topic Re: 3D Text in Modeling

3D Text

Anonymous — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 22:33:12 GMT

Does anyone know if it is possible to make 3D (extruded) text in ArchiCAD?

Thanks!

Re: 3D Text

Anonymous — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 22:50:35 GMT

There is a 3D text object in your standard Archicad library. Use the "Find library parts" button in object tool (a much overlooked feature, as is searching the forum before posting )

Re: 3D Text

Anonymous — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 23:13:18 GMT

K, Issue resolved. It's in the standard library, 01 General 11, Pictures and Texts 11, Text 3D 11

I did search the forum by the way, and the help index, and the ref. guide -must I always be scolded for my questions?!

Re: 3D Text

Anonymous — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 00:49:42 GMT

Applogies for any offence taken. None was meant. It is easy for people to be offended by written comments when interpreted the wrong way.

Just this morning a colleague asked me if we had any bench seat objects in our libraries, I used the "Find library parts" button and up they popped. Now he knows how to use it. If I had simply told you where the object was you might not have thought of using this very useful feature. And my 3D Text object resides in the AC Library 11/ Object Library/ Basic Library/ Furnishing/ Decoration folder - quite different to your location.

By the way, I tried the forum search with keywords "3D" and "text" and got 484 pages, not many of which actually referred to the 3D text object (search engine must be confused by the "3D")

Smile

Re: 3D Text

Anonymous — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 03:03:09 GMT

I've been equally unimpressed with the forum's search capability. A site specific GOOGLE search does yield better results.

Re: 3D Text

Anonymous — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 03:08:35 GMT

I have some fonts that the 3d text doesn't deal with properly. Never had the energy or the time to ferret out why.

Don Lee

Re: 3D Text

Anonymous — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 13:22:24 GMT

Can Archicad create "corporate logo" that can be incorporated into the 3D visual instead of using Artlantis to paste? See example attached.

Re: 3D Text

vfrontiers — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 14:48:02 GMT

Agnes wrote:
Can Archicad create "corporate logo" that can be incorporated into the 3D visual instead of using Artlantis to paste? See example attached.

Of course! Simply "Slabify" and "Save Model as 3d Object"

SLABIFY = Draw elements with slabs (or any other tool) as if it were laying flat on the ground

Show element in the 3d Window and from the FILE menu | Libraries and Objects | Save 3d Model as....

Choosing the correct orientation in the 3d window will mean that your "Sign" can STAND UP without having to do any scripting later. For a typical sign laying flat on the ground, choose ELEVATION view at 270degrees.

Re: 3D Text

Dwight — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 14:54:52 GMT

A simple way to make 3D sign elements is to use the complex profile as a wall instead of slabification. Place a short wall segment perpendicular to the base surface.

Re: 3D Text

Anonymous — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 15:27:02 GMT

Hi vfrontiers....that's exactly what I did, trace the outline and slab it, save as object.
But is there a better & easy way especially when the logo gets more complicated. As it is with the above method, it's very time consuming.

Thanks....

Re: 3D Text

vfrontiers — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 17:21:50 GMT

Agnes wrote:
Hi vfrontiers....that's exactly what I did, trace the outline and slab it, save as object.
But is there a better & easy way especially when the logo gets more complicated. As it is with the above method, it's very time consuming.

Thanks....

You can always just APPLY A PICTURE to the face of a slab... but that will only show in RENDERINGS (ok, also OpenGL 3d window).

I prefer to spend the time to slabify. It makes working drawings easy, gives me the ability to explore different finishes, etc.

Also, if you slabify once, you can RE-SIZE to fit many other instances if necessary.

Re: 3D Text

Dwight — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 17:48:19 GMT

I hate to belabor this, but you keep selling the slabification idea when it is mainly obsolete. You'd only use the slab-into-object method if producing a sign for library inclusion and repetitive use.

The complex profile has numerous advantages over slabification including speed, curviness along a path and ease of editing.

Re: 3D Text

Anonymous — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 04:15:15 GMT

Hi Dwright...hmmm....could you elaborate on your comments, sound pretty interesting. Is it another software?

Thanks vFrontiers...

Re: 3D Text

Dwight — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 04:26:38 GMT

Krikey. Training. This is a well-elaborated feature that largely supplants the profiler and slabificationization.

Search for "Complex Profile Elements" in your basic support materials:

-- this forum

-- your reference manual - USA version pages 197 and some others.

-- ArchicadWiki linked at the top left of this page

Re: 3D Text

Dwight — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 05:42:00 GMT

I'm working on a new book project with extensive indexing and I'm learning how hard it is to be one's own "home librarian." Guessing the correct search term for our or any forum is a challenge since by the time the poster knows the term to search with, they are close to knowing their answer. It is all about the vocabulary.

Re: 3D Text

Karl Ottenstein — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 14:07:29 GMT

Agnes,

It is important, if not essential, that you modify your profile (Profile link above) to give the version of ArchiCAD that you are using, along with the computer specs etc - as you see with most other users here.

The method that Dwight gave is the easiest method for versions 10 and greater. Works with the Beam Tool as well as the Wall Tool.

Duane's method (slabification) is what you should use for versions 9 and earlier.

There are a couple of other notes I would add about each method. With the Complex Profiled wall/beam method, you may have your 'wall' of letters interfere with the wall that it is intersecting. Either pull it slightly away from the wall if that happens, or change the intersection priority.

Duane's method gives more control over the materials of each letter, if they should differ (which they do not in your screenshot). If each letter should have a different face color or material, you can only accomplish that with the complex profile method if you extrude each letter separately. All edge/side surfaces of a complex profile can be unique - but the ends (faces here) are unfortunately a uniform material.

Cheers,
Karl