how to put 3d picture in 2d drawing solidworks

When creating your models in SOLIDWORKS there may be occasions when you want to make use of a logo epitome in your pattern. For case you might want to have your visitor logo engraved or embossed on your model, or create a 3D model of your logo for sales and marketing.

The challenge is converting a bitmap image file (could exist a JPG, GIF, PNG, BMP, or another type of bitmap) into a vector file that y'all tin generate sketch entities from and and then create a solid or surface trunk.

In this case I'm going to comprehend a couple of methods I used to convert our corporate logo, a PNG image, into a 3D model.

Javelin logo converted into a 3D Model

Method #1: Trace your bitmap in SOLIDWORKS

In a previous post we demonstrated the SOLIDWORKS Autotrace Add together-in, which allows you to insert a bitmap picture into your sketch and then automatically trace over it to create your sketch entities. Hither is a quick summary of how to do that:

1. Starting time a new part
2. Insert a new sketch on a plane i.due east. front plane
3. Insert a new sketch picture from Tools > Sketch Tools > Sketch Picture
4. Select your bitmap file, in this case I'll select the Javelin logo PNG file

Import sketch picture

5. Then select F on the keyboard to fit the image into the display
6. In the Sketch Pic Property Manager select the correct arrow in the upper-right corner
7. Then under Trace Settings pick a selection tool, in this case I selected the Use to select colour (dropper icon) and and so selected the white background of the paradigm
8. Select the Brainstorm Trace push and you'll run into an outline of the image every bit sketch entities
9. Utilize the sliders to adjust colour and recognition tolerance and echo steps 7 and viii until yous are happy with the outline
10. Then select Apply

Autotrace Sketch

In this case the results were non that corking, you lot can see in the image below that the sketch outline has captured the basic form of the logo and the sketch is comprised of lines and splines. And so some tidy upward and adjustment to the sketch is required.

NOTE: You can also use the sketch trace over multiple passes if it makes sense, eastward.thousand. to capture the internal area of objects. Learn more about using AutoTrace effectively in this web log postal service »

Traced outline

An culling method that volition likely produce amend results is to convert your bitmap to a vector image.

Method #ii: Import your bitmap every bit a vector image

At that place are ii main vector formats that you can import into SOLIDWORKS, these are:

• AI/Adobe Illustrator — in guild to import/open an Illustrator file you really need Illustrator installed on your auto!
• DWG/DWG — this is the Autodesk propriety file type associated with AutoCAD, and you lot don't need a license of AutoCAD or DraftSight to use it in SOLIDWORKS, then I'll be using this type of vector file as an example

Step A: Converting your bitmap to a DXF (vector) file

Commencement thing to practice is to convert your bitmap into a vector file, this tin can be done with an online converter tool. I typically use the Convertio website to convert bitmaps into DXF:

1. Go to Convertio.co
2. Select Choose Files
3. In the open up dialog select your bitmap file e.yard. javelin-logo.PNG and pick Open

Choose files to convert

4. For the to selection, you can select CAD > DXF

Catechumen file to DXF

5. Then pick Convert and the file will be generated after a few seconds
6. Pick the Download push to obtain the file

NOTE: information technology is e'er a good idea to run a virus browse on whatever unknown files you obtain from the internet before you utilize it.

Step B: Import DXF into a SOLIDWORKS Sketch

Now that you have your logo vector DXF file you can now import it directly into SOLIDWORKS. This is a uncomplicated step as SOLIDWORKS has a sorcerer for importing DWG/DXF data:

1. Select File > Open and choose your DXF file (you might demand to filter the file type to select it)
2. In the DWG/DXF Import Wizard dialog:
   • Select import to a new part as 2D sketch
   • And uncheck the Import as reference option
3. Select Finish (to skip the adjacent magician step)

Import DXF

The DXF volition now be imported into a Sketch, and as y'all can come across in the example below there are more than reference points and a better representation of the logo bitmap file than using the Autotrace:

Imported DXF sketch

Step C: Make clean up your SOLIDWORKS logo sketch

Depending on how you are going to use the SOLIDWORKS logo sketch some cleanup might exist required, in this example I've extruded the sketch to produce a model and you can encounter that the curves of the messages are comprised of smaller curves and points rather than single curves. This means I accept additional faces than required.

DXF 3D Model

To solve this I just edit the sketch, delete the curves, and apply a spline using the reference points. Then colour the model and the blueprint is complete:

Javelin SOLIDWORKS Logo Completed

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Source: https://www.javelin-tech.com/blog/2020/09/converting-a-logo-bitmap-image-file-into-a-vector-sketch-for-solidworks/

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