Hi rlloney > how does one get started designing paper models, what software,ect. i > would like to make a few i can't find or don't want to pay for. how > and where does one start? any help is better than what i know now. > many thanks to anyone who can point me in a dirrection. and please > don't just give me a name of software. what do i do with it? first your question isn't stupid and it arises every few months.
I do card model design semi professional and being a fan of open-source software I use the following packages: - Blender (3D construction and unfolding): www.blender.org - Unfolder (Python plugin, meanwhile it is integrated in Blender) - Inkscape (2D vector program for arranging parts and sometimes coloring; depends on the graphics and textures): www.inkscape.org - Gimp (a great photo and bitmap editor): www.gimp.org - OpenOffice (doing the manuals and pdf export): www.openoffice.org The advantages of this software collection are: - All programs are available in source and for free - All programs are available for Linux, Mac and Windoze. This makes it easy to communicate with partners and friends for cooperation work and test building. You simply don't have to worry about the operating system of your partner - All programs are comitted to real standards in data formats, i.e. SVG, PNG and so on, even if they store their own data in their own formats. This is essential when it comes to data exchange between the different programs. The disadvantages are: - You have several different programs to do the complete job. Well, this is not unusual because no package I know can do all (the tasks are simply too different), but it means you have do learn a lot mainly if you are a beginner to card model design. - Blender: it is one of the most complex programs I know, mainly because it has a totally different user interface and it is a program for the real professional. But as soon as you come to grips with it (there are several very good tutorials available) you will never change! For me it is one of the best GUIs I know simply because of the speed you can reach for building your designs. Hard and heavy but really worth the effort. A last word about 2D or 3D Design: I startet doing all in 2D, but it is really not what I would recommend. The task of unfolding complex structures ist much more simplier if you did your model in 3D. First the computer can help and second you have a much better feeling for the body you have designed simply because you can turn it in 3D space and take a look at all sides. I for myself will never return to 2D for model design! You can take a look at a complete design at the German forum https://www.kartonbau.de/wbb2/thread.php?threadid=7650 where I describe my design of the Focke-Wulf Triebfluegel; only in German but with a lot of pictures. There are also a lot of other articles and threads about design in the construction office https://www.kartonbau.de/wbb2/board.php?boardid=64 and the Blender section https://www.kartonbau.de/wbb2/board.php?boardid=205 Ok, I hope this helps a little bit (to confuse you totally ... ;) ) Best regards, Wolfgang -- MfG Wolfgang Holzinger E-Mail: [email protected] +--------------------------------------------------+ | Linux -- because life is too short for a reboot! | +--------------------------------------------------+ --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Papermodels II" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/Papermodels?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
