Autodesk_Alias2014_WhatsNew

Autodesk Alias 2014

What's New

April 2013

© 2013 Autodesk, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Except as otherwise permitted by Autodesk, Inc., this publication, or parts thereof, may notbe reproduced in any form, by any method, for any purpose.

Certain materials included in this publication are reprinted with the permission of the copyright holder.

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The following are registered trademarks or trademarks of Autodesk, Inc., and/or its subsidiaries and/or affiliates in the USA and other countries:123D, 3ds Max, Algor, Alias, AliasStudio, ATC, AutoCAD, AutoCAD Learning Assistance, AutoCAD LT, AutoCAD Simulator, AutoCAD SQLExtension, AutoCAD SQL Interface, Autodesk, Autodesk 123D, Autodesk Homestyler, Autodesk Intent, Autodesk Inventor, Autodesk MapGuide,Autodesk Streamline, AutoLISP, AutoSketch, AutoSnap, AutoTrack, Backburner, Backdraft, Beast, Beast (design/logo), BIM 360, Built withObjectARX (design/logo), Burn, Buzzsaw, CADmep, CAiCE, CAMduct, CFdesign, Civil 3D, Cleaner, Cleaner Central, ClearScale, Colour Warper,Combustion, Communication Specification, Constructware, Content Explorer, Creative Bridge, Dancing Baby (image), DesignCenter, DesignDoctor, Designer's Toolkit, DesignKids, DesignProf, Design Server, DesignStudio, Design Web Format, Discreet, DWF, DWG, DWG (design/logo),DWG Extreme, DWG TrueConvert, DWG TrueView, DWGX, DXF, Ecotect, ESTmep, Evolver, Exposure, Extending the Design Team, FABmep,Face Robot, FBX, Fempro, Fire, Flame, Flare, Flint, FMDesktop, ForceEffect, Freewheel, GDX Driver, Glue, Green Building Studio, Heads-upDesign, Heidi, Homestyler, HumanIK, i-drop, ImageModeler, iMOUT, Incinerator, Inferno, Instructables, Instructables (stylized robot design/logo),Inventor, Inventor LT, Kynapse, Kynogon, LandXplorer, Lustre, Map It, Build It, Use It, MatchMover, Maya, Mechanical Desktop, MIMI, Moldflow,Moldflow Plastics Advisers, Moldflow Plastics Insight, Moondust, MotionBuilder, Movimento, MPA, MPA (design/logo), MPI (design/logo), MPX,MPX (design/logo), Mudbox, Multi-Master Editing, Navisworks, ObjectARX, ObjectDBX, Opticore, Pipeplus, Pixlr, Pixlr-o-matic, PolarSnap,Powered with Autodesk Technology, Productstream, ProMaterials, RasterDWG, RealDWG, Real-time Roto, Recognize, Render Queue, Retimer,Reveal, Revit, Revit LT, RiverCAD, Robot, Scaleform, Scaleform GFx, Showcase, Show Me, ShowMotion, SketchBook, Smoke, Softimage, Socialcam,Sparks, SteeringWheels, Stitcher, Stone, StormNET, TinkerBox, ToolClip, Topobase, Toxik, TrustedDWG, T-Splines, U-Vis, ViewCube, Visual,Visual LISP, Vtour, WaterNetworks, Wire, Wiretap, WiretapCentral, XSI.

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Disclaimer

THIS PUBLICATION AND THE INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN IS MADE AVAILABLE BY AUTODESK, INC. "AS IS." AUTODESK, INC. DISCLAIMSALL WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO ANY IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY ORFITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE REGARDING THESE MATERIALS.

Contents

Chapter 1 What’s New . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

Chapter 2 General improvements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3General Disclaimer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3Live Update now available . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4F1 launches Help for current tool . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4New file browser with thumbnails . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5Changes to the user interface . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6Enhancements to Preferences . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11Enhancements to Object Lister . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15Improvements to the behavior of attached windows . . . . . . . . . . . 19Ability to switch stages using hotkeys . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20Ability to toggle Alt/Shift action in Perspective window with

hotkey . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21Pick Component can distinguish between NURBS and Bézier

surfaces . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23Enhancements to Pick Chooser . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23Autodesk Alias IdeaStation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

Chapter 3 Visualization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25New Diagnostic Shade Light Manipulator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25Ability to layer Diagnostic Shaders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27New visualization preference for inactive layers . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

iii

Chapter 4 Evaluation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31New Object to Plane Deviation tool . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31Show absolute min/max radius in Curvature tool . . . . . . . . . . . . 32

Chapter 5 Modeling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35New geometry Array tool . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35New Path Array tool . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40New Barrel and Helix surface tools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45New NURBS to Bezier tool . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50Enhancements to Multi-Surface Fillet tools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51Enhancements to Rolled Edge tools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55Form Factor: new meaning and wider availability . . . . . . . . . . . . 56Improved fillet extensions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62Enhancements to Multi-Surface Blend tools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63Enhancements to Profile tool . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64Enhancements to Align . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69Enhancements to 3D trimming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72Improved CV structure for Offset curves and surfaces . . . . . . . . . . 74Modify Range option for Multi-Surface Draft tool . . . . . . . . . . . . 76Enhancements to Transform CV . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78Enhancements to Smooth tool . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79Ability to change the degree and spans of multiple objects at

once . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81

Chapter 6 Data Transfer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83Send Alias data to Showcase or Maya . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83Export to Illustrator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86Enhancements to EDF translators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88Save Layers plug-in exports layers to other formats . . . . . . . . . . . 89

Chapter 7 Fixed Limitations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91General Issues . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91Modeling Issues . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91Visualization Issues . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92Data Transfer Issues . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92

Chapter 8 What’s Where... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93New tools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93Renamed tools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93Obsolete tools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94

iv | Contents

What’s New

We are pleased to provide you with the latest version of Autodesk® Alias™ software. Aliasdelivers new functionality and fixes to software limitations.

1

1

General improvements

Describes general changes and new features.

General DisclaimerIf you are using existing user preferences from an older version of Alias, youmay not notice when the default values of options change.

User preferences for Windows 7 and 8 are located inC:\Users\<username>\AppData\Roaming\Autodesk\Alias\UserPrefs2014.

User preferences for Mac OS are located in/Users/<username>/Library/Preferences/Autodesk/Alias/UserPrefs2014.

If the folder does not exist, it is created the first time Alias 2014 launches. Thefollowing dialog appears:

Choose Defaults to accept the new default preferences.

2

3

Live Update now availableTo receive the latest software updates and maintenance patches, click the Live

Update icon on the right-hand side of the menu bar.

A web page opens, telling you whether your product is up to date, or whetherupdates are available. If an update is available, the web page presents adescription as well as links to the Readme and download.

NOTE Disclaimer: Image is for demonstration purposes only, and does not representthe details of an actual service pack.

F1 launches Help for current toolWe added the Current Tool Help command to the Help menu.

By default, the F1 key is assigned to this command and opens Help for thecurrent tool.

4 | Chapter 2 General improvements

New file browser with thumbnailsThe Windows 7 file browser is now able to display thumbnail images for wirefiles. This change applies to Windows Explorer, as well as the Windows filebrowser used in Alias when opening and saving files.

The Windows file browser within Alias has a different look, more in line withWindows 7. Some of the original functionality has been modified:■ The Go lister at the top of the browser is now called Go To and is located

in the lower left corner. The options are:

Current Home – Goes to the folder that is one level up from the currentproject folder.

Current Project – Goes to the current project folder.

Current Wire – Goes to the wire folder in the current project.

■ The Project > Set Current menu choice is now a button called SetCurrent centered at the bottom of the browser. It sets the selected(highlighted) folder to be the current project

■ The Project > New Project menu choice is now a button called NewProject, which creates a new project folder in the current folder.

Clicking the Show the preview pane icon at the top of the browser (circledin red in the image) opens a pane displaying a thumbnail of the wire filecurrently selected.

Thumbnail images are generated within all wire files. The Create .ICON filescheck box in Preferences > General Preferences now appears only when Type

New file browser with thumbnails | 5

of file browser is set to Alias (old Alias browser) or when running WindowsXP, which does not support the new browser thumbnail feature.

If you have Alias installed, Windows Explorer also displays thumbnails forwire files.

On the Mac platform, the file browser has the same appearance as before, butnow displays a preview of the wire files when using the Alias browser (openingand saving files). Wire files also display an associated image in the Finder.

The Reference Manager and the saveLayers plug-in now use the new filebrowser.

Changes to the user interfaceNew screen management features

In Alias 2013, we introduced new interface features to help you make the mostof your screen space. We made further improvements in this release.■ We added the ability to resize the Palette, Shelves, or control windows to

fit the contents. To resize the window, click the icon in the title bar.

■ The Transform CV options have been removed from the Control Paneland moved to their own editor window (which opens up when youdouble-click the tool). However, you can still attach that window to theControl Panel by holding the Shift key and dragging the window on topof the Control Panel.

Icon labels display by default

Text labels now display on tool icons by default. To hide them, selectPreferences > General Preferences and on the Interface tab, click Icon labels.

Visual feedback when rolling over tools and menus

When mousing over a tool icon, the icon now appears surrounded by a grayborder. Similarly, mousing over a menu item shows it in a lighter shade ofgray and surrounded by a border.


Visual feedback as mouse rolls over Pick CV (left) and Delete Locators (right)

This visual feedback helps to select the proper tool.

No more default for Short Menus in Default workflow

Choosing Preferences > Menus > Short Menus now has no effect inDefault workflow mode, unless you have copied your user preferences froma previous release, or have customized your short menus.

NOTE The system notifies you that you must customize your menus usingPreferences > Interface > Hotkeys/Menu Editor before you can see the short menus.

The reason for this change is to prevent new users from inadvertently hidingfunctionality while exploring the user interface.

Orthographic label added to ViewCube in ortho view

We added a label to ViewCube to indicate when it is set to an orthographicview.

Changes to the user interface | 7

Save button replaced by Apply button in option boxes

The Save button has been removed from all option boxes. In its place younow find an Apply button which, when clicked, remembers the new valuesof the options, but does not close the window. If there are no changes toapply, the button is disabled (grayed out).

Turn off warning when running multiple Alias sessions

We have added a "don't show again" check box to the warning dialog box thatappears when running several Alias sessions simultaneously. Check this boxto avoid seeing this warning again.

User Colors - changes to File menu

The Preferences > Interface > User Colors window has undergone some changesto its File menu.

We have removed the Store as Default option, since the retention of settingsnow happens automatically when exiting Alias (see Persistent user options(page 13)).


Store and Retrieve have been renamed Export and Import respectively,but their functionality remains the same.

When you import or export a color file, the browser opens in the.../UserPrefs2014/Colors folder where user color files are kept. There is now aDefault sub-folder where the default color files are stored separately from theuser files.

Additional scrolling features on Layer Bar

Scrolling arrows now appear at both ends of the Layer Bar when the layerbuttons cannot all fit within the bar. As well, a thin scroll bar (in the creationlayer color) is visible below the Layer Bar when you move the cursor over it.

NOTE If you cannot see the Layer Bar (located below the prompt line) chooseLayers > Toggle Layer Bar.

True cross sections renamed Radial

For consistency, references to True cross sections have been changed toRadial. This change includes the True (Radial) tool within the New menuof Windows > Editors > Cross Section Editor. It also includes the icon of thecorresponding cross section tool when placed on a shelf.

Interior flow control label

The toggle label for the Interior Flow Control in Freeform Blend onlyappears when there is an interior boundary to align to (Figure 1). Otherwise,only the Start and End labels appear (Figure 2).

Changes to the user interface | 9

Figure 1

Figure 2


Enhancements to PreferencesSave and retrieve window configurations

We added the ability to save a configuration of windows as a Workspace.Workspaces remember the sizes, positions, and relationships between shelves,palettes, and control windows (but not view windows). You can save as manyconfigurations as you want and easily switch between them.

To save your current configuration, select Workspaces > Save Workspaceto the right of the prompt line.

Type a name for the file in the File name field and click Save.

By default, the current workspace is saved on exit. If you do not want it saved,deselect the Save workspace on exit option in the Interface section ofthe Preferences > General Preferences window.

The bottom section of the menu lists the workspaces saved in the defaultlocation(System(C:)/Users/<user>/AppData/Roaming/Autodesk/Alias/UserPrefs2014/workspaces)as well as in the Common Preference Location (page 13).

To retrieve a stored configuration, simply select it from the Workspacesdrop-down menu, or choose Workspaces > Retrieve Workspace, locatethe configuration file, select it and click Open. The name of the currentworkspace appears on the Workspaces menu button.

To delete a saved workspace, scroll down to the small delete icon next to thename until it turns red, then release the mouse button .

You can also define hotkeys for both Save Workspace and RetrieveWorkspace through the Special > Workspace Functions section in theHotkey Editor (Preferences > Interface > Hotkeys/Menu Editor). An additionalhotkey can be set for Retrieve Next Workspace, which retrieves the nextworkspace in the drop-down menu.

Enhancements to Preferences | 11

Shelf option menu lets you switch between shelf sets

The tool shelves (Windows > Shelves) and the marking menu shelves(Preferences > Interface > Marking Menus) now display saved shelf sets in thebottom section of the option menu. This menu is available by right-clicking

the shelves title bar or by left-clicking this icon .

This feature allows you to switch quickly between different shelf sets.

To delete a shelf set, scroll down to the small delete icon next to the nameuntil it turns red, then release the mouse button .

The menu lists the shelf sets saved both in the default location(System(C:)/Users/<user>/AppData/Roaming/Autodesk/Alias/UserPrefs2014/shelves)and the Common Preference Location (page 13).


Specify a common location to store and read shelf sets and workspaces

A new option called Common Preference Location is found in the Systemsection of the Preferences > General Preferences window.

This field lets you specify a common folder to store shelf sets and workspaces(as an alternative to the default location under UserPrefs2014).

Files within this folder will appear in the drop-down menu for shelves andworkspaces, as long as the folder hierarchy mimics that of the UserPrefs2014folder. At a minimum it must have a workspaces and a shelves sub-folder. Theshelves sub-folder must have appropriate sub-folders such as Default_Shelves.

This enables multiple users to access the same shelf sets and workspaces froma shared location.

Save shelves and user options

Shelves and user_options are no longer saved automatically. To save them,choose Preferences > User Preferences > Save.

If you make changes to shelves and options and do not save, you are promptedto save them when you exit Alias.

The Preferences > User Options > Save Options and Preferences >User Options > Retrieve Options tools are no longer available.

New Tool Resets window

A new Tool Resets window under Utilities > Tool Resets lets you controlyour preferences from a single location. From this window, you can reset yourshelves, and other user options and preferences.

Enhancements to Preferences | 13

Reset – Click this icon (available for shelves and marking menus only) thenclick Apply Resets to reset the options of shelf tools to the values they hadwhen Alias started (beginning of current session).

Factory Reset – Click this icon, then click Apply Resets, to reset all optionsto the original Alias default values.

General Preferences – Settings from the Preferences > General Preferenceswindow.

Palette and Menus – All settings in option boxes and control windows fromPalette and Menu tools (but not Shelves).

Don't show again dialogs – Settings for all Don't show again dialog boxes.

Shelves – All shelf tool options.

Marking Menus – All marking menu options.


Enhancements to Object ListerWe added substantial functionality to the Object Lister in this release,including new ways to display and sort objects. We also added icons to provideadditional information, and ability to toggle between states, for each layer.Previously, much of this functionality and information was only availablethrough the Modeling Layers Editor (Windows > Information > LayerStats)..

New icons

The space to the right of the layer name can now contain up to five icons.You control which ones are displayed through the choices at the bottom ofthe new Filter menu. (Most of these choices are disabled when Show is setto By Object.) Roll over the icons to see a tool tip description.

The icons are, from left to right:

Layer Number Icon Box that contains the layer number (for informationpurpose only).

Layer Pick State Icon Box that contains the letter P (Picked), R (Reference),or I (Inactive). The color of the box also corresponds to that pick state. Clickingthe icon cycles between the three states of the layer.

Layer Symmetry Icon Box that shows both the color and symmetry state ofthe layer. A vertical dashed line means that Symmetry is on. You can turnsymmetry on or off by clicking the icon.

NOTE This icon is the only one that appears when using Show > By Objectmode.

Enhancements to Object Lister | 15

Layer Bar Icon Box that displays either Y (Yes) or N (No) depending onwhether the layer appears in the Layer Bar. Clicking this icon toggles betweenthe two.

NOTE If Show > By Layer (Layer Bar) is selected, the layer disappears fromthe Object Lister when you set this icon to N. Select Show > By Layer (All)to make it reappear.

Layer Playback Icon Box that displays either Y (Yes) or N (No) dependingon whether animation on this layer plays when you hit Play on the AnimationTime Slider Bar. Clicking this icon toggles between the two.

Addition to Show menu

The Show menu contains a new choice: By Layer (All) which lists all layers,including those layers not displayed in the Layer Bar. The previous By Layermode has been renamed By Layer (Layer Bar) since it only lists the layersshown in the Layer Bar.

New Filter Menu

This menu controls what is displayed in the Object Lister. A check markindicates that those items are shown.■ Choose a type of object (Surfaces, Curves, and so on) in the top section,

to show or hide those objects in the Object Lister.

■ Choose which icons you want to display from the bottom section. (SeeNew Icons (page 15).)

■ Choose All to turn on all the filters, or None to turn off all the filters.


NOTE If Show is By Object, all icon choices are grayed out except LayerSymmetry Icon.

New Sort menu

The Sort menu offers several sorting modes for the layers. When showing ByObject, only the first three are available.

Sort by Hierarchy (SBD) Lists the objects in the same order as they appearin the SBD window (Utilities > SBD > SBD Window).

Sort Alphabetical (by level) Lists the objects in alphabetical order. Whenshowing By Layer (Layer Bar) or By Layer (All), the layers are also listedalphabetically.

Enhancements to Object Lister | 17

Sort by Object Type Lists the objects in the following order: canvasses,construction entities, cameras, DAG nodes (groups of objects), curves, surfaces,meshes, and text objects.

When showing By Layer (Layer Bar) or By Layer (All), five additionalsorting modes are available, based on different layer attributes:

Sort by Layer Visibility Lists the visible layers first, followed by the invisiblelayers.

Sort by Layer Symmetry Lists the layers that have symmetry turned on first,followed by the layers that have symmetry turned off.

Sort by Layer Number Lists the layers in ascending layer number.

Sort by Layer Pick State Lists the Pickable layers, followed by the Referencelayers, and then the Inactive layers.

Sort by Layer Playback Lists the layers with Layer Playback turned offfirst, followed by layers with Layer Playback turned on.

Additional functionality in context-sensitive menu

When right-mouse clicking on an object (or group of objects), you can nowselect Copy, Paste, Delete or Delete Null Node. The function applies tothe object and all its descendants. Paste pastes onto the layer that containsthe object.

When right-mouse clicking on a layer, new choice Paste to Layer lets youpaste whatever is on the clipboard, onto that layer.


Other functionality

We have also added the following capabilities:■ Select an object with construction history from within the Object Lister

when using the Query Edit tool.

■ Drag and drop an object (a simple DAG node or a group) on top of anothergroup with the middle-mouse button to place the object into that group.

Improvements to the behavior of attached win-dows

We have made a few changes to the way attached windows behave. Theseenhancements make collapsing and expanding families of attached windowsmore intuitive.

In addition, you now only need to click the title bar of a window once toexpand or collapse it.

NOTE To attach a window to another, Shift-drag the title bar until the edgesnaps to the edge of the other window. Only windows that can remain openregardless of the current action can be attached. Option boxes and tool controlwindows cannot be attached.

In the list of enhancements below, parent refers to the window with the darkgray title bar, that other windows have been attached to. Children refer to allthe windows attached to the parent, and which move along when the parentis moved.■ The auto-hide state of the parent window now applies to all its children.

■ The collapse direction of the parent window (left/right/up/down arrow)automatically applies to all its children.

■ When a family of windows collapses to the left or right, clicking the titlebar of any window in the family collapses or expands all of them.

Improvements to the behavior of attached windows | 19

One click expands all the windows in the family.

Ability to switch stages using hotkeysWe have added two new functions under Special > Display Functions inthe Hotkey Editor (Preferences > Interface > Hotkeys/Menu Editor). Thesefunctions allow you to define hotkeys to toggle between your stages.


Toggle Stage lets you cycle through all your stages, making each stage theworking stage in turn.

Toggle Stage Exclusive makes each stage the working stage in turn, andsets the Window Source and Background Source to match that stage. Italso makes all other stages invisible. The visual effect is equivalent to havinga single stage present.

Ability to toggle Alt/Shift action in Perspectivewindow with hotkey

We have added a new function called Toggle Alt/Shift Action underSpecial > Generally Useful Functions in the Hotkey Editor (Preferences> Interface > Hotkeys/Menu Editor). This function lets you define a hotkey totoggle between the Azimuth/Twist and Tumble/Zoom viewing modesquickly in Perspective view.

Ability to toggle Alt/Shift action in Perspective window with hotkey | 21

Previously, this switch could only be achieved by setting the Alt/Shift Actionoption in the Viewing section of the Preferences > General Preferenceswindow, or by accessing the NavBar on the ViewCube.

Hotkey toggles between those two modes on the NavBar


Pick Component can distinguish between NURBSand Bézier surfaces

Pick > Component now shows additional options when Surfaces is checked.You can choose one of: Multi Span, Single Span or All, to select only multispan NURBS surfaces, Bézier surfaces, or both types of surfaces, respectively.The default is All.

See also:

New NURBS to Bézier tool (page 50)

Enhancements to Pick ChooserImproved Pick Chooser behavior

The choices that appear in the Pick Chooser lister are now consistent with thebehavior of the mouse button you are using. (Use Preferences > SelectionOptions to assign different selection modes to the mouse buttons.)■ When the selection mode for a mouse button is set to Add, the Pick

Chooser does not show already selected items.

Pick Component can distinguish between NURBS and Bézier surfaces | 23

■ When the selection mode is set to Unpick, the Pick Chooser only showsalready selected items.

Pick Chooser available for Pick Hull

When using Pick > Point Types > Hull, clicking on overlapping hulls nowbrings up the pick chooser.

Autodesk Alias IdeaStationThe Autodesk Alias IdeaStation is a forum dedicated to improving AutodeskAlias software by sharing your ideas for improving the product directly withthe developers.

Do you have a great idea for a new feature or enhancement you'd like to seein Autodesk Alias? Share your wish list directly with the Autodesk AliasDevelopment Team, and let us turn your ideas into reality.

Post your ideas, see what your peers are thinking, and give kudos to the ideasyou like the best. The more kudos your idea receives, the better the chance ofit making it into the product. At the IdeaStation, you can even track the statusof ideas as they grow from initial concept to ultimate release!

For useful tips on posting an idea, review the IdeaStation Guidelines.


http://autodesk.com/alias_ideastation

http://www.autodesk.com/ideastationguidelines

Visualization

This version of Alias presents improvements to rendering.

New Diagnostic Shade Light ManipulatorIn this release, we added a manipulator to move the Diagnostic Shade light.This manipulator lets you move the light in a more intuitive fashion.

The following diagnostic shaders let you unlink the light from the cameraposition: Multi-Color, Random Color, Horizontal/Vertical, and UserDefined Texture.

When you choose one of these shading modes in the Diagnostic Shadingwindow, and check off the Link Light to Camera option, a white spheremanipulator now appears in the perspective window (bottom left corner bydefault). Clicking and dragging this manipulator moves the light interactivelyaround your model.

The Azimuth and Elevation sliders introduced in Alias 2013 still exist in theDiagnostic Shading window and update in synch with the manipulator. Usethem to enter exact values, or for fine tuning.

3

25

1: Light manipulator. 2: Light icon

Using the manipulator

Click on the manipulator and drag.■ Dragging horizontally changes the azimuth of the light.

■ Dragging vertically changes the elevation of the light.

A point light icon represents the light in your model. Depending on theposition of the camera with respect to the light, the light icon is not alwaysvisible. The light icon is toggled off by default.

Click one of the three icons surrounding the manipulator to do the following:

A Curvy arrow: Reset the light to the camera position. Clicking this iconalso sets the "home" view, as well as a new pivot location for the lightto rotate around. The pivot location is the pivot point, if one exists, ortumble point otherwise.

26 | Chapter 3 Visualization

B Left pointing arrow: Reset the perspective view to the "home"orientation.

C Light bulb: Toggle the light icon on and off. It is off by default.

Diagnostic Light Control Options

Choose ObjectDisplay > Diagnostic Light Control to toggle themanipulator on and off. Open the option box to specify in which corner ofthe window to position the manipulator. The default is Bottom Left.

NOTE The location that corresponds to the position of the ViewCube is notavailable, to avoid overlap.

Ability to layer Diagnostic ShadersYou can now layer a Horizontal/Vertical (zebra stripes) or Curvatureshader on top of any other diagnostic shader.

1 Choose ObjectDisplay > Diagnostic Shading if the Diagnostic Shadingwindow is not already open. (By default it is attached to the ControlPanel).

2 Select the objects you want to shade. (If nothing is selected all objectsare shaded.)

3 Select a diagnostic shader.

The objects display the shader.

4 Select a second shader from the Layer pull-down.

The parameters of the layered shader appear below the parameters ofthe original shader in the control window.

The objects display both shaders.

Ability to layer Diagnostic Shaders | 27

A Horiz/Vert (zebra) shader applied over a Random Color shader

5 Choose None from the Layer pull-down to remove the layered shader.

NOTE You cannot layer a Curvature shader over another Curvature shader.

New visualization preference for inactive layersPreferences > General Preferences now offers the Shade Inactive Layersoption in the Visualization section.

28 | Chapter 3 Visualization

When this option is checked on, objects on inactive layers are shaded whenusing ObjectDisplay > Diagnostic Shading or WindowDisplay >Hardware Shade.

New visualization preference for inactive layers | 29

Evaluation

Describes changes to Evaluation tools

New Object to Plane Deviation toolUnder Locators > Deviation is a new tool called Object to Plane. As itsname indicates, this tool measures the deviation between a construction planeand a curve, surface, or mesh.

1 Choose Locators > Deviation > Object to Plane.

2 Select either the construction plane or the object first.

3 Select the object or the construction plane (depending on what you selectedin step 2).

The minimum, maximum, and mean deviations are shown, as well as adeviation comb.

4

31

Options

Pick Choose the type of objects that can be selected from the pull-down menu:All, Curves, Surfaces, or Meshes. All is the default.

Show Min / Show Max / Show Mean / Show Comb Check/uncheck theboxes to turn the different labels and comb on or off.

Show absolute min/max radius in Curvature toolThe Curvature tool in the control panel has a new option called ShowAbsolute. Check it on to see only the absolute minimum and maximumradii over all the curvature plots in U and/or V.

To see the absolute minimum and maximum radius:■ A curve or surface must be selected.

■ Curvature U and/or Curvature V must be checked on in the Displaysection of the control panel.

32 | Chapter 4 Evaluation

■ Radius Min and/or Max must be checked on in the Curvature sectionof the control panel.

Left: Show Absolute = ON; Right: Show Absolute = OFF

Show absolute min/max radius in Curvature tool | 33

Modeling

Describes changes and improvements to modeling tools to help speed your workflow.

New geometry Array tool

Transform > Array is a new tool that lets you create arrays of objects,either linearly or radially, from duplicates of an original set of objects. A richset of options allows you to create various patterns. This tool is useful whenmodeling objects such as grills, speakers, wheels, and so on.

Create an array of similar objects from an original

1 Choose Transform > Array .

2 Select (or box-select) the objects to duplicate.

3 Click the Build button in the view window.

The array is built.

NOTE If Number is 1 along both axes, you only see the original objects.

4 Adjust the options in the control window.

If Auto Update is on, the array updates automatically. Otherwise clickthe Update button.

5

35

Options

Plane Choose whether to create the array in the XY, XZ or YZ plane.

Mode Linear – The array consists of rows and columns arranged in arectangular pattern. The original object is located in the lower left corner.

Radial – The array consist of "spikes" arranged radially around the originalobject. There is an option (Grow Radially) to increase the number ofduplicates as the distance to the object increases, to create the appearance ofconcentric circles.

36 | Chapter 5 Modeling

Left: Grow Radially = off; Right: Grow Radially = on

Axis 1/Axis 2 or Radial/Angular

These sections control the two directions of the array. For a linear array, boththese sections have identical options. Axis 1 is horizontal and Axis 2 is vertical.For a radial array, Radial is in the direction of the radius, and Angular is inthe direction of the circumference.

Number This value specifies the number of duplicates in each direction(horizontal/vertical for a linear array; radial/angular for a radial array).

Spacing/Angle Spacing specifies the distance between the rows and columns,in the current units. For a radial array, Angle specifies the angle between thecolumns, or "spikes".

Offset Offsets each row (column) in the array by this distance from theprevious row (column).

Scale This is a relative scale factor applied to the original object to producethe last duplicate in each row or column. The sizes of intermediate duplicatesare interpolated.

Stagger Check on to set the Offset to half the Spacing value for alternatingrows (or columns), creating a "stagger" effect, or "brick pattern".

The following options only appear in the Angular section when creating aradial array.

Fit to Circle Check on to adjust the Angle so that the specified number ofcolumns (spikes) fill a 360 degree circumference evenly. For example, ifNumber is 6, Angle is set to 60.

New geometry Array tool | 37

Rotate Duplicates Check on to rotate duplicates around their local pivot bya relative value of Angle with respect to their orientation in the previouscolumn (spike).

Radial array with 9 spikes and Angle = 40. Left: Rotate Duplicates is OFF; Right: RotateDuplicates is ON.

Control Options

Auto Update When checked, duplicates update automatically when valuesin the control window are changed.

Create History When checked, the duplicates have construction history sothat modifying the original objects causes the duplicates to update accordingly.

Scale Position Check on to scale the distance between duplicates along withtheir size when Scale is different from 1.0. For a scale greater than 1.0, thisoption reduces overlapping.

Grow Radially This option is only available in Radial mode. When checked,the number of duplicates increases as the radius of its "row" increases. Thistechnique helps create the appearance of concentric circles, rather than spikes.

Example

Below, the Array tool is used to create a grill array from a single hexagonalcurve. The array of curves is then projected onto a surface. The surface istrimmed, and draft surfaces are built around the holes.


Option settings to create the grill array.

New geometry Array tool | 39

Finished grill after projection, trimming, and draft.

New Path Array tool

Transform > Path Array is a new tool that lets you lay down "stitchpatterns". In other words, it duplicates one or more objects and places thecopies at equal distances along one or more curves.


A: Stitch object. B: Target curve. 1: Spacing manipulator. 2. Range (Start/End)manipulators.

Through the option window and manipulators, you control the spacing, range,position, and orientation of the duplicates.

Create and place duplicates (stitch pattern)

1 Choose Transform > Path Array

2 Select the stitch objects. They can be curves, surfaces, or meshes.

3 Click the Build button in the lower right corner of the view window.

4 Select the target curves. They can be free curves, curves-on-surface, surfaceedges, trim edges, or isoparms (including precision lines).■ Duplicates of the stitch objects appear along the length of the curves.

The pivot points of the duplicates are placed along the curves andused to calculate spacing.

■ Range arrow manipulators appear at the start and end of the lasttarget curve.

■ A Spacing/Number manipulator also appears, with a Specify labelthat you can click to toggle between Spacing and Numberadjustments. Clicking the numerical value below the label lets youenter an exact value. The Spacing manipulator is a small square on

New Path Array tool | 41

the second duplicate. The Number manipulator is a set of twoarrowheads used to decrement/increment the value.

5 Modify the spacing, range, and orientation of the duplicates throughthe control options. You can also use the manipulators to modify thespacing and range directly on the model.

The duplicate objects have history and update as the options aremodified.

NOTE Only duplicates along the last selected target curve are affected.

6 Select additional target curves if desired.

Options

Specify Choose Spacing or Number from the pull-down menu. This optionalso appears as a toggling label on the model.


Spacing / Number Depending on the value of the Specify option.

Spacing – The distance between the duplicates, in current units.

Number – The number of duplicates.

These values can also be set by using the corresponding manipulator on themodel.

Start/End Specifies where the duplicates start and end along the curve. Startand End values of 0.0 and 1.0 respectively define the original extent. Thesevalues can also be set by using the range manipulators on the path curve.

Scale This is a relative scale factor applied to the first duplicate to produce thelast duplicate. The sizes of intermediate duplicates are linearly interpolated.

Position Offset in the X, Y, and Z directions along the duplicates local axes(in current units).

Rotation X/Y/Z Rotation around the local X, Y, and Z axes of the duplicates(in current units).

Incremental Rotation X/Y/Z Rotation around the local X, Y, and Z axes ofthe duplicates by a relative angle with respect to the previous duplicate. Forexample, if the X value is 10.0 (degrees), each duplicate is rotated ten degreesmore around X than the previous one, producing a twisting effect along thepath.

Control Options

Auto Update When checked, duplicates update automatically when valuesin the control window are changed.

Chain Select When checked, selecting a curve also selects all other curvesthat are tangent continuous with it.

Create History When checked, the duplicates have construction history.Modifying the stitch objects or target curves causes the duplicates to updateaccordingly.

Range Fit Check this box to ensure that the duplicates fit the entire lengthof the curves specified by the Start and End positions. This action sometimescauses the Spacing to change (not reflected in the option window).

Orient Normals Check this box to align the local X axis of each duplicatewith the tangent of the target curve at the position of the duplicate. If thetarget curve is a curve-on-surface, each duplicate is oriented so that its localZ axis matches the normal direction of the surface where the curve-on-surface

New Path Array tool | 43

lies. If the target curve is a free curve, the Z axis of each duplicate is orientedalong the direction of the curvature vector of the curve (like plot combs).

NOTE If the curvature of the curve changes direction, the duplicates orientationdoes not flip at inflection points.

If this box is not checked, all the duplicates have the same orientation as theoriginal stitch object.

Example

In the following image, a spoke (two surfaces, shown to the right of the bicyclewheel) is duplicated and placed along a circular path curve (inner rim). Theoperation is repeated twice to create two sets of spokes: one rotated by 45degrees around Y (in pink), and the other rotated by 315 degrees around Y (ingreen).


New Barrel and Helix surface toolsThe Surfaces > Revolve tool now offers two new surface types: Barrel and Helix.Both are surfaces of revolution, but their inputs are different. They are usefulfor the creation of vehicle side windows.

In the Revolve Control window, set Surface type to Barrel or Helix.Freeform produces the standard surface of revolution and is the default.

New Barrel and Helix surface tools | 45

Barrel Surface

To create a Barrel surface, you first select three points to define an arc ofrevolution. You then select two more points which, along with a third pointlocated on the first arc, define a second arc, the barrel curve. The barrel curveis revolved along the arc of revolution, using the specified axis. The Curvedegree option lets you control the degree of the surface in the U direction.

1: arc of revolution; 2: barrel curve; 3: axis of revolution

Build a Barrel surface

1 Set Surface type to Barrel.

2 Select three points to define an arc of revolution. The points must beplanar but can be located either on geometry or in space. If you clickgeometry, the point automatically snaps to it.

The arc is drawn as a green line with arrow manipulators on both ends.If you do not see the arc, change the axis of revolution in the controlwindow. The axis cannot be in the same plane as the arc of revolution.

3 Select two more points to specify the ends of the barrel curve. Alongwith a third point located on the arc of revolution, these inputs definea second arc which gets revolved along the arc of revolution.

The Barrel surface is built. The axis of revolution is drawn in blue.

4 Do one of the following:■ Adjust the parameters in the control window. You can specify the

Curve degree (U degree of the barrel surface), Degree (V degree ofthe barrel surface), number of spans, and segments (in V direction).

■ Use the arrow manipulators on the first arc (or the Start/End anglesliders) to modify the angle of revolution.


NOTE Be careful to grab the arrows and not the end points.

■ Use the arrow manipulators on the second arc (or the Curvestart/Curve end angle sliders) to modify the extent of the barrelcurve.


■ Move any of the five input points to modify the surface.

■ Move the end points of the axis of revolution, or the whole axis.

NOTE Moving the axis removes the three input points on the arc ofrevolution. Since these points originally determined the position of theaxis, they can no longer be modified.

Like other revolve surfaces, Barrel surfaces have history and update whenoptions and constructors are modified.

New options

Curve degree Specifies the degree of the second arc (barrel curve), whichbecomes the degree of the barrel surface in the U direction.

Start angle/End angle Specify the angle between the start/end points of thearc of revolution and the barrel curve. These values are also controlled byarrow manipulators on the model.

Curve start angle/Curve end angle Specify the angle between the start/endpoints of the barrel curve and the arc of revolution. These values modify theextent of the curve. They are also controlled by arrow manipulators on themodel.

Helix Surface

To create a Helix surface, you select one or more curves, to be revolved aroundthe specified axis. You then select two points which, along with a point onthe (first) curve, define an arc of revolution. A new option, Pitch, moves thecurves up or down as they revolve, to create a spiral effect.


1: input curve; 2: arc of revolution. Axis of revolution is off screen, on the upper right.

Build a Helix surface

1 Set Surface type to Helix.

2 Select one or more curves. The curves can be free curves,curves-on-surface, surface edges, or trim edges. They can be disjoint.

The curves are highlighted in green.

3 Click the Accept button in the view window.

4 Select two points to specify the ends of the arc of revolution. A thirdpoint located on the first curve is used to define the arc.■ The arc is drawn as a green line with arrow manipulators on both

ends. If you do not see the arc, change the axis of revolution in thecontrol window. The axis cannot be in the same plane as the arc ofrevolution.

■ The Helix surface is built.

■ The axis of revolution is drawn in blue.

5 Do one of the following:■ Adjust the parameters in the control window to specify the Degree,

Spans, and Segments of the surface in the V direction.

■ Adjust the Pitch to create a spiral-shaped surface.

■ Use the arrow manipulators on the arc of revolution (or theStart/End angle sliders) to modify the angle of revolution. Youcan move the arrows, or use the angle sliders to create a revolution


of more than 360 degrees. This technique, along with the Pitch, isuseful for creating screw-shaped surfaces.


■ Move the two input points to modify the surface.

■ Move the end points of the axis of revolution, or the whole axis.

NOTE Moving the axis removes the two input points on the arc ofrevolution. Since these points originally determined the position of theaxis, they can no longer be modified.

Like other revolve surfaces, Helix surfaces have history and update whenoptions and constructors are modified.

New options

Pitch Specifies the displacement of the curves (along the axis) over onecomplete revolution.

Pitch of 200.0

Start angle/End angle Specify the angle between the start/end points of thearc of revolution and the input curve. These values are also controlled byarrow manipulators on the model.


New NURBS to Bezier toolThis new surface editing tool splits multi-span NURBS surfaces into singlespan Bézier patches. It is found in the Palette under Surface Edit > NURBSto Bezier.

The tool operates on both regular and trimmed surfaces. You can also set anoption to affect all surfaces or only selected surfaces.

Split multi-span surfaces

1 Choose Surface Edit > NURBS to Bezier .

2 Select one or more multi-span surfaces.

3 Click the Split button in the lower right corner of the view window.

The selected surfaces are split into several single-span (Bézier) surfaces.The resulting surfaces are not grouped.

The total number of Bézier surfaces created is posted in the prompt line.The Bézier surfaces have the same U and V degrees as the original surface.

Degree 5 NURBS surface of 4 x 2 spans split into eight Bézier surfaces.

4 Repeat steps 2 and 3 to continue splitting surfaces if desired.


NURBS to Bézier options

Surfaces Selected – The conversion affects only selected surfaces. It is thedefault.

Global – The conversion affects all surfaces.

Keep Originals Keep the original NURBS surfaces after creating the Bézierpatches.

See also:

Pick Component can distinguish between NURBS and Bézier surfaces (page23)

Enhancements to Multi-Surface Fillet toolsIn this release, we have expanded the role of the Form Factor to affect theCV distribution in the V-direction of the fillet in a specific way. We have alsomade its use more widespread within the Surface Fillet tool, and added itto the Symmetric Fillet tool.

We have also improved the fillet extensions for both these tools.

In addition, we have streamlined the selection workflow in Surface Filletto make the tool faster and more efficient. The tool also has a few new options.

New streamlined workflow for Surface Fillet

Both sets of input surfaces can now be selected in one step, without the useof Accept buttons. This workflow lets you add or remove input surfaces afterusing Query Edit.

1 Choose Surfaces > Multi-Surface Fillet > Surface Fillet

2 Select both sets of surfaces, by picking them individually or using aselection box.

Enhancements to Multi-Surface Fillet tools | 51

When Alias detects a tangent break between surfaces, it automaticallyputs them in separate sets. The direction arrows appear as soon as eachset contains at least one surface.

3 Click the Build button.

The fillet is built.

4 Modify the parameters in the control window and click Update (or turnon Auto Update).


When you re-enter the tool by using Query Edit, you can now click surfacesto add them or remove them from the sets.

New options for Surface Fillet

G0 (Chamfer)

You can now set Section Type to G0 Chamfer to create a chamfer edgebetween the two sets of surfaces.

Specify

For fillets of constant radius (Construction Type = Radius) we have addeda third Specify option called Both.

Enhancements to Multi-Surface Fillet tools | 53

This option lets you specify both the Tangent Offset and Center Radiusof the fillet, but not the Form Factor. The form factor is calculatedautomatically from these two values and varies along the fillet.

If Specify is set to Center radius or Tangent offset, and you also set theform factor, the third parameter (either Tangent offset or Center radius) variesalong the fillet. Alias 2013 behaved differently: the form factor stayed constantand was linked to the other two values by the formula Form Factor = CenterRadius / Tangent Offset. This relationship no longer holds true.

These options now apply to Section Type = G1 Circular as well.

Uniform Spans

The Uniform Spans option is located in the Explicit Control Optionssection which is visible when Explicit Control is on.

When Uniform Spans is checked on, a Spans field appears that lets youspecify the exact number of spans of equal length for each fillet surface. IfBezier Surfaces is also on, then a corresponding number of Bézier patchesof equal lengths is created.

NOTE The Max Spans option is unavailable when Uniform Spans is turned on.

Improved fillet extensions

This applies to both Surface Fillet and Symmetric Fillet and is describedhere: Improved fillet extensions (page 62).

New Form Factor interpretation

This applies to both Surface Fillet and Symmetric Fillet and is describedhere: Form Factor: new meaning and wider availability (page 56).


Enhancements to Rolled Edge toolsImproved fillet extensions

This applies to both Fillet Flange and Panel Gap and is described here:Improved fillet extensions (page 62).

New Form Factor interpretation

This applies to Fillet Flange, Tube Flange and Panel Gap, and is describedhere: Form Factor: new meaning and wider availability (page 56).

Ability to specify both Center Radius and Tangent Offset

We have added a third Specify option called Both.

This option lets you specify both the Tangent Offset and Center Radiusof the fillet, but not the Form Factor. The form factor is calculatedautomatically from these two values and varies along the fillet.

If Specify is set to Center radius or Tangent offset, and you also set theform factor, the third parameter (either Tangent offset or Center radius) variesalong the fillet. Alias 2013 behaved differently: the form factor stayed constantand was linked to the other two values by the formula Form Factor = CenterRadius / Tangent Offset. This relationship no longer holds true.

These options now apply to G1 Tangent fillets as well as G2 Curvaturefillets.

Ability to select free curves in Tubular offset

The Surfaces > Rolled Edge > Tubular Offset tool now lets you select free curvesas input when the Surface option is set to Tube. If the curves are tangentcontinuous (G1), you can select them all at once.

The output is a tube surface surrounding the curves. Hold the Shift key andclick on the input curves to add radius manipulators that let you vary theradius of the tube along its length.

Enhancements to Rolled Edge tools | 55

NOTE Since this behavior reproduces the functionality from Surfaces > TubeSurface, that tool has been removed from the interface.

Tube Flange has V degree

We added a (Section) V Degree slider to the option window of Tube Flangeto make it consistent with the other fillet tools. To see this option, ExplicitControl must be checked on.

Form Factor: new meaning and wider availabilityThe Form Factor, a fillet shape control parameter introduced over the pastcouple of releases, has been revamped and given a new interpretation in thisrelease. It now also applies to more workflows.

The form factor can currently be found in the following tools:■ Surface > Multi-Surface Fillet > Surface Fillet

■ Surface > Multi-Surface Fillet > Symmetric Fillet

■ Surfaces > Rolled Edge > Fillet Flange

■ Surfaces > Rolled Edge > Tube Flange

■ Surfaces > Rolled Edge > Panel Gap

See also Form Factor more widely available (page 61).

Form factor and its relationship to CV distribution

The Form Factor now defines the ratio of the length of the innermost CVarms to the length of the outer (tangent) arms of the hull in the V directionof the fillet. This definition gives you greater control over the shape of thefillet.


The old relationship Form Factor = Center Radius / Tangent Offset nolonger applies.

T = Tangent arms; I = Inner arm, on a degree 3 fillet

The form factor is now a number between 0.1 and 2.0 (instead of 0.1 to 1.0as previously). Form factors are classified as "sharp" (if less than 1.0), "neutral"(if equal to 1.0), or "dull" (if greater than 1.0). This classification refers to thebehavior of the curvature plot.

We explain and illustrate this concept in the next sections, for fillets ofV-degree 3 to 7. As before, G1 circular fillets can have a V-degree from 3 to 6.G2 Curvature fillets can have a V-degree from 5 to 7. G3 Curvature fillets canonly have a V-degree of 7.

Degree 3 form factor for G1 fillets

A fillet with V-degree = 3 has three polygonal arms - tangent, inner, tangent- in the circular direction. The form factor f, 0.1 <= f <= 2.0, defines the ratioof the length of the inner arm to the length of either of the two tangent arms.For example, if f = 0.5, the three polygonal arms are in the ratio 1 : 0.5 : 1.Degree 3 applies only to G1 fillets.

Form Factor: new meaning and wider availability | 57

From left to right: form factor = 0.1, 1.0, and 2.0

Degree 4 form factor for G1 fillets

A fillet with V-degree = 4 has four polygonal arms - tangent, inner, inner,tangent - in the circular direction. The form factor f, 0.1 <= f <= 2.0, definesthe ratio of the length of either inner arm to the length of either tangent arm.For example, if f = 0.5, the arms are in the ratio 1 : 0.5 : 0.5 : 1.


Degree 5 form factor for G1 and G2 fillets

A fillet with V-degree = 5 has five polygonal arms - tangent, middle, inner,middle, tangent - in the circular direction. The form factor f, 0.1 <= f <= 2.0,defines the ratio of the length of the inner arm to the length of either tangentarm. For example, if f = 0.4, then the arms are in the ratio 1 : 0.7 : 0.4 : 0.7 :1 (each middle arm has the average length of the inner and tangent arms).



NOTE The polygonal arms of G2 fillets behave differently than those of G1 fillets,since they must maintain G2 continuity. The following degree 5 G2 fillets haveform factors of 0.1, 1.0, and 2.0 respectively.


A fillet with V-degree = 6 has six polygonal arms - tangent, middle, inner,inner, middle, tangent - in the circular direction. The form factor f, 0.1 <= f<= 2.0, defines the ratio of the length of either inner arm to the length ofeither tangent arm. For example, if f = 0.4, then the arms are in the ratio 1 :0.7 : 0.4 : 0.4 : 0.7 : 1 (again, the middle arms have the average length of theinner and tangent arm lengths).





A fillet with V-degree = 7 has seven polygonal arms - tangent, middle, middle,inner, middle, middle, tangent - in the circular direction. The form factor f,0.1 <= f <= 2.0, defines the ratio of the length of the inner arm to the lengthof either tangent arm. For example, if f = 0.4, then the arms are in the ratio 1: 0.8 : 0.6 : 0.4 : 0.6 : 0.8 : 1 (the middle arms interpolate the inner and tangentarm lengths).




Form Factor more widely available

In Surface Fillet, the Form Factor can now be set for chordal fillets, andany type of variable fillet, and for Section Type = G1 Circular (in additionto G2 and G3 Curvature as before).

NOTE If Construction Type is Radius, Section Type is G1 Circular, and FormFactor is 1.0, the fillet cross section is an exact circular arc.

In Symmetric Fillet, the form factor now works for G1, in addition to G2and G3 section types.

In Fillet Flange, Tube Flange and Panel Gap, you can now use the formfactor for G1, in addition to G2. As in Surface Fillet, these tools also havethe new setting Specify = Both that lets you specify both the Tangent


Offset and Center Radius of the fillet, but not the Form Factor. The formfactor is calculated automatically from these two values and varies along thefillet.

Improved fillet extensionsWe have improved the calculation of surface fillet extensions when FlowControl is set to Extend (at the start or end of the fillet). The new extensionsfollow the shape of the fillet in a more natural manner. In previous releases,extensions were linear (straight).

Comparison of a surface fillet extension in Alias 2014 versus 2013.

This enhancement has been implemented in the following tools:■ Surfaces > Multi-Surface Fillet > Surface Fillet

■ Surfaces > Multi-Surface Fillet > Symmetric Fillet

■ Surfaces > Rolled Edge > Fillet Flange

■ Surfaces > Rolled Edge > Panel Gap


Enhancements to Multi-Surface Blend toolsAbility to select free curves in Freeform Blend and Profile Blend

The Surfaces > Multi-Surface Blend > Freeform Blend and Surfaces >Multi-Surface Blend > Profile Blend tools now let you select free curves asinput. If the curves are tangent continuous (G1), you can select several ofthem for each side.

If a rail is made up entirely of free curves, that side reverts to G0 Positioncontinuity. As well, Edge align is not possible on that side. If a rail is madeup of both free curves and surface curves, then up to G1 Tangent continuityis allowed on that side. Edge align can be attempted only for the surfacecurve sections.

New Crown option for Freeform Blend

When building freeform blends with continuity set to G0 Position on bothsides, the crown option lets you add small amounts of crown to the flat blends.Turning on Proportional Crown gives you access to the Crown Valueslider. The slider ranges from -0.25 to 0.25, but larger values can be enteredinto the field. The crown value controls the height of the crown, andcorresponds to a percentage of the distance between the two rails.

Position continuous freeform blend without a crown

Enhancements to Multi-Surface Blend tools | 63

Position continuous freeform blend with a crown value of -0.2

Enhancements to Profile toolMultiple profiles

You can now select multiple profiles (sets of planar curves) as input to theSurfaces > Swept Surfaces > Profile tool. The profile curves can have differentshapes but must have a similar structure (segmentation between sharp bendsor number of spans). Each profile can have an individual position andorientation relative to the rail curve. If the curves within a profile set aredisconnected (not G0), it is best to create a separate profile surface for eachelement of the set.

Build a profile surface from multiple profiles

1 Select all the curves for the first profile, then click the Accept button.(If Chain select is on, all curves that are tangent continuous with thefirst curve are also picked).

2 Select the curves for the second profile, click Accept, and so on.

3 After the last profile has been selected, click the Done button.

4 Select the rail curves and click the Build button.

The profile surfaces are built.


Profile surface built from three profiles (each made up of three planar curves).

5 Set new option Transition type to specify the type of blend betweenthe multiple profiles. This option affects the shape of the surface isoparmsthat run in the direction of the rail curve (U direction).

Profile manipulators

If you use only one profile, you can click the rail curve to position any numberof profile manipulators. These manipulators look like copies of the originalprofile. You can rotate and scale the manipulators to create a profile surfacewith a variable section that interpolates the manipulators but not the originalprofile. Any modification to the shape of the original profile curve also updatesthe shape of the manipulators.

Build a profile surface with varying section

1 Select all the curves for the profile, then click the Accept button. (IfChain select is on, all curves that are tangent continuous with the firstcurve are also picked).

2 Click Done.

3 Select the rail curves and click the Build button.

The profile surfaces are built.

4 Click on the rail curve to add one or more manipulators.

Green manipulators in the shape of the profile curve appear.

Enhancements to Profile tool | 65

5 Use the handles to scale, rotate, or move the manipulator along the rail(see next section). Hold the Shift key and click the dot handle at thebase of a manipulator to delete it.

6 Click Update (or turn on Auto Update in the option window).

The surfaces update to interpolate the manipulators.

7 Set new option (page 67)Transition type to specify the type of blendbetween the manipulator profiles. This option affects the shape of thesurface isoparms that run in the direction of the rail curve (U direction).

Anatomy of a Profile manipulator

Here is a description of the handles on the manipulator:


1 Dot: moves the manipulator along the rail. Also acts as the pivot forrotation and scaling. Clicking anywhere on the rectangular frame anddragging has the same effect. Holding Shift and clicking the dot deletesthe manipulator.

2 Blue arc: rotates the manipulator around the rail (click the center circleor end arrows).

3 Red square: scales the manipulator along the direction of the curvaturevector of the rail curve.

4 Green square: scales the manipulator along a direction perpendicularto both the tangent and curvature vector of the rail curve.

5 Blue squares: scale the manipulator proportionally in both directions.

New option

Transition type This option specifies the type of blend between multipleprofiles (either from input curves, or manipulators). It determines the shapeof the surface isoparms that run in the direction of the rail curve.

Linear – Joins the profiles with straight lines.

Enhancements to Profile tool | 67

Local – Provides smooth transitions around the locations of the profiles.

Global – Provides a smoother overall shape, but sometimes leads to excessiveundulations.

Limited – Attempts to control the shape of the surface so that it stays withinthe range of the profile scales. This setting avoids the over and under shootingthat sometimes occur with Global or Local transition type.


Enhancements to AlignImplementation of G3 continuity

G3 continuity has now been fully implemented within the Align tool (ObjectEdit > Align > Align). When you set the Continuity option to G3 Curvatureduring a surface Align operation, manipulators appear on the fourth row ofCVs of the input surface.

Also, the following sliders appear in the Tangent and Curvature CVAdjustment section of the control window:

Enhancements to Align | 69

AutoScale G3 Adjusts the G3 Curvature automatically while you scale theG1 Tangent or G2 Curvature. It attempts to maintain the same relativearm-lengths, that is, tangent-row to G2 curvature-row versus G2 curvature-rowto G3 curvature-row, as in the unaligned surface.

Starting G3 Scale / Ending G3 Scale These slider let you adjust the true G3curvature lengths along both edges of the Input surface.

If aligning curves with G3 continuity, an extra manipulator appears on thefourth CV, and you see the following options instead:

AutoScale G3 Adjusts the G3 Curvature automatically while you scale theG1 Tangent or G2 Curvature.

G3 Scale This slider lets you adjust the true G3 curvature length.

AutoScale Curvature has been renamed AutoScale G2. If Continuity isset to G3 Curvature, this option now adjusts both the G2 and G3 curvature


automatically while you scale the G1 tangent. It attempts to maintain thesame relative arm-lengths as in the unaligned surface.

NOTE AutoScale G2 and AutoScale G3 are mutually exclusive.

Ability to use face selection

If you have turned on Face selection in Preferences > Selection Options,the Align tool now lets you select surfaces instead of only surface edges. Ifan edge is needed, the tool automatically determines the closest edge to themouse position.

Proxy Display option

Align now offers an Enable Proxy Display option. When checked on, itshows you the hull of the original input surface (surface being aligned) as agreen proxy. This proxy helps you visualize how much the surface has changedduring the Align operation.

Enhancements to Align | 71

If you click Accept to "store" the current state of the Align operation, themodified input surface becomes the new original surface. The proxy displayupdates to reflect this fact.

NOTE If the CVs and hull of the input surface are hidden, turning on EnableProxy Display makes them visible.

Enhancements to 3D trimmingThe Trim Surface and Trim Convert tools now support the ability to trimusing cross sections when 3D Trimming is checked on. The workflow is thesame as for normal 3D trimming, except that you select cross sections insteadof curves-on-surface as the trimming curves.

We also improved the 3D trimming workflow in Intersect mode.

Trim a surface using cross sections

1 Choose Surface Edit > Trim > Trim Surface .

2 In the control window, check on 3D Trimming. If you are trimminga surface with its own cross-sections, choose Normal under VectorOptions.

3 Select the surface to trim (hold down the Shift key to add more surfacesto the selection).

4 Select the cross sections to use as trimming curves.

5 Click on the regions to keep or discard.

6 Click the Keep, Discard, or Divide button.


Trimming both a regular surface and a trimmed surface with their Y-sections.

Trim Convert a surface using cross sections

1 Choose Surface Edit > Trim > Trim Convert .

2 In the control window, check on 3D Trimming. If you are trimminga surface with its own cross-sections, choose Normal under VectorOptions.

3 Select the surface you want to trim convert.

4 Select the cross sections to use as trimming curves.

5 Click on the regions to keep. Make sure that those regions define afour-sided surface.

6 Click the Convert button.

Better workflow for 3D trimming

This enhancement applies to Surface Edit > Trim > Trim Surface when using3D Trimming with the Intersect method.

If you box-select several surfaces, and some of them are already selected fortrimming, Alias now picks the unselected surfaces and intersects them with

Enhancements to 3D trimming | 73

the selected surfaces. (Previously, this action would place crosshairs on theselected surfaces and ignore the unselected surfaces.)

Improved CV structure for Offset curves and sur-faces

The Object Edit > Offset tool offers a new option to produce an offsetcurve or surface with better CV structure (distribution).

If Normal Mode is set to NUV, the CVs move only in the normal direction,like the NUV mode in Transform CV. If Normal Mode is set to Off, the


tool behaves as before, trying to produce the most accurate offset, regardlessof CV structure.

NOTE The NUV method does not apply to periodic curves, or to non-planar curveswhen Curve Offset Plane is set to Geometry average.

In the example below, the top surface is offset by 10.0 units from the bottomsurface, using the Off mode (first image), then the NUV mode (second image).

Normal Mode = Off: optimal accuracy but CVs form a bow tie.

Improved CV structure for Offset curves and surfaces | 75

Normal Mode = NUV: better CV distribution but slightly less accurate offset.

Modify Range option for Multi-Surface Draft toolWe have added a Modify Range option to Surfaces > Multi-Surface Draft.


Selecting this option causes blue arrow manipulators to appear on the draftsurfaces. Drag these arrows to modify the extent of the draft surfaces. (Thearrows become yellow when selected.) You can drag the arrows all the way tothe ends of the input curves.

Range of draft surface (in orange) extends from 0.25 (Start) to 0.75 (End).

You can also use the Start and End sliders instead of dragging the arrows.Setting the sliders to 0.0 and 1.0 resets the original extent.

NOTE When this option is not selected (default), the draft surfaces extend to theends of the input curves.

Modify Range option for Multi-Surface Draft tool | 77

Enhancements to Transform CVGeometry updates with falloff in Proportional Modification tool

You can now adjust the Falloff in the Prop Mod tool after moving the CVs,and see the geometry update to the new falloff.

NOTE This "history" only applies to the last Prop Mod transformation.

Predefined mouse sensitivity buttons

We have added four preset buttons below the Mouse Sensitivity slider. Clickone of these buttons to set the sensitivity value quickly to 1, 5, 10 or 50. Youcan modify those preset values by using the slider after selecting them.

Hotspot interface contains all options

We have moved the remaining options into the hotspot interface. (Thisinterface appears at the cursor position when you press the spacebar whileinside the tool.)

You can now use the Control Panel > Transform CV tool with the hotspotinterface without ever needing to open the control window.


The check box options appear on the sides, while the sliders and buttons areat the bottom. Roll over an icon to see what it does.

Enhancements to Smooth toolThe Object Edit > Smooth tool has two new options: Smooth U/V and Edgeinfluence.

Enhancements to Smooth tool | 79

■ Smooth U/V provides check boxes for smoothing surfaces in the U andV directions independently.

■ Edge Influence adds additional control to the Fixed Edges option.

An edge influence of 0.0 results in the edges remaining unchanged andthe interior surface being smoothed.

An edge influence of 1.0 gives results based only on the edges, producinga surface identical to using the square tool on the four edges of the originalsurface.

Values in between produce a blend of these two results.


Ability to change the degree and spans of multipleobjects at once

You can now use the Control Panel to modify the degree or number of spansof several curves or surfaces simultaneously.

1 Select several curves or several surfaces.

The Control Panel indicates "# picked curves" or "# picked surfaces".If the objects have a different degree or number of spans in U or V, thecorresponding field is blank.

2 Type the desired value in the Degree or Spans field, or use the arrowsto select the value from the menu.

3 Click the Accept button in the view window to confirm the change.

The geometry is updated.

Two surfaces with different numbers of spans are given 2 spans in U and 4 in V.

NOTE If you select both curves and surfaces, the Control Panel indicates "#picked objects" but does not let you enter values for Degree or Spans.

Ability to change the degree and spans of multiple objects at once | 81

Data Transfer

Describes changes and new features in data transfer.

Send Alias data to Showcase or MayaSend Alias data to Showcase

If you have Showcase 2014 installed, you now see a Send to Showcase toolin the File menu. This tool provides a simple and efficient way to export yourdata to Showcase, including bookmarks, shaders, environments, and ambientocclusion.

1 If you only want part of your model sent to Showcase, select that geometry.

2 Choose File > Send to Showcase .

3 Set the appropriate options in the option box and click Go.

Showcase launches (if not already running) and the data is automaticallyimported and displayed.

Options

The following options can be set in the option box:

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Conversion Setting Specifies the tessellation tolerance level used in theconversion. All-Purpose – Uses a medium tessellation tolerance, appropriatefor most models (default).

Large Parts – Uses a coarser tessellation tolerance, appropriate for largemodel parts.

Small Details – Uses a finer tessellation tolerance, appropriate for smalldetail parts.

LOD-Low – One LOD with a smaller number of polygons. Provides goodperformance for large models, with reduced quality in close-ups.

LOD-Medium – One LOD with a moderate number of polygons. Good formedium-sized models.

LOD-High – One LOD with a large number of polygons. Good for smallmodels, but has a bigger impact on performance.

Geometry Output Send either All Geometry or only Selected Geometryto Showcase.

NOTE When Selected Geometry is selected, bookmarks and ambient occlusionwill not be imported into Showcase.

Show Alias Ambient Occlusion If ambient occlusion was computed in Alias,checking on this option switches the display of ambient shadows in Showcaseto "Baked" so that it displays the Alias ambient occlusion. If this option is notchecked, the ambient occlusion is recalculated in Showcase.

Replace Materials If this option is checked, we replace assigned materialsfrom the Alias Shader Library with equivalent materials in Showcase (usingthe default material replacement map in Showcase). If this option is notchecked, only the color, transparency, and diffuse values are transferred toShowcase for each shader.

Replacement Map If Replace Materials is checked on, this field specifiesthe material replacement map to use for custom mapping the shaders betweenAlias and Showcase. If valid, this map takes precedence over the default. (SeeShowcase documentation for a description of how to create the ReplacementMap text file.)

Visual Style Specifies the visual style to use in Showcase. Choose from variousrealistic and abstract styles, such as Realistic AO Shadows, and AbstractToon Color.

Convert Bookmarks to Shots If this option is checked, we convert Aliasbookmarks to Showcase still shots.

Send Alias data to Showcase or Maya | 85

Match Environment if Available If this option is checked, we attempt to usea Showcase library environment that matches the Alias library environment(based on a fixed table). If none is found, we use the environment fromShowcase Environment (see next option).

Showcase Environment If Convert Environment if Available is notchecked, or no matching environment is found, this option specifies theenvironment to use in Showcase . Choose between Stuttgart (Car Size),Generic (Car Size), Grass Field (Building Size), or Old Warehouse(Car Size).

Ground Plane Specifies the position of the Showcase environment groundplane level. Use Alias Environment – Uses the Height value specified forthe Ground Plane in the Alias Environment control window.

Bottom of Model – Places the ground plane at the bottom of the model'sbounding box.

Center Environment If this option is checked, we position the environmentso its center in the XY plane coincides with the XY center of the model'sbounding box.

Send Alias data to Maya

If you have Maya 2014 installed, you now see a Send Selected to Maya toolin the File menu. This tool provides a simple and efficient way to import yourdata into Maya, including modeling layers and shaders.

1 Select all the geometry you want to export.

2 Choose File > Send Selected to Maya.

Maya launches (if not already running) and the data is automaticallyimported and displayed.

NOTE Because Alias has the Z axis (not the Y axis like Maya) pointing up bydefault, the model appears rotated on its side in Maya.

Export to IllustratorYou can now quickly export some or all of the curves in your model to AdobeIllustrator with the new File > Export > Illustrator tool.


Free curves, isoparms, surface edges, trim edges, and curves-on-surface areexported as degree 3 Bézier curves. An Adobe Illustrator version 8 file with the.ai extension is written.

NOTE Invisible objects are not exported.

1 Select the curves or objects you want to export.

If you want to export everything, you do not need to make a selection.

2 Click in the view that you want to export.

3 Choose File > Export > Illustrator .

4 In the option box, choose to export Active or All geometry.■ For a perspective view, specify a horizontal and vertical size (in points)

for the exported image. The selected window in Alias maps to thosedimensions in Illustrator.

■ For an orthographic view, specify a scale for the geometry by enteringtwo values. Scale is the number of units in Alias, and To is thecorresponding number of units in Illustrator. For example, 1 to 1does not scale the geometry, while 2 to 1 reduces the size of thegeometry by half.

Export to Illustrator | 87

■ Curve Fit distance is the tolerance used when fitting the Aliascurves to the Illustrator Bézier curves. Increase this value for fasterperformance and lighter Bézier curves.

5 Click Go.

The browser appears.

6 Enter a filename and choose a location then click Save.

The Illustrator file is saved and has extension .ai.

Enhancements to EDF translatorsEDF Import Options and EDF Export Options now include the followingoptions when Logfile Output is on:■ Logfile with .txt Extension: turn on this option to create a logfile with

a .txt extension, allowing it to be easily opened in any text editor onWindows.

■ Redirect Logfile Path: turn on this option and specify a folder in theRedirect Path field to write the logfile to that folder. If this option is off,the logfile is saved in the same location as the EDF file.


Save Layers plug-in exports layers to otherformats

Using the Layers > +Save Layers plug-in, you can now save individual layersto file formats other than wire.

The following functionality has been added:■ A new File Format option that lets you save individual layers as IGES,

Catia V5, EDF, JT, DXF, C4, JAMAIS, or VDAIS files (in addition to Wire).

Save Layers plug-in exports layers to other formats | 89

■ A new Windows file browser.


Fixed Limitations

Lists important customer issues that have been addressed in this release.

General IssuesResolved issues related to generic tools and user interface.

Pick Visible respects selection options

The selection behavior of the mouse buttons in Pick > Pick Visible now respectsthe choices from Preferences > Selection Options. Those choices are displayedon the prompt line after you enter the Pick Visible tool. For example:

Use mouse to pick / unpick: [Left Toggle] [Middle Add] [RightUnpick]

Invisible objects are not printed

If some parts of your model are made invisible, they are not printed when usingFile > Print.

Modeling IssuesResolved issues related to modeling tools.

Round radius does not get reset for each edge

As you click shared edges within the Surfaces > Round tool, the radius value ofeach new manipulator corresponds to the last value you entered, instead ofdefaulting to 100.0.

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Performance improvement in Multi-Surface Draft

Selecting many input curves in Surfaces > Multi-Surface Draft used to slowdown the tool considerably. This problem has been fixed.

Shells display a symmetric half on layers with symmetry

If Symmetry is turned on for a modeling layer, shell objects now display asymmetric half like other types of geometry.

Visualization IssuesResolved issues related to visualization tools.

Ability to select wireframe through shaded objects in X-Ray mode

This functionality from Alias 2012 is back. If WindowDisplay > Xray is turnedon (with the Model option checked), you can once again pick wireframeobjects through shaded geometry.

Data Transfer IssuesResolved issues related to data transfer.

Export Baked Orientation plugin working properly

Problems with this plugin not saving the wire file have been resolved.

92 | Chapter 7 Fixed Limitations

What’s Where...

Lists new tools added to this release; also tools that have moved, been renamed, or been deleted.

New toolsThe tools listed in this section are new in this release ofAlias.■ Transform > Array

■ Transform > Path Array

■ Surface Edit > NURBS to Bezier

■ Locators > Deviation > Object to Plane

■ File > Export > Illustrator

■ File > Send Selected to Maya

■ File > Send to Showcase

■ ObjectDisplay > Diagnostic Light Control

■ Preferences > User Preferences > Save

■ Utilities > Tool Resets

■ Help > Current Tool Help

■ Help > Alias IdeaStation

Renamed toolsThe following tools have been renamed:■ Preferences > User Preferences > Load Preference Set has been

renamed Preferences > User Preferences > Import Preference Set

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■ Preferences > User Preferences > Save Preference Set has beenrenamed Preferences > User Preferences > Export Preference Set

Obsolete toolsThe following tools have been removed, either because they were redundant,or no longer served any useful purpose.■ Surfaces > Tube Surface

■ File > Send Selected to Fusion

■ Preferences > User Options > Save Options

■ Preferences > User Options > Retrieve Options

94 | Chapter 8 What’s Where...

Documents

Autodesk_Alias2014_WhatsNew