A Guide to Downloading and Using the Relief Clip Art Library in Artcam
Download Relief Clip Art Library Artcam
If you are an Artcam user, you might be interested in downloading and installing the Relief Clip Art Library for your software. This library is a collection of Artcam Relief files (*.rlf) or Artcam Model files (*.art) that you can import into your open Artcam model and use for creating stunning 3D designs. The library includes hundreds of reliefs in various categories such as animals, flowers, ornaments, symbols, textures and more. You can use these reliefs as they are or edit them to suit your needs. You can also combine and merge them with other reliefs or models to create unique and complex shapes.
Download Relief Clip Art Library Artcam
In this article, we will show you how to download and install the Relief Clip Art Library for Artcam, how to use it in your projects, and what are the best practices for creating relief models in Artcam. By following these steps, you will be able to enhance your creativity and productivity with Artcam.
How to download and install Relief Clip Art Library for Artcam
The Relief Clip Art Library is compatible with Autodesk Artcam Standard 2018 and Autodesk Artcam Premium 2018. If you have an active subscription or maintenance plan for these products, you can download and install the library from your Autodesk Account or from the Autodesk Desktop App. Here are the steps to do so:
Shut down Autodesk Artcam 2018 if it is running.
Go to https://www.autodesk.com/support/technical/article/caas/sfdcarticles/sfdcarticles/Latest-Relief-Clipart-Library-for-Autodesk-ArtCAM.html and click on the "Download" button.
Save the file "SetupAutodeskArtCAMReliefClipartLibrary2018.exe" on your computer.
Right-click on the file and select "Run as administrator".
Follow the instructions on the screen to complete the installation.
Start Autodesk Artcam 2018.
Create or open a model.
From the Relief Creation toolbar, click on the Relief Clipart Library button. You should see a panel with a list of available libraries and thumbnails of reliefs.
How to use Relief Clip Art Library in Artcam
How to access and browse the library of reliefs
The Relief Clipart Library panel allows you to manage reliefs that you want to import into your open model. You can access it by clicking on the Relief Clipart Library button on the File or Relief Creation toolbars. The panel has three main areas:
The Options area lets you choose a library from a drop-down menu, refresh the list of reliefs, or add a new library folder.
The Library area shows the thumbnails of the reliefs in the selected library. You can scroll through the list, change the size of the thumbnails, or search for a specific relief by name.
The Preview area shows a larger image of the selected relief and some information about it, such as its name, size, and resolution. You can also rotate, zoom, or pan the relief in this area.
To import a relief from the library into your model, you can either double-click on its thumbnail or drag and drop it onto the 2D view or 3D view. You can also right-click on a thumbnail and select "Import" from the context menu. The imported relief will appear as a new layer in your model.
How to import and edit reliefs from the library
Once you have imported a relief from the library into your model, you can edit it using the Shape Editor window. This window allows you to modify the properties and parameters of the relief, such as its height, angle, position, scale, rotation, and more. You can access it by selecting the relief layer in the Project Tree and clicking on the Shape Editor button on the Relief Editing toolbar. The window has four main areas:
The Options area lets you choose a mode for editing the relief, such as Add, Subtract, Merge Highest, Merge Lowest, or Replace. You can also choose a base height for the relief or apply a fade to it.
The Properties area shows the current values of the relief parameters, such as its height, angle, position, scale, rotation, and more. You can change these values by typing new numbers or using the sliders.
The Preview area shows a 3D view of the relief and how it affects the model. You can rotate, zoom, or pan the view in this area.
The Apply area lets you apply the changes to the model or cancel them. You can also save the edited relief as a new file or add it to the library.
To edit a relief from the library in your model, you can follow these steps:
Select the relief layer in the Project Tree and click on the Shape Editor button on the Relief Editing toolbar.
Choose a mode for editing the relief from the Options area.
Adjust the parameters of the relief from the Properties area.
Preview the result in the Preview area.
Click on Apply to confirm the changes or Cancel to discard them.
How to combine and merge reliefs from the library
Another way to use reliefs from the library in your model is to combine and merge them with other reliefs or models. This can create interesting and complex shapes that are otherwise difficult to achieve. There are different modes of combining reliefs in Artcam, such as Add, Subtract, Merge Highest, Merge Lowest, or Replace. Each mode has a different effect on how the reliefs interact with each other and the model. You can choose a mode of combining reliefs from the Shape Editor window or from the Relief Editing toolbar. Here are some examples of how each mode works:
Add: This mode adds the height values of the reliefs together. This can create a relief that is higher than the original ones.
Subtract: This mode subtracts the height values of the reliefs from each other. This can create a relief that is lower than the original ones or has holes in it.
Merge Highest: This mode keeps the highest height values of the reliefs. This can create a relief that preserves the details of both reliefs.
Merge Lowest: This mode keeps the lowest height values of the reliefs. This can create a relief that blends the reliefs together.
Replace: This mode replaces the height values of the model with the height values of the relief. This can create a relief that completely covers the model.
To combine and merge reliefs from the library in your model, you can follow these steps:
Import two or more reliefs from the library into your model as separate layers.
Select one of the relief layers in the Project Tree and click on the Shape Editor button on the Relief Editing toolbar.
Choose a mode for combining reliefs from the Options area.
Select another relief layer from the Project Tree and drag and drop it onto the Preview area. You should see how the reliefs are combined in this area.
Repeat step 4 for any other relief layers you want to combine.
Click on Apply to confirm the changes or Cancel to discard them.
Best practices for creating relief models in Artcam
How to create reliefs from scratch using vector editing tools
If you want to create your own reliefs from scratch, you can use the vector editing tools in Artcam to draw and modify 2D shapes that can be converted into 3D reliefs. The vector editing tools are located on the Vector Creation and Vector Editing toolbars. They include tools for drawing lines, curves, circles, rectangles, polygons, stars, spirals, text, and more. They also include tools for editing vectors, such as move, rotate, scale, mirror, trim, extend, weld, offset, fillet, and more.
To create a relief from scratch using vector editing tools, you can follow these steps:
Create or open a model.
Select a vector creation tool from the Vector Creation toolbar and draw a shape on the 2D view. You can adjust the parameters of the tool from the Tool Options panel.
Repeat step 2 for any other shapes you want to draw.
Select a vector editing tool from the Vector Editing toolbar and modify the shapes on the 2D view. You can adjust the parameters of the tool from the Tool Options panel.
Repeat step 4 for any other modifications you want to make.
Select the vectors you want to convert into a relief and click on the Create Shape button on the Relief Creation toolbar.
Choose a shape profile from the Shape Editor window and adjust the parameters of the relief. You can preview the result in the 3D view.
Click on Apply to confirm the changes or Cancel to discard them.
How to create reliefs from photos using bitmap tools
If you have a photo or an image that you want to use as a source for creating a relief, you can use the bitmap tools in Artcam to import and convert it into a 3D relief. The bitmap tools are located on the Bitmap toolbar. They include tools for importing, cropping, resizing, rotating, flipping, adjusting, filtering, and tracing bitmaps. They also include tools for converting bitmaps into vectors or reliefs.
To create a relief from a photo using bitmap tools, you can follow these steps:
Create or open a model.
Select the Import Bitmap tool from the Bitmap toolbar and choose a photo or an image file from your computer. The bitmap will appear on the 2D view.
Select the Crop Bitmap tool from the Bitmap toolbar and drag a rectangle around the area of the bitmap that you want to keep. You can adjust the size and position of the rectangle from the Tool Options panel.
Select the Resize Bitmap tool from the Bitmap toolbar and enter a new width and height for the bitmap. You can also choose to maintain the aspect ratio or not from the Tool Options panel.
Select the Rotate Bitmap tool from the Bitmap toolbar and enter an angle of rotation for the bitmap. You can also choose to rotate clockwise or counterclockwise from the Tool Options panel.
Select the Flip Bitmap tool from the Bitmap toolbar and choose to flip the bitmap horizontally or vertically from the Tool Options panel.
Select the Adjust Bitmap tool from the Bitmap toolbar and adjust the brightness, contrast, gamma, hue, saturation, and sharpness of the bitmap from the Tool Options panel.
Select the Filter Bitmap tool from the Bitmap toolbar and apply a filter to the bitmap, such as blur, emboss, edge detect, or noise from the Tool Options panel.
Select the Trace Bitmap tool from the Bitmap toolbar and choose a tracing method, such as outline, centerline, or silhouette from the Tool Options panel. This will create vectors from the bitmap that you can use for creating a relief.
Select the Convert Bitmap to Relief tool from the Bitmap toolbar and choose a conversion method, such as height map, two rail sweep, or shape carving from the Tool Options panel. This will create a relief from the bitmap that you can edit and combine with other reliefs.
How to optimize reliefs for machining using relief tools
After you have created a relief from scratch or from a photo, you might want to optimize it for machining using the relief tools in Artcam. The relief tools are located on the Relief Editing toolbar. They include tools for smoothing, clipping, slicing, and sculpting reliefs. They also include tools for measuring, analyzing, and simulating reliefs.
To optimize a relief for machining using relief tools, you can follow these steps:
Select the relief layer in the Project Tree and click on the Smooth Relief tool on the Relief Editing toolbar. This will reduce the noise and roughness of the relief and make it smoother. You can adjust the strength and iterations of the smoothing from the Tool Options panel.
Select the relief layer in the Project Tree and click on the Clip Relief tool on the Relief Editing toolbar. This will trim the relief to fit within a specified boundary or vector. You can choose a clipping mode, such as inside, outside, or invert from the Tool Options panel.
Select the relief layer in the Project Tree and click on the Slice Relief tool on the Relief Editing toolbar. This will divide the relief into smaller pieces that can be machined separately or assembled later. You can choose a slicing direction, such as horizontal, vertical, or diagonal from the Tool Options panel.
Select the relief layer in the Project Tree and click on the Sculpt Relief tool on the Relief Editing toolbar. This will allow you to manually modify the relief using a virtual brush. You can choose a sculpting mode, such as add, subtract, smooth, or flatten from the Tool Options panel.
Select the relief layer in the Project Tree and click on the Measure Relief tool on the Relief Editing toolbar. This will show you the dimensions and statistics of the relief, such as its width, height, depth, area, volume, and resolution. You can also measure distances, angles, and radii on the relief using this tool.
Select the relief layer in the Project Tree and click on the Analyze Relief tool on the Relief Editing toolbar. This will show you a color-coded map of the relief that indicates its slope, curvature, draft angle, or undercuts. You can use this tool to identify potential machining problems or areas that need improvement.
Select the relief layer in the Project Tree and click on the Simulate Relief tool on the Relief Editing toolbar. This will show you a realistic preview of the relief and how it will look like after machining. You can choose a material, a tool, and a machining strategy from the Tool Options panel.
Conclusion
In this article, we have shown you how to download and install the Relief Clip Art Library for Artcam, how to use it in your projects, and what are the best practices for creating relief models in Artcam. By using the Relief Clip Art Library, you can access hundreds of ready-made reliefs that you can import, edit, combine, and merge with your models. You can also create your own reliefs from scratch or from photos using the vector editing tools and the bitmap tools in Artcam. You can also optimize your reliefs for machining using the relief tools in Artcam. By following these steps, you will be able to enhance your creativity and productivity with Artcam.
FAQs
Here are some frequently asked questions and answers about the Relief Clip Art Library in Artcam:
Q: How can I add my own reliefs to the Relief Clip Art Library?
A: You can add your own reliefs to the Relief Clip Art Library by creating a new folder on your computer and saving your relief files (*.rlf or *.art) in it. Then, you can use the Add Library Folder option on the Relief Clipart Library panel to browse and select your folder. Your folder will appear as a new library on the panel and you can access your reliefs from it.
Q: How can I delete or rename a relief from the Relief Clip Art Library?
A: You can delete or rename a relief from the Relief Clip Art Library by right-clicking on its thumbnail and selecting Delete or Rename from the context menu. You can also delete or rename a relief by locating its file on your computer and deleting or renaming it there.
Q: How can I change the resolution of a relief from the Relief Clip Art Library?
A: You can change the resolution of a relief from the Relief Clip Art Library by importing it into your model and using the Change Resolution tool on the Relief Editing toolbar. This tool allows you to increase or decrease the number of pixels per inch (ppi) of the relief. You can adjust the resolution value from the Tool Options panel. You can also choose to resample the relief or not from the Tool Options panel.
Q: How can I export a relief from the Relief Clip Art Library to another format?
A: You can export a relief from the Relief Clip Art Library to another format by importing it into your model and using the Export Model tool on the File toolbar. This tool allows you to save your model as a different file type, such as STL, OBJ, DXF, or SVG. You can choose a file type and a file name from the Export Model dialog box.
Q: How can I update the Relief Clip Art Library to get the latest reliefs?
A: You can update the Relief Clip Art Library to get the latest reliefs by downloading and installing the latest version of the library from your Autodesk Account or from the Autodesk Desktop App. You can also check for updates by using the Check for Updates option on the Help toolbar.
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