Freestyle Sketch Tracer

FreeStyle Sketch Tracer Version 5 Release 13 Page 1
FreeStyle Sketch Tracer
Overview
Using This Guide
More Information
What's New?
Getting Started
Entering The Workbench
User Tasks
Importing Sketches
Creating an Immersive Sketch
Creating an Immersive Sketch using a Screenshot
Positioning the View
Positioning using the Cylindrical View
Positioning using the Conical View
Positioning using an Existing Sketch
Managing an Imported Sketch
Refreshing an Imported Sketch
Copying/Pasting a Sketch
Importing Another Sketch
Trimming a Sketch
Sketch Tracer Interoperability
Optimal CATIA PLM Usability for Sketch Tracer
Workbench Description
Menu Bar
Toolbars
Specification Tree
Index
Overview
The FreeStyle Sketch Tracer is a new-generation tool used to import stylist's drawings into the 3D
world.
Using this product you can convert 2D images into a 3D scene to create 3D geometry from your hand
drawings, or other source such as pictures. You position the 3D model in relation to the sketch and,
in conjunction with other products, create geometric outlines directly over the sketches.
The FreeStyle Sketch Tracer User's Guide has been designed as an aid to using the FreeStyle Sketch
Tracer by itself, but also in conjunction with other FreeStyle products or any other workbench.
Using This Guide

More Information
Using This Guide

This User's Guide is intended for the user who need to become quickly efficient with the FreeStyle
Sketch Tracer.
Before reading it, you should be familiar with the basic Version 5 concepts, such as the document
windows, standard toolbars and menus.
To make the most out of this book, we suggest that a beginning user reads the Getting Started
chapter first of all.
Where to Find More Information

Prior to reading this book, we recommend that you read the Infrastructure User's Guide that
describes generic capabilities common to all Version 5 products. It also describes the general layout
of CATIA V5, and interoperability between workbenches.
Also read the Product Structure User's Guide that presents the component structure and
management.
See also the Conventions.

What's New?
New Functionality
Safe save mode to ensure that data created in CATIA can be correctly saved in ENOVIA LCA
Getting Started

This task shows how to open a activate the FreeStyle Sketch Tracer workbench.
1. Select the File -> New commands (or click the New icon).
The New dialog box is displayed, allowing you to choose the type of the
document you need.
2. Select Product in the List of Types field and click OK.
A CATProduct document is opened.
The use of a CATProduct-type document is especially useful to
accommodate several sketches, one for each view for example, or one
sketch for several parts (located in CATPart documents).
3. Choose Sketch Tracer from the Start -> Shape menu.
The FreeStyle Sketch Tracer workbench is loaded.

The FreeStyle Sketch Tracer workbench document is made of:

● the specification tree and the geometry area in the main window
● specific toolbar
● a number of contextual commands available in the specification tree and in the geometry. Remember that
these commands can also be accessed from the menu bar.
If you wish to use the whole screen space for the geometry, remove the specification tree clicking off the View ->
Specifications menu item, or using the F3 key.
You could also directly choose Sketch Tracer from the Start -> Shape menu. It would automatically open a new
CATProduct document, provided there already is a CATIA session running.
User Tasks
Importing Sketches
Importing Sketches
Creating an Immersive Sketch using a Screenshot
This task shows you how to load a sketch into CATIA. This sketch is positioned in relation to the open document. The view defined for
the document is also the image's view. You can define a view prior to importing the sketch, or at any time when positioning it.
A CATProduct must be open and the FreeStyle Sketch Tracer workbench active.
Make sure the correct visualization options are active by selecting the Apply Customized View icon in the View -> Render
Style command. If this option is not active, you may view only a black picture.
1. From the View toolbar, choose the Top View icon .
The sketch will be imported within this view.
2. Click the Create an Immersive sketch icon .
The File Selection

dialog box pops up
into which you can
navigate to open
the sketch you
wish.
Here, navigate to
the samples
directory and
select the
SampleCar_side.tif
image.
2. Click Open.
The image is loaded and the Sketch Parameters dialog box is displayed.
The element (identified as Painting x) is displayed in the specification tree under the Painting Gallery node.
You are now ready to set up the sketch positioning according to the import mode you choose.

using a Screenshot
This task shows you how to refine a cylindrical or conical picture with any image editor and use the updated painting to create the corresponding geometry.
Open the ScreenShot1.CATProduct document.
Make sure the correct visualization options are active by selecting the Apply Customized View icon in the View -> Render Style command. If this option is not active, you may view only a
black picture.
You can use the conic or the parallel view: in the View -> Render Style command, select either Perspective or Parallel.
1. From the View toolbar, choose the Top View icon .
2. Click the Create an Immersive sketch using screen shot icon .
The Save dialog box pops up into which you can navigate to open the sketch you wish.
Here, navigate to the images directory and save it as Photo1.tif.
The sketch is loaded into CATIA and identified as Painting x in the specification tree under the Painting Gallery node.
Parallel view Perspective
3. From an external image editor, open the sketch to paint details on top of it.
4. Save the modifications.
5. Back in CATIA, update the sketch to visualize the modifications.

Parallel view Perspective
The element (identified as Painting x) is displayed in the specification tree under the Painting Gallery node.
You are now ready to create the corresponding geometry.


This task shows you how to define the position of a sketch according to a cylindrical view: front, top, bottom or side view within the document.
Generally speaking, sketch positioning is done in three steps:
1. defining the import view, in relation to the document view defined using the standard View toolbar (Quick View sub-toolbar).
2. positioning the local axis-system (model axis) onto the image
3. scaling the image in relation to the geometry within the document using information from the image: the distance between two points
along one of the model axis direction, thus setting the rectangle's or the line's size. Then it may be necessary to zoom in or out to get the
rectangle or the line to match these two points, using local manipulators.
A image has been loaded as described in Creating an Immersive Sketch.
1. From the View toolbar, choose the Left View icon
2. From the Sketch Parameters dialog box, choose the
Set cylindrical view icon.
The image size is indicated in the dialog box, for information.
A dashed rectangular frame is displayed representing the size of the image, and scale in relation to the document. Several manipulators are
available, to help you scale and position the sketch properly:
The displayed axis-system allows you to define the document's origin.
● to define the document's origin
● to set the size: drag the arrow one way or the other, or
right-click an arrow, choose the Edit contextual menu and
specify a value
● to set the dimension: click the tag to edit the dimension
● to rotate the rectangular frame about the model axis

● to zoom in or out the image in relation to the document,

thus scaling it. The rectangle's size remains unchanged.
● to perform a scaling and rotation, as described above, at

the same time
Two options are available from the dialog box:
Use a cube
This option enables you to define the view using a rectangle.
The loaded image looks like this:
1. Move the pointer over the axis-system's middle point
and position it at the correct location.
2. Release the axis-system's middle point when you are
satisfied with its position.
3. Define the axis orientation:
● click the Flip arrow at any time to invert the orientation
and therefore the rectangular frame. (See also
Copying/Pasting a Sketch.)
● right-click the Flip arrow to change the orientation and
set another axis.

4. Move over to one of the frame's corner to define the
model size:
With the pointer over the Size manipulator, right-
click, and choose the Edit contextual menu item.
The Tuner dialog box is displayed, allowing you to
enter exact values, in relation to the document's
origin.
If you move the manipulators, the model size does not

change.
You can also be simply drag the Size manipulator to the correct location, provided the scaling already is correct.
The results may be something like this, with the rectangular

frame's limit outside the image's limits, which may not
correspond to your needs.
5. In this case, you need to zoom the image in or out to
define the image scale in relation to the geometry,
using the Zoom manipulator.
The rectangular frame's size being retained, the
image is in fact zoomed, thus defining the scale.
Once the scale has been defined using the zoom in
one direction, you do not need to redefine it in the
other direction.
6. Check and, if needed, modify the size in the other direction.
It is best not to use the zooming capability in both directions, but rather to set it once for the whole image.
Use a Line
This option enables you to define the view using a line.
1. Move the pointer over the first point and position it at
the correct location.
2. Release the point when you are satisfied with its
position (it is not necessarily the origin)

3. Perform the same operation with the second point.
The cylindrical view is now aligned.
4. Define the axis orientation:
● click the Flip arrow at any time to invert the orientation
and therefore the rectangular frame. (See also
Copying/Pasting a Sketch.)
● right-click the Flip arrow to change the orientation and
set another axis.

5. Define the model size:
With the pointer over the Size manipulator, right-
click, and choose the Edit contextual menu item.
The Tuner dialog box is displayed, allowing you to
enter exact values, in relation to the document's
origin.
If you move the manipulators, the model size does not

change.
6. Click the Stretch option to allow the manipulation and
distortion of the image.
Two new manipulators are displayed to:

● modify the handle position and define the stretch origin
● stretch the image
7. Define the stretch origin using the circle manipulator.
8. Use the arrows to stretch the image or right-click and
choose the Edit contextual menu item.
The circle displays in dotted lines, meaning that the
origin can no longer be modified.
Here is the result of a distortion:
To cancel the distortion applied to the image, simply click the Reset button or right-click the circle manipulator and choose the Edit contextual
menu item.
3. Once you are satisfied with both the image size and the rectangular frame positioning, click OK in the dialog box.
The image has been imported into the .CATProduct
document and a Painting feature is added to the
specification tree.
You can now manipulate the image as any element
into a .CATProduct or .CATPart document.
● You can trim the image itself, using the manipulators on the solid green frame.
● Click on the Focus Off text at the bottom of the image to reset the image parallel to the screen. You can also choose the Activate
Viewpoint contextual menu.
Once you have clicked this text, it changes to Focus On and lets you zoom or move (grabbing the red triangles) the image within the
document, independently of the compass. Note that you cannot rotate the image.
To return to standard document manipulations, click the Focus On text, or choose the Deactivate Viewpoint contextual menu.
This task shows you how to define the position of a sketch according to a conical view.
Generally speaking, sketch positioning is done in three steps:
1. defining the import view, in relation to the document view defined using the standard View toolbar (Quick View sub-toolbar).
2. positioning the local axis-system (model axis) onto the image
3. scaling the image in relation to the geometry within the document using information from the image: the distance between two points
along one of the model axis direction, thus setting the cube's size. Then it may be necessary to zoom in or out to get the cube to
match these two points, using local manipulators.
A image has been loaded as described in Creating an Immersive Sketch.

From the samples directory, select the Phone1.tif image.
1. From the Sketch Parameters dialog box, choose the Set
conical view icon.
You do not need to define a view in the View toolbar
to import the sketch.
The image size is indicated in the dialog box, for

information.

A dashed cubic frame is displayed representing the size of the image, and scale in relation to the document. Several manipulators are
available, to help you scale and position the sketch properly:
The displayed axis-system allows you to define the document's origin.
● to define the document's origin
● to set the size: drag the arrow one way or the other, or
right-click an arrow, choose the Edit contextual menu and
specify a value
● to set the dimension: click the tag to edit the dimension
● to rotate the cubic frame around X axis

● to rotate the cubic frame around Y axis
● to rotate the cubic frame around Z axis
● to zoom in or out the image in relation to the document,

thus scaling it. The rectangle's size remains unchanged.
● to perform a scaling and rotation, as described above, at

the same time
● to adjust the cube to the view
2. Move the pointer over the axis-system's middle point
and position it at the correct location.
3. Release the axis-system's middle point when you are
satisfied with its position.
4. Right-click the the Flip arrow to define the axis
orientation. You can either:
● inverse the orientation using the Flip options, or
● change the orientation and set another axis using
the Set to options

5. Define the cube rotation around three axes:
● around X
● around Y
● around Z
6. Set the vanishing line using the perspective
manipulators to adjust the cube to the view.
7. Move the pointer over the Size manipulator, right-click,
and choose the Edit contextual menu item.
The Tuner dialog box is displayed, allowing you to enter
exact values, in relation to the document's origin.
This lets you define the model size.
You can also click the value tag to display the Tuner dialog box,
or simply drag the Size manipulator to the correct location,
provided the scaling already is correct.
8. Once you are satisfied with both the image size and the
cubic frame positioning, click OK in the dialog box.
The image has been imported into the .CATProduct
document and a Painting feature is added to the
specification tree.
You can now manipulate the image as any element
into a .CATProduct or .CATPart document.
● You can click the Flip text at any time to invert the axis orientation, and therefore the rectangular frame. (See also Copying/Pasting a
Sketch)
● You can also trim the image itself, using the manipulators on the solid green frame.
● Click on the Focus Off text at the bottom of the image to reset the image parallel to the screen. You can also choose the Activate
Viewpoint contextual menu.
Once you have clicked this text, it changes to Focus On and lets you zoom or move (grabbing the red triangles) the image within
the document, independently of the compass. Note that you cannot rotate the image.
To return to standard document manipulations, click the Focus On text, or choose the Deactivate Viewpoint contextual menu.

This task shows you how to copy the parameters of an existing sketch by selecting it in the specification tree while editing or
creating another sketch.
This capability enables to use the properties of existing sketches to fasten their positioning and definition.
● An image has been loaded as described in Creating an Immersive Sketch.
● The Left View icon was selected from the View toolbar to import the sketch within this view.
● The Set cylindrical view type was selected from the Sketch Parameters dialog box.
The image size is indicated in the dialog box shows a size of 1237 X 651.
1. Use the manipulators to scale and position the sketch.
2. Click OK in the dialog box.
The image has been imported into the .CATProduct document and a Painting feature is
added to the specification tree.

3. Load a second image as described in Creating an Immersive Sketch.
You can see that the orientation and the size of this sketch is different from the first one: it
shows a size of 1243 X 799.
4. In the specification tree, click the first Painting feature.
You can see that:

● the view orientation of the second sketch is the same as the selected sketch
● the current sketch is centered on the selected sketch and proportionally scaled.
As a consequence, scaling and positioning the second sketch will be quicker and easier.

This section shows how to manage imported sketches within the CATIA environment.
Refresh an image: double-click the image frame, choose the Open icon in the dialog box and
choose an image.
Copy/paste an image: select an image, change document, paste the image
Import another sketch: select another image to be imported.
Trim an image: select the green frame manipulators and set the frame limits to the desired
image limits.
Refreshing an Imported Sketch

This task shows how to refresh an image, that is update the document into which it has been
imported when the sketch has been modified outside CATIA.
Open the CarSideView.CATProduct document from the Samples directory and select
Sketch Tracer from the Start -> Shape menu.
1. Double-click the image name from the specification
tree (Painting.1).
The Sketch Parameters dialog box is displayed,
containing the imported image's name and
location path.
2. Click the Reload Image file icon from the dialog box.
The image is updated taking into account modifications done outside CATIA.
3. If needed, re-position the frame on the new image.
4. Click OK to save this new image within the Painting.x feature.

Copying/Pasting A Sketch
This task shows how to copy/paste an image within the same document or within another document.
Open the CarSideView.CATProduct document from the Samples directory, select Sketch Tracer from the Start ->
Shape menu, and expand the specification tree.
1. Right-click the Painting.1 feature from the specification tree.
2. Choose the Copy menu item.
3. Right-click Painting Gallery from the specification tree and choose the Paste menu item.
The copied Painting.1 feature is copied.
● You can copy images from a document to another just as well.

● Within a given document you can obtain a symmetric image by copying/pasting an image, then using the Flip
capability to invert the set frame in the copied image:
Once the image has been copied in the Trim2.CATProduct document:
1. Double-click Painting.2 from the specification tree.

2. Click the Flip text.
The sketch axis is inverted.

3. Click OK in the Sketch Parameters dialog box.
The image is trimmed as specified and the resulting .CATProduct document containing both images
now looks like this:
Importing Another Sketch

This task shows how to import second image within the a given document.
Open the CarSideView.CATProduct document from the Samples directory and select Sketch Tracer
from the Start -> Shape menu.
1. Click the Create an Immersive sketch icon .
The Image File Selector dialog box pops up. By default, it opens to the location of the last
imported image.
2. If needed
navigate to a
new folder,
select a new
image, and
click Open.
The image
is loaded
and the
Sketch
Parameters
dialog box
is
displayed.
3. Position the image as described in Positioning in 2D Mode, then click OK in the Sketch
Parameters dialog box.

The second
image is
added to
the current
Painting
Gallery
node.
Trimming A Sketch
This task shows how to trim the imported image to retain only a specific part of the initial image.
Open the CarSideView.CATProduct document from the Samples directory and select Sketch Tracer from the Start
-> Shape menu.
1. From the specification tree, double-click the Painting 1.
The Sketch Parameters dialog box opens up and you can edit the image.
2. Grab the green frame from the bottom left corner manipulator and bring it to the front of the car in the top view of
the car.
3. Once the bottom left manipulator is set in place, use the top-right manipulator and set the green frame to limits of
the car top view.
4. Click OK in the Sketch Parameters dialog box.
The image is trimmed to the green frame limits.

Sketch Tracer Interoperability

Optimal CATIA PLM Usability for Sketch

Tracer
When working with ENOVIA V5, the safe save mode ensures that you only create data in CATIA
that can be correctly saved in ENOVIA. Therefore, in interoperability mode, some CATIA V5
commands are grayed out / hidden in the Sketch Tracer workbench.
ENOVIA V5 offers two different storage modes: Workpackage (Document kept - Publications
Exposed) and Explode (Document not kept).
To ensure seamless integration, you must have both a CATIA and ENOVIA session running.
Please find below the list of the Sketch Tracer commands along with their accessibility status in
Enovia V5. In some cases, restriction rules apply to certain commands.
Command Accessibility in Enovia LCA
Yes (only if the target is not
Create an Immersive Sketch
in Explode Mode)
Create an Immersive Sketch Yes (only if the target is not
using Screen Shot in Explode Mode)
Working with Enovia V5, you can select and save an image file in the database when creating a
new painting (Create an Immersive Sketch only).
Workbench Description
This chapter describes the various menus, submenus, items and toolbar of the FreeStyle Sketch Tracer workbench.
Menu Bar
Toolbars
Specification Tree
Menu Bar
There are no menu command specific to the FreeStyle Sketch Tracer. Therefore you can refer to
general menu commands as described in the Infrastructure User's Guide. Refer to the Menu Bar
section, and to the commands related to .CATProduct documents in the Product Structure User's
Guide.
You can now manage and edit document links. Therefore, the image file is referenced as an
external file.
External documents directly pointed to by the active document can be displayed using the Edit-
>Links... or File->Desk... command.
Please refer to the Editing Document Links chapter in the CATIA Infrastructure User Guide.
Toolbars
This section describes the FreeStyle Sketch Tracer toolbar.
See Creating an Immersive Sketch
See Creating an Immersive Sketch using a Screenshot
The Filter toolbar is also displayed, allowing you to Select Only Products.
Specification Tree
Within the FreeStyle Sketch Tracer workbench, you can generate a number of features that are
identified in the specification tree by the following icons.
Further information on general symbols in the specification tree are available in Symbols Used in the
Specification Tree.
Painting
Index
C
command
Copy
Create an Immersive Sketch
Create an Immersive Sketch using a Screenshot
Paste
conical view
Copy
copying
creating
cylindrical view
F
frame
trimming
I
immersive sketch
creating
immersive sketch using a screenshot
creating
importing
M
managing
O
orientation
sketch
P
Paste
pasting
positioning
sketch
Products Selection
command
R
refreshing
Reload Image File
command
S
sketch
copying
importing
managing
pasting
positioning
refreshing
trimming
T
trimming
V
view
conical
cylindrical

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FreeStyle Sketch Tracer Version 5 Release 13 Page 1

FreeStyle Sketch Tracer

Using This Guide

Using This Guide

Where to Find More Information

See also the Conventions.

Entering The Workbench

2. Select Product in the List of Types field and click OK.

A CATProduct document is opened.

The use of a CATProduct-type document is especially useful to

sketch for several parts (located in CATPart documents).

3. Choose Sketch Tracer from the Start -> Shape menu.

The FreeStyle Sketch Tracer workbench is loaded.

The FreeStyle Sketch Tracer workbench document is made of:

1. From the View toolbar, choose the Top View icon .

The sketch will be imported within this view.

2. Click the Create an Immersive sketch icon .

The File Selection

Creating an Immersive Sketch

Open the ScreenShot1.CATProduct document.

1. From the View toolbar, choose the Top View icon .

The sketch will be imported within this view.

2. Click the Create an Immersive sketch using screen shot icon .

Here, navigate to the images directory and save it as Photo1.tif.

Parallel view Perspective

4. Save the modifications.

5. Back in CATIA, update the sketch to visualize the modifications.

Parallel view Perspective

Positioning the View

Positioning using the Cylindrical View

Generally speaking, sketch positioning is done in three steps:

A image has been loaded as described in Creating an Immersive Sketch.

1. From the View toolbar, choose the Left View icon

The sketch will be imported within this view.

2. From the Sketch Parameters dialog box, choose the

Set cylindrical view icon.

The image size is indicated in the dialog box, for information.

● to define the document's origin

● to set the dimension: click the tag to edit the dimension

● to rotate the rectangular frame about the model axis

● to zoom in or out the image in relation to the document,

● to perform a scaling and rotation, as described above, at

Two options are available from the dialog box:

1. Move the pointer over the axis-system's middle point

and position it at the correct location.

2. Release the axis-system's middle point when you are

satisfied with its position.

3. Define the axis orientation:

● click the Flip arrow at any time to invert the orientation

and therefore the rectangular frame. (See also

● right-click the Flip arrow to change the orientation and

set another axis.

4. Move over to one of the frame's corner to define the

With the pointer over the Size manipulator, right-

click, and choose the Edit contextual menu item.

The Tuner dialog box is displayed, allowing you to

enter exact values, in relation to the document's