ArtCAM 5.

Combining Reliefs

5. Combining Reliefs
Teddy Bear Example
This example creates the Teddy bear relief using Angled plane and ISO-Form lettering as well
as the combining the reliefs.

 Open the file Teddy.art from the Examples/Ted_bear

directory using the Open File button on the File toolbar.
 Select the body vector using the Left mouse button.

 Double click the selected vector.

 Select a Dome shape, with an angle of 45 degrees with No Limit and click
the Add button. Select Close.
 Select the 3D view using F3.

The 3D view can display the relief shaded,

wireframe and low, medium or high detail. The base
plane can be displayed or switched off. This picture
is low detail with the zero plane switched off.

 Select the Draw Zero Plane button at the top of the 3D View
window to toggle the display of the base plane.
 Select Low Detail.

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 Press the F2 key to select the 2D View.

 Using the Left mouse button, select the Outer ears vectors and then hold
down the Shift key and select the Inner ears vectors.

 Double click and select a Dome shape with No Limit, an angle of 45

degrees with a start height of 0.5. Select Add.

ArtCAM generates a shape for the area between the

selected vectors.

 De-select the vectors in the 2D View and select the inner ears vectors.

 Double click the selected group and select Reset button.

 Select a flat plane with a start height of 0.5 and press Merge High.

The inner ears have been merged with the outer edge.

 Select the arm vectors.

If the arms were added to the body, then a bulge would

appear where the shape is added on the top of the body
relief. The arms need to be merged high.

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 Select a Dome shape, with an angle of 45 degrees with No Limit and click
the Merge High button.

The arms are generated.

 Select the face vector.

The face will be given a rounded appearance with a higher

angle. The face will be merged into the current relief.

 Select a Dome shape with an angle of 60 degrees with No Limit and

press Merge High.

The face has been added. The higher dome

angle makes the face higher and rounder.

 Select the circle vector.

If a dome shapes is added on top of the relief, it will

follow the shape of the relief to produce a rounded
belly. Using Add if a high angle was used the effect
would be more pronounced as there is already a curve
on the relief.

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 Select a dome shape of 15 degrees with a start height of 0 to No limit

and press Add.

The teddy has a nice round belly

 Select the feet vectors.

The relief for these feet vectors will be generated using an

angle plane. This will slope the feet at a specified angle
making the toes point forwards and the heels lean back.

 Open Relief Editing on the Assistant.

Creating an Angled plane and other relief operations such as smoothing are available from
this part of the assistant. An Angled plane can be generated on the whole relief or within
selected vectors.

 Select the Create Angled Plane icon.

 Click on Show Help.

A minimum of two points must be selected to generate the plane, but to

guarantee the correct orientation; it is advisable to use the maximum of
three points.

These points are best picked from the vectors. Once all three points are
picked, then the Z vectors can be changed as necessary.

Once the plane has been defined then you can choose whether to add,
subtract, merge highest or lowest to the current relief.

 Click Set Third Point and press the Start button.

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 Select the bottom point of the left vector with the mouse.

Once Start has been selected, the First point is expected

to be selected (this is the bottom point of the plane). As
the mouse is moved over the vector it changes to a target
symbol. The second point is at the top of the vector.

 Select the top of the vector with the mouse.

A dotted line shows the distance from the first point to the
second point. The third point is midway between the two
vectors.

 Click in the centre of the vectors (Centre located symbol is:- )

Now all three plane positions have been captured, the Z

value for each position becomes available.

 Set the First Point Z as 1.5, Second Point Z as 3.5 and Third Point Z as
2.75.
 Select Highest and press Create.

The angled plane has been generated giving

the feet a slightly pointed look. Further relief
can be added onto these areas.

 Select Close and double click on the feet vectors.

 Select a dome shape with an angle of 15 degrees with No Limit and
press Add.

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The dome shape has been added to the angled feet.

 Select the snout and the Paw print grouped vectors.

These will have the same shape so can be created at the same
time.

 Select a Dome shape with an angle of 45 degrees with No Limit and

press Add.
 Select the eyes and nose vectors.
 Select a Dome shape with an angle of 45 degrees with No Limit and
press Add.

To complete the teddy this relief can be

smoothed to soften the edges between each
shape. Smoothing is a progressive command,
the more you smooth, the more you reduce
your details and it blurs together.

 Click the Smooth Relief button on the Relief Editing Assistant.

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This displays the smooth options.

 Select Whole Relief, enter the number of Smoothing Passes as 5 and

select Apply.
 View with ‘High Detail’ set at the top of the 3D Relief window)

The teddy relief is smoother around the edges.

ISO-FORM Letters
Iso-form letters have a constant height set by the user, whereas text created using the Shape
Editor can result in thin parts of the letters being lower than the rest of the relief.

We are now going to add some lettering to the teddy’s tummy, using Iso-form letters. The
Greyscale view of the relief helps visualisation in the 2D view.

 Select the Greyscale View.

The higher the relief the whiter it appears, so that you have
an overall idea of the changing heights in the relief.

 Select Vector Text and set the font as Times New Roman and a
height of 2mm.
 Click the Position on the belly and type the text TED.

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 With the Text selected, click the Iso-form letters button on

the Relief, top toolbar.

The following dialog box appears:

 Give the letters a Top Height of 0.25mm and a Bottom Height of

0.25mm.
 Ensure Circular Cross Section is selected, select Add and click OK.

Closer inspection of the

letters will show that they
have a constant height.

Exercise.

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 Open the model training-phone-cover.art.

 Generate your own relief using these vectors.

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