Between the Lines

Top Ten Autodesk Labs Projects for 2011

Scott Sheppard posted the Top Ten Autodesk Labs projects of 2011 (http://bit.ly/trVdkG) on the It’s Alive in the Lab blog. One big change in the Top Ten is that the technology preview that had held the number one download title since the founding of Autodesk Labs in 2006 had been unseated. Read more →

Holiday Ornaments and More Printed in 3D

I have been really excited to be getting more involved in the Maker movement. Read more →

Convert AutoCAD Plot Styles CTB and STB

AutoCAD provides the ability to assign how things plot/print such as lineweight, color, dithering etc. using a feature named Plot Styles. You have the choice to use the default color-dependent or named plot styles, but your drawing can only be one or the other. Color-dependent plot styles (CTB) Named plot styles (STB) It can be debated as to which is better but I will leave that for you to decide which works best for you and the people you exchange DWG files with. About 95% use CTB most likely because that is not only the default but the way they have always done it. If you want to share your reasons for using one plot style method over the other please feel free to post a comment to this blog post. AutoCAD comes with drawing templates for both CTB and STB drawings. If you need to convert an existing drawing from one to the other you can use the following commands at the AutoCAD commandline. To Convert a CTB drawing to STB use the command CONVERTCTB To Convert a STB drawing to CTB use the command CONVERTPSTYLES Read more →

123D Fab! Challenge Follow Up

When I announced the123D Fab! Challenge prior to Autodesk University 2011 (post) I had expected some wild and creations. The creative geniuses in the Autodesk Consumer Group came up with the idea for this fun challenge. The only limiting factor in my mind was the severely limited amount of time attendees have at Autodesk University which at times multiple classes and events were occurring at the same time. Read more →

New 123D Beta 8 with New Sketching Features

Autodesk 123D is the free 3D modeler for everyone. It is powerful and brings powerful 3D solid modeling and accuracy to satisfy the tinkerers, DIYers, and Makers. This is not another simple imprecise faceted surface tool but a power solid modeler with accuracy at the core. You can design almost anything and produce 3D parts even send them to a 3D printer or laser cutter. Read more →

Autodesk University Creative Studio and Marshmallow Mayhem

I have to say personally the Creative Studio was one of the most memorable venues at Autodesk University this year. Although time is a very precious commodity at Autodesk University, many attendees stopped in the Creative Studio including R2D2. Those that ventured into the Creative Studio were able to see featured artists, exhibits, try cool products, “pimp out” their AU badges out with LED lights, build a marshmallow gun courtesy of my Instructables friends, and even create unique things in the 123D Fab! Challenge. Read more →

Creating an Animated 3D Crowd Animation & Hacking It

Autodesk Project Geppetto is the result of over 5 years of research called “People Power”. The basic idea is to try to assemble all the components you would need to create, manage, and control large crowds of characters. Imagine using several unique 3D characters that can avoid obstacles as well as each other in your rendering to add an additional level of realism to your animation. Project Geppetto is also quite fun to create crowds of people and may in the future be expanded to allow even more realistic bipeds, actions, and customization. This motion technology in the future might be applicable to other characters such as dogs, snakes, etc… Read more →

Read Between the Lines on Google Currents

This Between the Lines blog is now on Google Currents for iOS & Android devices. Google Currents is an application for your mobile device that allows you to easily browse online content and feeds similar and most likely the Google response to Flipboard. Read more →

Android Users - Autodesk Design Review Mobile Beta Coming

With Autodesk Design Review Mobile you can view your 2D and 3D DWF (Design Web Format) files anywhere on your mobile device. A couple of the BTL readers asked when an Android version of the Autodesk Design Review Mobile would be available. It was a great and logical question but not one I could directly answer at the time, but I can now. There is now an opportunity to sign up to test the beta version for your Android devices. Read more →

The Dynamic Nature of Heat in Design

Heat transfer refers to the movement of heat energy through the world around us. Refrigerators, ovens, laundry machines, cars, computers, and buildings are designs that all manage the flow of heat in one way or another. Read more →

Autodesk University 2012 – When & Where

Autodesk University 2012 will be held at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, the same location as AU 2010. Autodesk University 2012 November 27 – 29 2012 Mandalay Bay Resort And Casino Las Vegas Read more →

Autodesk's Clever Way to Encourage Employee Activity

Last week while attending Autodesk University in Las Vegas I witnessed a very clever way to encourage employees to be live a more active lifestyle with the goal of healthier employees mean lower healthcare costs. What I saw was several Autodesk employees competing on who was the most active and recorded steps using a Fitbit unit. At Autodesk University this team I spoke with were logging several miles a day. In the past I had seen health surveys and emails encouraging a healthy lifestyle for employees but they were done at the computer. Autodesk does have some nice gym membership and other health related benefits for the individual employees but the Fitbit was the most innovative I had seen. Autodesk had a limited time benefit for a Fitbit unit but unfortunately I did not get that email or missed it in the hundreds of emails I receive daily. Perhaps someone on the Autodesk HR and Benefits team might read this post and take pity on me and extend the offer . Read more →

Crowd Sourced Edition Legal Disclaimer at Autodesk University 2011– Behind the Scenes

At last weeks Autodesk University 2011, the General Session Keynote was kicked off with the traditional legal disclaimer to appease lawyers. In typical Autodesk University style there was a special fun version named “The Fabulous Legal Disclaimer Crowd Sourced Edition.” In past years we have had some fun and memorable versions such as the instant messenger version (YouTube http://youtu.be/Th8XFOh4-Lw) and in 2009 with Elvis singing the legal disclaimer (YouTube http://youtu.be/dezhyGv5B3A). Read more →

Autodesk University 2011 is Over, See You at AU 2012!

Last night December 2nd, 2011 the AU mixer was held which signals the end of another Autodesk University. AU 2011 will go down as one of the best in my 14 years of attending and presenting. My primary reason for the high personal marks was the amount of attendees, the Creative Studio, and the Innovation Forums added to the AU program. The only thing I would like to see is more time so I can attend more events and sessions as AU is so busy and at times I had 5 things to choose from that were going on at the same time. Read more →

Autodesk University Day 2 Over, Final Day 3 Starting

The second day Autodesk University is now over and we are into the 3rd and final day. The event has been cram packed with activities, classes, Innovation Forums, exhibits, mixers, and so much more more. It is not burning the candle at both ends for me but really like dipping a candle in jet fuel and lighting it. Read more →