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Signage - From Simple to Complex - Tutorial


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#1 Keith Almond

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Posted 29 March 2017 - 05:32 PM

This may take a couple of hours to get into (so will probably be over a few posts), as it does get quite complex ... not the methodology ... but the graphics I'm trying to play with. However, if I can make it work with these items, I'm sure that you can make it work with others.

 

I also welcome anyone to add their methods (later ... give me a chance to explain mine first), and anyone to ask questions. Although I'm sure that will happen as a matter of course.

 

I'm going to be using a round logo. One I developed for a friend ... this one:

 

RJL logo.png

 

so no copyright issue there ... and if we can make it work with a reasonably complex round logo, then anything else should be child's play. Note: ANY "shaped" logo MUST be a TRANSPARENT PNG, a JPG, no matter how complex will ALWAYS be in a SQUARE/RECTANGULAR container, and CANNOT contain transparent area's


Keith

There are 10 types of people in this world ....... Those who understand binary, and those who don't.

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www.homehardwarekingston.ca

#2 Keith Almond

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Posted 29 March 2017 - 05:51 PM

Simple ...

 

Add a Plane DRAW > SOLID > PLANE and position it to suit - Probably a little off the wall or you might never find it again!

 

2017.03.29_19h41m22s_001_.png

 

and then EDIT > SURFACE EDIT the plane and add a texture ... which just happens to be your logo ...

 

2017.03.29_19h47m10s_002_.png

 

at this stage, don't panic if it doesn't look to fit ...

 

then under OPTIONS (in the surface edit box) go down to the bottom and check both the SCALE and TRANSPARENT boxes - This was how this post http://softplan.com/...ouches/?p=12850 was created (if anyone cares), but the "ROUND TUIT" had a completely transparent background.

 

 

and there we have a really simple sign. pasted on the wall like graffiti.

 

2017.03.29_19h50m02s_003_.png


Keith

There are 10 types of people in this world ....... Those who understand binary, and those who don't.

Softplan user since version 5.5.2.5

www.homehardwarekingston.ca

#3 Keith Almond

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Posted 29 March 2017 - 06:11 PM

Making it a little better, would involve putting it on a board on the wall. probably a round one or you may loose all impact.

 

2017.03.29_20h08m34s_004_.png

 

In this case I've used a symbol SHAPES > FULL CYLINDER, and under OPTIONS (in the surface edit box) go down to the bottom and check the SMOOTHING box.


Keith

There are 10 types of people in this world ....... Those who understand binary, and those who don't.

Softplan user since version 5.5.2.5

www.homehardwarekingston.ca

#4 Keith Almond

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Posted 29 March 2017 - 06:14 PM

In this thread ... http://softplan.com/...ishing-touches/ ... we discussed the problems of the various cylinders if you are interested.

 

But I have another solution ...


Keith

There are 10 types of people in this world ....... Those who understand binary, and those who don't.

Softplan user since version 5.5.2.5

www.homehardwarekingston.ca

#5 Keith Almond

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Posted 29 March 2017 - 06:29 PM

Using a WINGDINGS font character (you can select it from the WINDOWS ACCESSORIES > CHARACTER MAP) that's a ring and using it in 3D TEXT (You could also choose a font like "Gotham" that has circular "O"s in multiple thicknesses) and then adjust the size to suit. ... Still not the greatest but doesn't quite exhibit the angularity that we noticed earlier on the cylinder.

 

2017.03.29_20h23m29s_005_.png

 

The downside is it's VERY difficult to position but can be done (by eye mostly).

 

The upside is that the plane can be recessed into the circle to make a reasonably convincing frame.

 

2017.03.29_20h28m12s_006_.png

 

Much more convincing than the plain graffiti in post #2

 

Compared to this, making a square/rectangular frame with solids is a piece of cake ...


  • Yvon Gonthier likes this
Keith

There are 10 types of people in this world ....... Those who understand binary, and those who don't.

Softplan user since version 5.5.2.5

www.homehardwarekingston.ca

#6 Keith Almond

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Posted 29 March 2017 - 06:44 PM

Okay ... I'm going to take a break now ... when I come back, I'll try and cover the complex method ... or at least MY complex method. It gives a much more superior product.


Keith

There are 10 types of people in this world ....... Those who understand binary, and those who don't.

Softplan user since version 5.5.2.5

www.homehardwarekingston.ca

#7 D M

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Posted 30 March 2017 - 09:17 AM

I like your idea of using Wingdings in 3D text, .. opens a lot of possibilities for custom shapes and assemblies

 

.. might be worthwhile exploring other fonts too


.. invariably, someone will have a simpler solution.


#8 Keith Almond

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Posted 30 March 2017 - 09:41 AM

Not just wingdings ... there are thousands of free fonts that have graphic characters in them and they all work well ... ARIAL UNICODE MS font has almost 39000 characters including some quite standard symbols like BIOHAZARD and RADIATION ... CHESS pieces etc.

 

2017.03.30_11h39m46s_001.png

 

That's where I got the characters used in this post http://softplan.com/...uestion/?p=9403


Keith

There are 10 types of people in this world ....... Those who understand binary, and those who don't.

Softplan user since version 5.5.2.5

www.homehardwarekingston.ca

#9 Keith Almond

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Posted 30 March 2017 - 11:19 AM

Before I get to the complex, there's also a VERY simple method using SOLIDS and 3D TEXT, that can also be quite effective for simple signs ... if you know your Clients font and colour scheme, as long as the text isn't slanted, simple signs are very straightforward.

 

2017.03.30_13h16m30s_001.png

 

There I go, thinking about food again ...


Keith

There are 10 types of people in this world ....... Those who understand binary, and those who don't.

Softplan user since version 5.5.2.5

www.homehardwarekingston.ca

#10 Yvon Gonthier

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Posted 30 March 2017 - 11:22 AM

Is that your retirement planification Keith?  ;)



#11 Keith Almond

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Posted 30 March 2017 - 11:44 AM

Not really, i'd tend to eat the profits ...


Keith

There are 10 types of people in this world ....... Those who understand binary, and those who don't.

Softplan user since version 5.5.2.5

www.homehardwarekingston.ca

#12 Keith Almond

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Posted 30 March 2017 - 06:25 PM

Okay COMPLEX ...

 

I did say earlier, I'm using a LOGO that I designed. That's given me a little help, as I actually own the original artwork!

 

The first thing you are going to need is original artwork - either that, or you are going to have to trace 3D polygons in Softplan (and that can be done too if you're really desperate) ...

 

The chances are slim to none, that the original artwork is in a form that you can use. However, if you can obtain a PDF copy of the artwork, then we are at least at a start point - I made my own PDF from the artwork files.

 

Once you have the PDF then you have to OPEN it in INKSCAPE (freeware ... available here ... https://inkscape.org/en/). So open Inkscape, FILE > OPEN and select your PDF (I normally use PDF import settings as 246 VERY FINE - although I don't know what difference it makes).

 

2017.03.30_20h02m37s_001_.png

 

Once it opens, go to FILE > SAVE AS and in the dropdown box for filetype choose AUTOCAD DXF (as shown below):

 

2017.03.30_20h06m58s_002_.png

 

You now have an AUTOCAD DXF file that SOFTPLAN will import. SO ... go ahead and import it! ... That's ALL you need Inkscape for, but it is a handy programme to have.

 

FIRST THING to do now is CHECK your preferred dimension, and use EDIT > ADJUST SIZE > DISTANCE to ensure that the DXF is the correct size: Chances are really good that it's NOT!

 

You now have to separate all the component parts that you need, and turn them into solid polygons. Which is actually easier than it sounds. Once you have all the parts of a component, go to EDIT > BLOCK FORM POLYGON and draw a box round ALL the individual components. You DO NOT have to do them individually. Then EDIT > FORM SOLID POLYGON to change it into a solid.

 

Once they are done, give them a height (you can again do them ALL together with CTRL, MARQUEE SELECT and RIGHT CLICK > EDIT & REPEAT), and check that you can see them all in the 3D model. 

 

2017.03.30_20h21m05s_003_.png

 

Now from time to time, forming polygon doesn't go as per plan (okay, I'II admit it, it's a pretty regular occurance), all you can do is explode it, make sure all the lines join properly and try again ... and if you're anything like me again and again ... TIP: Arcs are the worst ... and if you need a HOLLOW circle (as you can see from the screenshot), my preference is do it in two halves and mirror them.


Keith

There are 10 types of people in this world ....... Those who understand binary, and those who don't.

Softplan user since version 5.5.2.5

www.homehardwarekingston.ca

#13 Keith Almond

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Posted 30 March 2017 - 06:30 PM

Quick comment about hollow shapes ...

 

As most of you know you cannot form a hollow solid - like a ring. The perimeter has to be continuous:

 

2017.03.30_20h29m30s_004_.png

 

And especially for letters ...

 

2017.03.30_20h47m38s_005_.png

 

Once you have your polygon, you can adjust the edges to touch.


Keith

There are 10 types of people in this world ....... Those who understand binary, and those who don't.

Softplan user since version 5.5.2.5

www.homehardwarekingston.ca

#14 Keith Almond

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Posted 30 March 2017 - 06:54 PM

Once you have all your components, you can sort them and colour them, assemble them and stack them as you wish.

 

2017.03.30_21h04m49s_012_.png

 

Then FROM THE 3D WINDOW go to FILE > EXPORT > DWG and save it in YOUR 3D SYMBOLS FOLDER (wherever you can find it again) mine is C:\SoftPlan\3D\3D Symbols\Keith ... that way I know I can find it again.

 

NOTE: I took one or TWO liberties with the original design in the interests of time. It doesn't affect the final result, and there's probably only me who would notice anyway ...


Keith

There are 10 types of people in this world ....... Those who understand binary, and those who don't.

Softplan user since version 5.5.2.5

www.homehardwarekingston.ca

#15 Keith Almond

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Posted 30 March 2017 - 07:20 PM

Now, we have to use the SYMBOL WIZARD ...

 

Go to:

 

FILE > SYSTEM LIBRARY and select the library you want to create the 2D symbol in. You have to link a 2D symbol to the 3D symbol you've just created to insert it into the plan.

 

WIZARD > Give your new symbol a name ... Note what may be confusing is the LIBRARY 3D in the screenshot is MY 2D LIBRARY FOR MY 3D SYMBOLS, yours will probably be different.

 

2017.03.30_20h57m34s_006_.png

 

IS the plan view symbol on the screen ... NO

 

2017.03.30_20h59m16s_007_.png

 

CLICK the 3D symbol folder box and FIND the symbol you just saved

 

2017.03.30_21h00m25s_008_.png

 

Are the views correct ... No they're NOT (They never are if you create something flat on the ground) ...

 

You may not be able to see, but typically when you reorient, the TOP view is in the box that says front, The FRONT is usually obvious, and when they are correct the LEFT is usually correct. You can always go back and change them.

 

Set the textures that you want for the model ... again you can always edit them from the symbol menu later if you wish (or edit them in the 3D model as usual) ...

 

2017.03.30_21h02m55s_009_.png

 

Check that the dimensions are correct ... Remember in SOFTPLAN you are still drawing to scale.

 

Check the offsets ...

 

2017.03.30_21h03m37s_010_.png

 

Generate a 2D symbol ...

 

2017.03.30_21h04m23s_011_.png

 

Now draw a wall and add the symbol to it ...

 

2017.03.30_21h06m43s_013_.png 2017.03.30_21h26m37s_014_.png

 

Piece of cake ... That reminds me, I'm hungry again ..


Keith

There are 10 types of people in this world ....... Those who understand binary, and those who don't.

Softplan user since version 5.5.2.5

www.homehardwarekingston.ca

#16 Keith Almond

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Posted 30 March 2017 - 07:39 PM

Although this took me a couple of days to put together, MOST of the time was spent switching windows, Taking screenshots and writing about what I was doing, and trying to get the right screenshots in the right places.

 

And this particular LOGO was FAR from straightforward ... hopefully the ones you do, are going to be simpler (although there's little point doing a tutorial with a simple one) ...

 

The more you practice this, the more you'll get comfortable with it!

 

The procedure AFTER opening the symbol wizard is EXACTLY the same as IMPORTING a SKETCHUP model.

 

As usual, I've probably forgotten something critical, but if you have any problems, let me know.

 

Thanks ... and good luck.

 

Yes, I know I've probably wasted my time, as no-one will ever use it, but I enjoy PLAYING with Softplan ...


Keith

There are 10 types of people in this world ....... Those who understand binary, and those who don't.

Softplan user since version 5.5.2.5

www.homehardwarekingston.ca

#17 Keith Almond

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Posted 31 March 2017 - 07:18 PM

Same logo in Rendered Mode ... some reflections on the metallic surfaces.

 

2017.03.31_21h16m08s_003_.png

 

Personally, I think it came out quite well, but I'm a little biased.


Keith

There are 10 types of people in this world ....... Those who understand binary, and those who don't.

Softplan user since version 5.5.2.5

www.homehardwarekingston.ca

#18 Keith Almond

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Posted 31 March 2017 - 08:10 PM

I think this came out well too ...

LONDON UNDERGROUND

2017.03.31_22h08m12s_005_.png

Done COMPLETELY in 3D text only ... NO SOLIDS
Keith

There are 10 types of people in this world ....... Those who understand binary, and those who don't.

Softplan user since version 5.5.2.5

www.homehardwarekingston.ca

#19 Keith Almond

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Posted 03 April 2017 - 01:33 PM

"Gotham" typeface comes on a lot of different weights and the "O" is reasonably circular, so it will provide a lot of varied borders for round signs. Some weights are better than others.

 

2017.04.03_15h32m21s_002.png


Keith

There are 10 types of people in this world ....... Those who understand binary, and those who don't.

Softplan user since version 5.5.2.5

www.homehardwarekingston.ca

#20 randolph cohn

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Posted 03 April 2017 - 07:51 PM

and "Once In A While"

 

get away from your project

 

and "just have fun"

 

left click to enlarge

 

jpg optometry office sun glasses gas pump ice rink.JPG


randy

v10 to future 2016+ ;)





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