Starting a project from an external 3D object

You can start a project by importing an external 3D object. This is the case where you have an object that you need to find packaging for.

First, you select an external object and then a design in which to fit the object.

To start a project by importing an external 3D object

  1. Do any of the following:

The Material dialog box appears. In it, you enter general information about the project and set the project's constructional properties.

  1. Click External 3D Object.
  1. Under Project Properties, type general information for the project: name of the EVD file; title for the project; general description of what the project is about; relevant keywords; and the name of who created the project.
  2. Under Material, in Base type select the base type of the material.

NOTE: The library of base types follows a tree-like structure, and as you browse deeper into it and select a type, in Name the program displays only the types that fall within the selected type group. For example, click the Base type drop-down list, select Folding Carton Cardboard, and then select White Lined Chipboard (WLC). When you later start browsing in Name, you will be browsing only the materials grouped under the WLC base type.

  1. In Name select the specific material that you will use for the project. NOTE: After you have selected a material, in Type you see its name.
  2. In Thickness, set the thickness of the material you will be using. TIP: For folding
  3. In Grammage, type the weight — in grams per square meter — of the material you will be using.
  4. After you have entered the project information you need, to begin selecting an external object, click Next.

The wizard opens the External 3D Object step. In it, you select the external object that you want to use.

  1. In Look in, navigate to where the external 3D object is that you need, and then, in the list below, select the object that you want.
  2. To select a resizable design for the object, click Next.

The Resizable design page opens. In it, you select a resizable design with which to use the selected object.

2D View The preview area displays a 2D drawing of the selected resizable design.

3D View The preview area displays a 3D representation of the selected resizable design.

Multi View The preview area displays the selected resizable design in a split window, with both a 2D drawing and its 3D representation.

Zoom to fit Makes the design in the graphical area fit the current size of the area.

Zoom Launches the zooming mode for the graphical area.

Phase navigation Opens a navigation bar with navigation buttons for playing back a folding sequence, respectively, play back the folding sequence, fold a selected phase, fold the selected step, pause, unfold a step, unfold a phase, reverse-play the folding sequence.

Wireframe Presents the design by only showing the edges and not the panels.

Transparent Presents the panels of the design as transparent.

Solid Presents the panels of the design as nontransparent.

Rotate X Rotates the inserted object relative to the x-axis.*

Rotate Z Rotates the inserted object relative to the z-axis.*

Rotate Y Rotates the inserted object relative to the y-axis.*

* The button is unavailable for resize-resistant objects. For these objects, no workable idea can be put forward as to their which their length, height or depth sides are.

  1. In Look in, browse to where the resizable design is that you need, and then, in the list that appears below, select the resizable design that you want.
  2. In the File name list, select the resizable design that you want.

IMPORTANT: There are some specific considerations to be taken into account when external objects are being placed between panels that combine more than one thickness.

  1. After you have selected the design, to begin working on the project, click Finish.