Project grayscale image and get a relief map or extrusion on a surface??
Project grayscale image and get a relief map or extrusion on a surface??
(OP)
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.
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.





RE: Project grayscale image and get a relief map or extrusion on a surface??
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
RE: Project grayscale image and get a relief map or extrusion on a surface??
Regards.
RE: Project grayscale image and get a relief map or extrusion on a surface??
Anyway I'll wait for the NX experts.
RE: Project grayscale image and get a relief map or extrusion on a surface??
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
RE: Project grayscale image and get a relief map or extrusion on a surface??
I hope you don't think I am ungretful with your help, I was just wondering if other options exist.
RE: Project grayscale image and get a relief map or extrusion on a surface??
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
RE: Project grayscale image and get a relief map or extrusion on a surface??
Anthony Galante

Senior Support Engineer
NX3 to NX9 with almost every MR (18versions) plus the NX10 Beta
RE: Project grayscale image and get a relief map or extrusion on a surface??
RE: Project grayscale image and get a relief map or extrusion on a surface??
http://vimeopro.com/phoenxplm/tips-and-tricks/vide... 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
RE: Project grayscale image and get a relief map or extrusion on a surface??
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
RE: Project grayscale image and get a relief map or extrusion on a surface??
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
RE: Project grayscale image and get a relief map or extrusion on a surface??
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