Creating 3D Textures

After you add a textural appearance to the model, you use the 3D Texture tool to transform the textural appearance into grip bumps. You can then manufacture the model and bumps with a 3D printer or other manufacturing methods.

1. In the FeatureManager^® design tree, in the Solid Bodies folder, right-click Imported1 and click 3D Texture .
   In the 3D Texture PropertyManager, under Body to texturize, Imported1 appears. You can apply 3D Texture features to only one body at a time. The entire body displays as a mesh. The textural appearance mesh displays its initial shape.
   
   

   Under Texture Settings, note the default values for Refinement and Distance.

2. Clear Dynamic Help, which are expanded tooltips.
3. Under Texture Settings, in the table, select the 2D image in the first row for Texture.
   Convert this texture to 3D and White up Black down are selected.
4. Clear White up Black down to use the black colors from the appearance to create the maximum offset distance of the 3D texture feature.
   The icon in the table changes to , indicating that black is up. Specify this option based on the grayscale heightmap you use and the displayed results.
5. Move the slider for Texture Offset Distance to adjust the Distance value in the table. This value controls the maximum offset distance for the 3D texture from the body.
6. Move the slider for Maximum Element Size to further define the 3D texture by controlling the maximum element size for the entire mesh.
   
   
7. Move the slider for Texture Refinement to control the Refinement value.
   This value controls the local mesh refinement in the area of the 3D texturized feature. Refinement adds facets to better match contours within the grayscale image. When you increase this value, the model display quality increases but the processing time increases too.
8. Continue to adjust the values until you achieve acceptable results.
   
   
9. Click .
   Recommendation: Because the 3D Texture feature converts the body to a graphics body, you should add the 3D Texture feature as the last feature in your part.

   The 3D Texture feature with a graphics body appears in the FeatureManager design tree. In the Graphic Bodies folder, Graphic (Closed) indicates that the generated model is watertight and that you can 3D print it.

You can then convert the graphics body into a mesh BREP body to use for manufacturing purposes. Select the graphics body and click Insert > Features > Convert to Mesh Body .