Using the Wrap Options

The options available in the Options area depend on the wrap strategy you are using.

If you are wrapping a relief or scanline model onto a triangle model, you can use the following options:

• Wrap over: Curved Triangles, Flat Triangles, Triangle TU Parameters

Wrapping over flat triangles uses the flat facets of the triangle model. This can mean that the design in the wrap model is distorted if the base model includes large triangle facets.

Wrapping over curved triangles uses the calculated position of a surface laid over the triangles, and wraps onto the virtual surface. This gives a smoother wrap to the model, and avoids distortion at the edges of large triangles.

Wrapping over the Triangle TU Parameters uses the TU parameters if these are available for the base triangle model. They are available if:

• You have already wrapped an image around the triangle model, as they are generated by the image wrapping process
  
  
• The base triangle model was imported from a TRI triangle model. TRI models can be exported from PowerSHAPE and PowerMILL, and contain TU triangle parameters based on the surfaces from which the triangles were generated.
  
  
• Add extra scanline points to maintain shape. You use this option when you are wrapping a scanline model which contains flat scanlines with only a point at the start and end points. In the example below, the scanlines between the letters contain only two points.

When the points are wrapped onto a surface that curves in two directions, the start and end of the scanline will sit on top of the base triangle model, but as there are no intermediate points, the centre of the scanline will cut under the base triangles.

To avoid this, select the Add extra scanline points to maintain shape option. CopyCAD adds the points needed along the scanlines, and then wraps them.

ArtCAM relief files contain a dense data set, so you don't need to add extra points.

• Wrap over model gaps. You can use this option to 'jump' over small gaps in the triangle model. The wrap process will take longer if you are wrapping over model gaps.

You should only use this option if you don't have the TriFIX tools. You will get a better wrapped model if you stitch the gaps first using the Auto Stitch tool . For details about stitching gaps between triangles, see Auto Stitch.

• Show points that will wrap. This option creates another 2.5D relief showing any areas that cannot be wrapped onto the base model. You can use the option to check whether the whole of a relief will wrap onto the model at its current position.

The area that cannot be wrapped is displayed at the original plane as shown in the example below.

• Generate wrapped normals (for exporting). You can use this option to generate wrap data in a blank ArtCAM relief. This can then be exported as a wrap map and used for interactive 3D design in ArtCAM. See File – Export Current Model – Wrap Map for details.
  
  
• If you are using the Z Projection strategy, you can use the Offset along list box to select either to offset along the Z Axis or along the Triangle Normal. When you wrap a model, the X or reference plane normal component maps to an offset as shown below.

If you are wrapping a relief or scanline model onto a surface model, you can use the described Show points that will wrapdescribed and described Generate wrapped normals (for exporting) options as described above.

If you are wrapping an image on to a triangle model, you can use the following options:

• Minimise Distortion, which allows you to select where to minimise the distortion caused by the wrapping process using the list box. You can select the following options: At Centre, Along Central X Axis, Central Y Axis and Ruled.

The Ruled option enables a correct flattening to be achieved when wrapping images around 'ruled' triangle models. These are triangle models containing one or more strips of triangles between two profiles that define two sides of a model.

CopyCAD assigns TU parameter values to each triangle node and then wraps the model evenly over the model.

• Distortion Smoothness, which allows you to select how smoothly you want to blend between areas of distortion. You can use the slider, from 0, where no blending is applied, to 100.
  
  
• Wrap over model gaps, as described above.
  
  
• Convert wrapped image to 3D depth , which allows you to create a relief from an image file. Enter the highest point in the box to the right and CopyCAD will use the greyscale shades in the image file to determine the height of each point in the model.

The lighter the shade, the higher the point. So for example if you entered 10 in the box, pure white areas of the image would be 10 units higher than the original base of the wrapped model.

You can use positive or negative 3D depth, so as to create an embossed relief or an engraved relief. In the examples below, the images have wrapped and then triangulated to show the difference between a negative and a positive 3D 'depth' value.

Relief with Negative Depth

Relief with Positive Depth

More:

Wrap Model - Overview