What a Mesh

Guillermo @ AIA Miami

Hi, 

if you happen to be at AIA in Miami, and want to see cool modeling in AutoCAD and its potential for interoperability with Revit, please pass by Autodesk's booth, and I'll be glad to show you some amazing stuff.

I'm also doing a presentation on Friday at 4, cohosted with my friend Scott Davis, around AutoCAD - Revit interop when using AutoCAD as conceptual design.

See you there!

Audience participation part 1 - MyUI

Hi everybody,

this post is basically a request for help on some research I'm doing. I need to understand how you are using AutoCAD's UI, and this is what I need:

I'd appreciate if anyone who reads this can send me a screen capture of their AutoCAD in production. I want to understand how you use the different UI components (Ribbon, no Ribbon, tool palettes, toolbars, command line, screen menu, etc). If you have more than a workspace, please send me one screen capture per workspace.

If you hopefully decide to help me, please send me the screen captures in an email with MyUI in the Subject. This is very important for me, since I will filter the answers into a folder.

Send the emails to [email protected]

Thanks for all your help!

Alias Sketch for AutoCAD - coming soon!

As I said yesterday, there's a class I'm preparing for AU called Taking 2D Beyond Documentation (ID218-1) . Paul Lebovitz is actually hosting the class, and I will cohost.

So what is this all about? As soon as this application is available, I'll let you know. I borrowed some screen captures and part of the description from my friend Shaan, but will also start to post tutorials in the following days.

Did you ever need to make a presentation with graphics coming from AutoCAD? For sure.

You probably had to use some of the many image editors that can be found in the market. But how did you take the linework in AutoCAD into those applications? I will not say it was/is difficult, but certainly disrupts the work.

And what if you wanted to use a 3d model in AutoCAD for some compositing? Well... you always had the option to render it, and then open the image in an image editor.

What if I told you that you will not need to get out of AutoCAD for these tasks?

This is one of the things I would have loved to use back in my architecture years.

So who is this application for? Anybody in industrial design, architecture, landscaping... pretty much everyone that needs image editing in AutoCAD.

Illustrate with Alias Sketch

Use intuitive pen-based painting and drawing tools such as pencils, markers, and brushes to create and adapt raster images in AutoCAD paper space.

The Alias Sketch Workspace

The Alias Sketch workspace is comprised of a single tab on the AutoCAD ribbon. Tool palettes, color editors, and browsers provide access to all the features you need to create illustrations in paper space. And if you want to experiment with new UI, it also works with marking menus!

Use intuitive pen-based painting and drawing tools such as pencils, markers, and brushes to create and adapt raster images in AutoCAD paper space. If you have a tablet, you'll be able to apply pressure too!

Layer and transformation features extend your power to explore and fine-tune your ideas. Display 3D objects as layers in an Alias Sketch raster image to trace or to provide rich composition possibilities.

• Draw Freehand Illustrations
• Create Concept Variations
• Create Compositions with 3D Models
• Trace 3D Models
• Create Concept Walls
• Annotate

 
 So, if you feel curious, and you are going to AU, check out this class! I'm sure you'll love the concept.

See you at Autodesk University

This week I'll be finishing details for my three classes at AU. Here's a detail of them. One of them is on AU Virtual, so if you are not going to Las Vegas and still want to take part of this, it's a great way to do so.

AU208-4 What a Mesh! Tips and Best Practices for Working with Free-Form Design in AutoCAD®

90-Minute Class

Class Description
This class will provide an exhaustive explanation of the new mesh functionality in AutoCAD, with tips, tricks, and best practices from the product manager who worked on this feature. Mesh modeling in AutoCAD has dramatically improved the power for achieving complex shapes, thanks to subdivision surfaces. During the class, we will cover different workflows for a better use of mesh modeling in different disciplines, with their respective links to other applications like 3ds Max®, Revit® and Inventor®. Learn how and when to convert from Mesh to Solids and best practices for the tessellation of Solids into Mesh. Explore different examples of successful implementations of this feature. We'll go through the steps for the creation of AutoCAD's Hero Image, which portrayed a mixture of mesh, surface and solid modeling.

AU9410-1 AutoCAD: Beyond 3D – Tap the Power of Visualization Tools

Virtual Session

Class Description

Creating a 3D model is only half of it! The real power of 3D is to communicate your ideas with materials, cameras, and walk-through animations. In this session we will tap into the power to define and apply visual styles that will quickly change the appearance of your 3D models. Easily orbit around your models, swivel the view, and even fly through your models! We’ll explore how you can record animations on the fly or by using a predefined animation path. Come to this session and learn how to give your 3D models a facelift!

Taking 2D Beyond Documentation

Class Audience

AutoCAD users who want to (or currently do) utilize additional creative tools such as Photoshop® for enhancing the design and communication process.

Class Description

Will explores creative methods that utilize Alias® Illustration functionality with AutoCAD® to extend documentation beyond technical drawings. So if you use Photoshop® with AutoCAD®, this is the class for you!

Key Learning

• Using Alias Illustration tools with AutoCAD®
• Creating design variations from existing imagery
• Blending 2D imagery with 3D models
• Advanced presentation of your design models
• Streamlining the digital pipeline

So, curious about Alias® Illustration? Check this blog in the next days and you will learn some details. You may even be tempted to take this class.

Attend the See the Difference with AutoCAD 2010 Virtual!

If you have not had the opportunity to attend the See the Difference with AutoCAD 2010, you can still attend the Virtual event!

On Tuesday 17th (tomorrow/today, depending on when you read this), some of my colleagues and friends will be presenting, and you will also have the chance to meet me at the booth and ask me questions about modeling, rendering, or whatever you want in AutoCAD.

You can register to the event here

This is the agenda for the event.

If you go to the Exhibit Hall, to the Autodesk booth, you will be able to chat with me (Chat with Rep). I{ll be in the stand from 11am to 2.30 pm PST.

See you tomorrow!
 
 

Offtopic - The reason for not having updated in the last weeks

Hi,

In a totally offtopic posting, I wanted to share the happiness of our addition to the family. Francisco Dante Melantoni Rey was born last Thursday, and he's a healthy and alert baby boy.

And who said that there's not a new AutoCAD for the new generation? I remember my beginnings in DOS, and compare with the possibilities of interaction and visualizations, and it's impressive.

I'll be back to normal by the end of this week, so keep tuned for more postings about AutoCAD and interop with verticals!

Probably the best animation I've seen - Kahn's Library at Philips Exeter Academy - by Alex Roman

Well, this may not have 100% to do with AutoCAD, but I felt I had to share this animation. I'm not sure I have ever seen a combination of technical expertise, perfect texturing, amazing illumination, outstanding cameras, and above all, a story told in such a beautiful way.

I did not know the author before, but from now on, Alex Roman, from Spain (3ds Max user among other applications) is my reference about how to bring a building to life. This masterpiece of Louis Kahn could not be better represented. It needed another masterpiece like this.

I can't wait to see whatever Alex does next.

Autodesk SketchBook Mobile for the iPhone and iPod touch

You may have already seen many blogs announcing the news about the new Autodesk Sketchbook Mobile for iPhone and iPod touch. If you haven't, I'll refer you to my friend Shaan's blog.

http://autodesk.blogs.com/between_the_lines/2009/09/autodesk-sketchbook-mobile-for-the-iphone-and-ipod-touch.html

What I want to do instead, is show you my first experiment with the app. I've been using Sketchbook Pro for a while (http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/index?id=6848332&siteID=123112), and was quite impressed at the quality of the app for iPhone.

You can basically use your fingers to sketch, and taking advantage of the pressure in the touch sensitive screen, not only have fun, but be productive.

Ever had an idea in a place where you can't grab your computer, or not even a paper? Remember the sketches on napkins while discussing about architecture in a pub? How cool is it to be able to use multiple tools, save, and email your sketch?

This is my first experiment in my iPod touch.

 

Then i just sent it to myself, and opened AutoCAD 2010, and made a very quick model based on my sketch.

 

Here's more information about the app. I hope you have a lot of fun!

YouTube Video SketchBook Mobile iPhone App from Autodesk

Press Release Autodesk Releases SketchBook Mobile on the App Store

Product details SketchBook Mobile Now Available for the iPhone and iPod touch

New Autodesk Labs site

Hi,

Make sure you check the new Autodesk Labs site.

http://labs.autodesk.com/

I recommend checking this site frequently, since you may find very interesting applications that can make your life so much better.

I'll spend some time covering some of the applications that are available for AutoCAD, but in the meantime, check the site and have fun.

Another way to keep informed about what's going on in the labs, is Scott Sheppard's blog.

http://labs.blogs.com/

Expanded support for the Mac

Hey, Mac lovers, check this out.

Autodesk Expands Support for Mac Users

Autodesk is now officially supporting Apple Boot Camp, a component of the Mac OSX operating system that enables customers to run Windows on their Apple Hardware, for users of AutoCAD 2010 software, 3ds Max 2010 software, 3ds Max Design 2010 software, Autodesk Inventor 2010 software, Autodesk Revit Architecture 2010 software, Autodesk Revit Structure 2010 software and Autodesk Revit MEP 2010 software.  A growing number of Autodesk customers are working in environments with Apple hardware and have requested support from Autodesk to use our design and engineering applications on that platform.    With Autodesk support for Boot Camp, customers can now run their favorite Mac applications and Autodesk applications on the same computer.   This will also enable customers to run Autodesk applications at full speed on a Mac and leverage its native graphics capabilities.  We know some customers have been successfully running their Autodesk software under Boot Camp for years, so we’re pleased to finally offer official support.  See www.autodesk.com/mac for more details.

For AutoCAD specific information, you can also refer to Product Support's page:

http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/ps/dl/item?siteID=123112&id=13578583&linkID=9240617