Between the Lines

Convert Point Clouds into Real Geometry in AutoCAD 2011

Shape Extraction, not to be confused with “Shape Shifting” which is a completely different thing, but perhaps Autodesk Labs is also working on that for the future. There is a new Autodesk Labs Technology Preview released just one week after the mind blowing project Photofly was released where you could use photographs to generate a point cloud. This weeks Autodesk Labs release is the Point Cloud Shape Extraction for AutoCAD Plug-in for AutoCAD 2011. The Point Cloud Shape Extraction Plug-in is a point cloud shape extraction solution which allows you to import, load, and extract shape and geometry information from point cloud data in AutoCAD 2011 and a few other AutoCAD 2011 based products. This plug-in allows you to take a point cloud and extract primitive geometry like flat planes, cylinders,l and more from the point clouds points. You can also generate cross section through the point cloud and have the result in splines or plines and then use those to create derivative geometry such as a 2D drawing or perhaps a 3D model. Read more →

Mac Attack

I am simply curious who else is using AutoCAD and uses a Mac either at work or home. If you are a longtime reader of this blog you may have seen the debates in posts and hundreds of comments, surveys, and requests/demands from many users for native Mac solutions when I mentioned we supported Apple Boot Camp and virtualized solutions like Parallels and VMWare Fusion. Read more →

Awesome Technology Makes Greater Horsepower

My friends down at Jay Leno’s Big Dog Garage http://www.jaylenosgarage.com/ have been using a FARO six axis laser scanning arm and Autodesk Inventor to rebuild a seriously wicked motor. Read more →

What Blogs and Social Media do you read or follow

What Design, Visualization, Technology, CAD, and Hardware Blogs do you read, and why? Worldwide and all languages. Are they customers or users of the software or technology they write about? What are your top 10 or 20 that in your opinion are the most influential, cutting edge, and a must read? Please post your favorites from around the world in the comments to this post. I am always looking to make sure I am following and learning from the best... Read more →

AutoCAD DWG Rendering Farm in the Cloud with Project Neon

Project Neon is now available via Autodesk Labs as a free technology preview. With Project Neon you can render mu7ltiplke DWG files simultaneously. http://bit.ly/aYXFgL It is perfect for designers, architects, engineers who have AutoCAD 2010/2011 DWG files in 3D set with materials and lighting requiring rendering. Rendering is one of the most time and system intensive tasks and by using the cloud your machine is freed of that workload and the high-quality, photo-realistic renderings are delivered directly to your own secure online storage. The actual renderings are completed on Autodesk’s own data center and render farm. Read more →

Autodesk Homestyler Contest

Autodesk Homestyler is a free online way to design in 2D and 3D for desiging or remodeling your home and more. Now there is a Design Your Dacor Kitchen contest US residents have a chance to win the top of the line appliances. Think of Autodesk Homestyler as a free solution to interior design, house deign or remodel on the cloud, lightweight, mobile, nothing to install, you just need a browser and Internet connection not a special operating system. Give it a try as it is a great solution for those needing to do interior design and remodels without having to know a complex CAD software or even install any software on their own machine and did I mention free. When you get the question from a relative or friend that does not use high end design software “what they should use to remodel their dream home or kitchen or perhaps want to arrange new furniture” you can confidently recommend Homestyler as it is downright simple. Read more →

Happy 20th Birthday 3ds Max!

The special 3ds Max 20th Anniversary site is now live on the Autodesk AREA community: Read more →

Autodesk Labs Project Photofly ~ Create 3D Model Scenes from Photos

Capture Reality with Project Photofly From photos to 3D point cloud scene in minutes. Read more →

Unofficial Golden Hammer Award

The Golden Hammer Award has been given out but once in 21 years and was an award that was given to an Autodesk employee for major 3D work in AutoCAD. To my knowledge only 1 was ever awarded and that was to Scott Heath for implementing a great deal of 3D work in AutoCAD Release 10 according to Autodesk founder John Walker. Read more →

Adding AutoCAD Related Blog or Twitter Feeds in AutoCAD InfoCenter

Guest post by Jeff Bartels @JeffBartels. If you would like to publish a guest article on this blog about AutoCAD please email me at [email protected] This is a great way to be seen by over 20,000+ people daily for free. The idea is to share AutoCAD tips that benefit AutoCAD users as well as promote the AutoCAD experts looking for work, consulting, books, promoting their blogs, or more. Adding Blog RSS and Twitter Feeds to AutoCAD Communication Center/InfoCenter Start by... Read more →

Videos on the Blog

After feedback from many reader that are blocked from accessing YouTube by their employer or a country based firewall, I will begin posting locally for download as well as YouTube. You can also subscribe to this blog by email. Get Between the Lines delivered by email Read more →

Whoa! Blog Birthday again, 7 Years Nonstop ~ CAD Campfire Time

I just realized the Between the Lines blog will celebrate it’s 7th continuous blogging year next month in August. A blog is like having a child and no short term commitment. I think this lucky 7 representing millions of readers and thousands of posts and comments deserves something special. I will come up with CAD Campfire where we can all meet around a campfire and celebrate as well as exchange Geeky Technology, Design, CAD, Fishing, Photography, and more. So would you be interested in joining me in the beautiful Utah wilderness for a weekend? It is free except to get hear and the camping gear to support your level of comfort. I will be in a sleeping bag in a canvas tent if I make it to bed.I will provide some gear, some campfire cooking expertise, photography trekking, fishing lies, the wilderness location complete with real wild animals like moose deer and maybe bears, and some refreshments like my new favorite of 44 North Huckleberry. Sounds like a great excuse to get away from the cell phone, the city, make lifetime friends, exchange wisdom, and have a great time whether it is just me or a group of us. Perhaps even some presentations in front of a roaring campfire and clear star filled sky. Read more →

AutoCAD Layout Background Color to Solid Black or Other Color

As a follow-up to the posting How to Change the AutoCAD Layout Background Color earlier this week in response to a Twitter request. I showed how to change the Layout paper background color. But what if you just want a solid black background in Layout with no paper like Modelspace, here is the solution. Read more →

Autodesk Plant Design Suite 2011– Sweet!

A new Autodesk Plant Design Suite is announced. Recently it was the Autodesk Design Suite and Autodesk Factory Suite. Read more →

How to Change the AutoCAD Layout Background Color

I received a question on Twitter today asking how to change the AutoCAD 2011 background color of the Layout. The default color of the paper in a Layout is white, but perhaps you would like it to blue or maybe black. Read more →

Free AutoCAD DWG Viewing and Editing Online

There is a free technology preview of AutoCAD DWG file viewing and editing made possible from your web browser utilizing a cloud of network computers and Autodesk Labs Project Butterfly. You can easily view, edit, and collaborate with others without installing anything on your machine or those you share with. Just upload your DWG, DXF, JPG, PNG, or even a ZIP archive with external references (Xrefs). On July 1st there were many updates released to this web based Project Butterfly. Read more →

Rendering on the Cloud – Autodesk Labs Project Neon

After a week off I return to check out the new Autodesk Labs technology Project Neon. Project Neon is a technology preview of rendering your AutoCAD DWG files on the cloud. Read more →