3D Text

[Anonymous]

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

Thanks!

[vfrontiers]

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.

[Dwight]

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.

[Anonymous]

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

Thanks vFrontiers...

[Dwight]

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

[Dwight]

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.

[Karl Ottenstein]

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