated blur.  This is what I use to make pics for reports,
> etc. in MS Word.
> 

> You could also create a drawing view and save it as a tiff file.  When you 
> save as a tiff the options tab lets you specify the image quality.

This works pretty well.  I'd like to add some notes:

- The sheet scale doesn't seem to matter
- You have to check the "Print capture" option
- The DPI can then be set
- Be sure to select "Packbits" for the compression scheme

Also, I wanted to have perspective in some of my views.  The only way I 
could do this in a drawing was to create a new view --with perspective 
turned on-- in the modeler.  That view could then be used to place on the 
drawing sheet and perspective would be retained.

Thanks,

-Martin

Martin wrote:
> Thanks, that's good to know.  I'll play with both approaches.
> 
> -Martin

I would go for a PW2 approach... you can easilly control the line 
thickness, anti-aliasing, Backround and line color etc...

Kvick wrote:

> I would go for a PW2 approach... you can easilly control the line 
> thickness, anti-aliasing, Backround and line color etc...

Yes, agreed.  I tried that one next.  As you say, a lot more control. 
However, the drawing approach is much quicker.  The PW2 method ties-up the 
machine for rendering (I'm doing at least 2048 x 1556 images).

I think each method has its place.  I know I'll use both.



Incidentally, is there a way to change the lens on the PW2 camera?


Thanks,

-Martin

Martin wrote:
> Yes, agreed.  I tried that one next.  As you say, a lot more control. 
> However, the drawing approach is much quicker.  The PW2 method ties-up the 
> machine for rendering (I'm doing at least 2048 x 1556 images).
> 
> I think each method has its place.  I know I'll use both.

You can shorten the rendering time by removing materials, scenes and 
lights...

Martin wrote:

> Incidentally, is there a way to change the lens on the PW2 camera?
> 
> 
> Thanks,
> 
> -Martin

Not directly, easier is to use Photoshop / paintshop ETC... but If you 
have time and patience, try modelling a lence and placing it in front of 
the rendered object...

> Not directly, easier is to use Photoshop / paintshop ETC...

Well, I'm after geometric changes that can't be easily done in Photoshop.  I 
think.  Have to try it, I guess.

> but If you have time and patience, try modelling a lence and placing it in 
> front of the rendered object...

Interesting idea!

Thanks,

-Martin 

> You can shorten the rendering time by removing materials, scenes and 
> lights...

This brings up another question.

I need to render different views of the same product (an assembly).  For 
each of these you may want to customize lighting (number, type and position 
of lights) as well as materials.

There doesn't seem to be a way to save different rendering setups under PW. 
You get the one and that's it.  I suppose one could save copies of the 
assembly file just for the purpose of rendering in various PW 
configurations.  This has the potential of being a maintenance nightmare if 
you make any changes.

The only other option I can think of is to create a new assembly for the 
purpose of rendering.  You'd then bring in the finshed product as a 
sub-assembly.  Several of these files could be created based on desired PW 
settings.

Is that the best approach?

Thanks,

-Martin

Martin wrote:
  > The only other option I can think of is to create a new assembly for
the
> purpose of rendering.  You'd then bring in the finshed product as a 
> sub-assembly.  Several of these files could be created based on desired PW 
> settings.
> 
> Is that the best approach?
> 
> Thanks,

I'v done it just like this... There are options to create and save
custom scenes etc, but I have not ever been comfortable with them... I'v
allways created assys just like you tought of doing...

....but I'm not saying it's a best approach... ;p