Imagine and Shape

Student Notes:

CATIA V5 Training
Foils

Imagine and Shape

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Version 5 Release 19
January 2009
EDU_CAT_EN_IMA_FF_V5R19

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About this course

Student Notes:

Objectives of the course

Upon completion of this course you will be able to:
- Identify and use the tools specific to the Imagine and Shape workbench
- Create new product shapes
- Improve product styles
- Modify the product style surfaces using Shape Design tools

Targeted audience
Product Stylists, Industrial Designers

Prerequisites
Students attending this course should be familiar with the CATIA
Generative Shape Design

8 hrs
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Student Notes:
Table of Contents (1/2)

Introduction to Imagine and Shape 5

Overview of Imagine and Shape Workbench 6
Accessing the Workbench 11
Imagine and Shape: User Interface 12
Imagine and Shape: Recommended Settings 18
Imagine and Shape Common Tools 21
Curve Modeling 31
Curve Creation 32
Curve Deformation 35
Surface Modeling 46
Creating Basic Surfaces 47
Manipulating Surfaces 52
Modifying the Topology 67
Operations 85
Editing Multiple Surfaces 86
Dimensioning a Surface 90
Associating Elements 95
Other Operations 102
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Student Notes:
Table of Contents (2/2)

Imagine and Shape Recommendations 108

General Methodology 109
Settings Management 116
Data Migration 118
Size Management 119
Tree Structure Management 120
Quality Management 124
Curvature 128
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Student Notes:

Introduction to Imagine and Shape

In this lesson you will be introduced to the working environment of Imagine and Shape
Workbench.

Overview of Imagine and Shape Workbench

Accessing the Workbench
Imagine and Shape: User Interface
Imagine and Shape: Recommended Settings
Imagine and Shape Common Tools
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Student Notes:

Overview of Imagine and Shape

You will get an overview of Imagine and Shape workbench.
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Student Notes:
Overview

Imagine and Shape is used in the product conception stage. The basic principle behind
this workbench is to start with a simple closed or planar shape, then to reach the idea
you have in mind by manipulating and refining the mesh of this shape by rotation,
translation, scaling or subdivision. You can also use GS1/GSD operators to combine
the surfaces and finalize the shape.
Surfaces created in Imagine and shape workbench are based on “Subdivision Surface”
theory.
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Student Notes:
Introduction to Subdivision Surfaces

The origin of subdivision surfaces goes back to 1978 when Catmull and Clark, and
Doo and Sabin first proposed to generalize bi-cubic and bi-quadratic patch methods
to meshes of arbitrary topology.
Catmull-Clark subdivision surface

Doo-Sabin subdivision surface

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Student Notes:
What is a Subdivision Surface

Subdivision is an algorithmic technique to generate a smooth surface as a sequence

of successively refined polyhedral meshes.

Subdivision algorithms are exceptionally simple, work for arbitrary control meshes and
produce globally smooth surfaces. Special choices of subdivision rules allow for the
introduction of features into a surface in a simple way.
Subdivision-based representations of complex geometry can be manipulated and
rendered very efficiently, which makes subdivision a highly suitable tool for interactive
animation and modeling systems.
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Student Notes:
Subdivision Surfaces in Imagine & Shape

The subdivision surfaces in CATIA V5

IMA are exact surfaces (Bezier or
NURBS and not a polygonal
approximation) computed to reach an
aesthetic shape.

A subdivision surface can be seen as a

skin made of elementary surfaces, it
can be closed or open.

Since the topology of the shape is

Control Mesh
arbitrary, it enables the description of a
large variety of complex topologies.

The definition and the control of the

shape is made using a mesh made of 4- 4 sides face of the mesh
sides faces.
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Some mesh attributes can be added to

control the local attraction of the
surface and so obtain sharp or smooth
edges in a single surface.

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Student Notes:
Accessing the Workbench

Click "Start > Shape > Imagine & Shape"

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Student Notes:
Imagine and Shape: User Interface (1/6)

Shape
Operation
Compass
Subdivision Surfaces

Imagine and
Shape Tools

Contextual Display

Geometry created in
IMA appears under
Geometrical Set in
Specification Tree
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Modification Tools Palette

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Student Notes:
Imagine and Shape: User Interface (2/6)

General behavior:
General Options
Text information to inform you about the
current function and which is linked to the
mouse pointer can be displayed at all times.
The contextual display can be turned on and
off using these icons.
Three levels are available for Level Text Help:
First level: no display
Second level: Manipulation/Translation
Third level: display all information
Toolbars
All functions have associated and dedicated
toolbars to access options.
No dialog boxes are then displayed, saving
screen space.
Option keys
The shift and control keys are frequently used
to manage selection and actions.
The contextual help gives you a clear message
about the active keys and their actions.
Control from a Distance
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The mouse pointer does not need to be placed

on an element (or even very close to it) to
change its shape. Here, the shape of the curve is being modified
This feature gives you a real productivity gain by dragging the mouse pointer. The pointer
by enabling faster interaction with elements does not need to be close to the curve to
and handles. achieve this.

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Student Notes:
Imagine and Shape: User Interface (3/6)

Toolbar Icon Name Toolbar Icon Name

Workbench Styling
IMA workbench Merge
Surfaces
Select/ Selection
Selection Trap Extrusion

Text Help Level Face Cutting

General
Options
Face Subdivision
Show Coordinates
Erasing
Creation Sketch Curve Modification of
Modification
Open surface curve/ surface
creation Dimension
Closed surface
creation Multi Selection
Number of Sections

Revolve
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Extrude

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Student Notes:
Imagine and Shape: User Interface (4/6)
Toolbar Icon Name

Operations Link

Symmetry

Working Zone
Definition
View and Selection
mode

Shape Boundary
Operations
Extract

Trim

Split

Shape Fillet

Edge fillet
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Variable Fillet

Join

Offset

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Student Notes:
Imagine and Shape: User Interface (5/6)
Toolbar Icon Name

Shape Intersection
Operations
(Continued)
Extrude

Revolve

Blend

Multiple Extract

Update Update All

Manual Update
mode
View
Management View Selection F4

View Modification
F2
Note: All commands in IMA
are available by shortcuts.
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Student Notes:
Imagine and Shape: User Interface (6/6)
Toolbar Icon Name

Tools Palette Compass Definition

(For
Modification) Reset Compass

Translation

Local normals

Rotation

Affinity

Alignment

Attraction

Pick

Data Definition
Attenuation

All Type Selection

Face Selection
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Edge Selection

Vertex Selection

Select All

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Student Notes:
Imagine and Shape: Recommended Settings (1/3)

1 Update propagation: This option allows you to define the level of children to be updated when
working in Manual update mode.

2 Attenuation: This option lets you define the ratio between the mouse displacement and the actual
displacement of the manipulator. This option is important to improve the accuracy of mesh control.

3 Automatic Weight on vertex: Weight is automatically applied on vertex when there are at least three
connected edges. This option is checked by default.

Without Automatic With Automatic Weight option

Weight option
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4 Primitive creation center mode: This option lets you specify the center of gravity of a primitive at the center of
the screen or at the origin of a part.

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Student Notes:
Imagine and Shape: Recommended Settings (2/3)

These options let you define the

graphic properties for curves.

This option lets you define

the color of surfaces.

These options let you define the

graphic properties for base meshes.
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Student Notes:
Imagine and Shape: Recommended Settings (3/3)

To get a nice look of the environment, set the following:

Set the Thickness of type 2 lines to “1” (instead of “2”)

Under ‘Visualization’ tab set the ‘Anti-aliasing’ ON.

Enable '
Proportional'option and set to “0.1” to maximize dynamic display performance.
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Student Notes:

Imagine and Shape Common Tools

You will learn about the tools which can be accessed on the fly while creating and
manipulating surfaces.
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Student Notes:
Selection Tools (1/3)

In most functions the modification Tools Palette contains a set of icons dedicated to
mesh selection.

Using one of the selection icons enables a filter mode to only select specified
mesh elements.

Toolbar Icon Name

Tools Palette All Type Selection

(For
Modification) Face Selection

Edge Selection

Vertex Selection

Select All
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Student Notes:
Selection Tools (2/3)

Use a single click to select the element (moving the

mouse as close as necessary to highlight the element).
Use the shift key to perform a trap selection.
Press the shift key
Draw the trap
Release the shift key
Use the control key to add or remove the selection.
An unselected element is added to the selection
A selected element is removed from the selection
Use the combination of shift and control key to add or
remove a trap selection.
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Student Notes:
Selection Tools (3/3)

When you select an edge, you can propagate the selection.

Use Propagation icon to

propagate edges selection.
Without propagation option With propagation option a set of
only one edge is selected. connected edges is selected
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The manipulator allows you to

select two different sets of
connected edges. Same edge selected but with a
different mouse pointer position.

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Student Notes:
Compass Definition (1/5)

For several functions, the contextual toolbar

contains a set of icons dedicated to compass
management.

Use the dedicated icon to modify the origin and the

orientation of the compass.

The toolbar contains a set of dedicated options:

Toolbar Icon Name

Tools Palette Compass Definition
(For Compass
definition) Reset compass

Axes Permutation

Translation

Rotation

Pick 3D element
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Student Notes:
Compass Definition (2/5)

The compass is defined depending on the selected element:

Generally, the compass plane (x and y axis) is defined using a mean
plane computation of the selected elements.

Selecting a face
Align the compass X-Y plane on the mean plane of the face.
Selecting an edge
Align the Z axis of the compass along the edge direction.
Selecting a point
Define the compass origin.
Any combination is possible.
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Student Notes:
Compass Definition (3/5)

Defining the compass using vertices:

The compass origin is locked using a single click on a vertex and is not modified if you
add elements to the selection. To free its position, use the second icon on the toolbar.
By selecting three vertices successively you define:
The compass origin
The Z axis
The X and Y axis
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The compass origin The Z axis The X and Y axis (the previous Z
axis is replaced by X axis)

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Student Notes:
Compass Definition (4/5)

Defining the compass using edges:

Selecting an edge defines the Z axis.

Selecting successively two edges defines

the XY plane.
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You can also select a set of elements using multi selection (control
key or trap using shift key).

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Student Notes:
Compass Definition (5/5)

Use the third icon to switch the compass axis.

X changes to Y, Y to Z and Z to X

To freely define the compass, use one of the following icons to perform
translation and rotation.

Use the Pick icon to pick 3D element in 3D

area. The compass aligns to this element.
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Use the icon to exit the compass definition.

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Student Notes:
Managing the Views
View Modification (Shortcut =F2)
Press F2 key on the keyboard.
Select Parallel or Perspective view.
For Perspective view option you can define interactively the focal angle (Default 15°).

View Selection (It allows to quickly change the view orientation)

Press F4 key on the keyboard.
Move the mouse pointer around your model.
A green pyramid appears.
Select the required view.
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Use F4 key + Shift-trap + Ctrl for better productivity in edge/vertex/plane selection.

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Student Notes:

Curve Modeling
You will learn how to create and deform surfaces. Also, you will learn how to link a
curve to a surface.

Curve Creation
Curve Deformation
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Student Notes:

Curve Creation
You will learn how to create curves in Imagine and Shape workbench.
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Student Notes:
About the Curve Creation Modeler

A powerful curve modeler based on an aesthetic approach supports the

subdivision surfaces technology

This new modeler provides users with a natural and intuitive way of drawing
and controlling complex curve

These curves can be created in the model afterwards

The subdivision surfaces can then be controlled by curves for global

deformation

The connections between curves are G3.

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Student Notes:
How to Create a Curve

Use the dedicated Sketch Curve icon to create a new

curve.

A tools palette is displayed. If you want to create a curve

lying on a plane use “Plane Selection” icon and select the
plane.
Curve sketching
If you don’t specify a plane, the curve will be created on
the view plane.

To create a curve, use the mouse to sketch or use a pen

palette if possible (better feeling).

Click and keeping the left mouse button pressed, describe

your sketch, and then release the mouse button. During
the mouse manipulation a temporary curve will be
displayed.

As soon as you release the mouse button, the curve is

created; the temporary curve will be smoothed to display
the final curve.
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The tools palette will then contain additional options (see

Curve Manipulation section) Created Curve
You can then continue to sketch to refine the curve

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Student Notes:

Curve Deformation
You will learn how to deform existing curves.
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Student Notes:
About Curve Deformation

The interaction is based on natural drawing and direct manipulation

Toolbar description:

Icon Name

Curve sketching

Direct deformation

Smoothing

Fillet definition

Erase

Planar constraint

Characteristics
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Area Selection

Transformations

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Student Notes:
Redefining a Curve by Sketching

The Curve sketching option allows you to draw and refine a curve in the same way as
drawing with a pen and paper.
Use a pen tablet to better control the drawing.

You can iterate by drawing as many sketches as you want; the curve will be
recomputed and updated each time.
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Student Notes:
Manipulating the Points

The Manipulate a point option allows you to manipulate the curve.

Select the curve to modify.

Press, and keep pressed, the left mouse button.

Move the mouse to reach the required curve.

Release the mouse button.

If the “curve plane” option is activated the manipulation is allowed only in the
plane where the curve has been created.

If the “curve plane” option is not activated the manipulation is allowed in all
directions.
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Student Notes:
Smoothing a Curve

The Smoothing option allows you to smooth a curve

Select the curve to smooth

Click anywhere to smooth the curve

The more you click the more the curve is smoothed

To smooth only a portion of the curve, press the Ctrl key and select the portion
to be smoothed.

Smooth the portion as explained above

Portion to be smoothed
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Student Notes:
Filleting a Curve (1/2)

The Fillet option allows you to smooth and better control the shape in a local area.

Select the curve

Select the Fillet option

Press and keep the left mouse button

pressed

Move the mouse along the curve to select

the area where you want to apply the
Fillet

Manipulator
Release the mouse button
Portion to be smooth

Drag the manipulator along the green

curve to define the Fillet
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Student Notes:
Filleting a Curve (2/2)

If the modification area includes an extremity of the curve, the handle allows the
manipulation of the position of this limit and the orientation of the tangent

Portion to be smooth Manipulator

Control Point
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Student Notes:
Erasing a Curve

The Erase option allows you to erase a portion of the curve

Select the curve

Select the Erase option
Press and keep the left mouse button
pressed
Move the mouse along the curve to
select the area to erase
Release the mouse button
Special case:
Erasing an inner portion of the curve removes
Removing the extremity of a curve
the details and creates a “nice” shape

Removing the internal part of a curve

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Student Notes:
Defining Curve Characteristics

The Curve Characteristics option allows you to

display and modify curve characteristics.

Select the curve

Select the Curve Characteristics icon
Change the value of Order field. (The greater the order,
the tighter the curve)
Check Arc Number and change the value to modify the
maximum number of arcs
Check View Limits to display the limit arcs in 3D area
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Student Notes:
Curve Transformations

The Curve Transformation option allows you to access

transformation icons while modifying a curve.

Select the curve

Select the Transformation icon
The tools Palette containing the transformation icon is
displayed
See Compass See Manipulating
Definition session Surface session
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Student Notes:
Deforming a Curve in 3D Space

To deform the curve in 3D space deactivate the Curve Planarity option.

The Curve Planarity option is ON by default.

Unselect the option to work in 3D space.
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Student Notes:

Surface Modeling
You will learn how to create and modify subdivision surfaces.

Creating Basic Surfaces

Manipulating Surfaces
Modifying the Topology
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Student Notes:

Creating Basic Surfaces

You will be introduced to the basic surfaces and learn how to create and manipulate
them using Imagine and Shape tools.
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Student Notes:
About Basic Surfaces

You have the possibility to create these kinds of shapes:

Creating Open surfaces

Creating a Circular Surface

Creating a Triangular Surface

Creating a Ring-Shaped Surface

Creating Closed surfaces

Creating a Cylinder

Creating a Box

Creating a Pyramid

Creating a Taurus

Creating Sweep Primitives

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Creating a Revolve

Creating an Extrude

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Student Notes:
How to Create Surfaces (1/3)

Use one of the three dedicated icons to create a first surface.

Open surfaces
Closed surfaces
Sweep Primitives

Surfaces are created using the current viewpoint information:

It can be at the center of the screen or at the origin of the
part, depending on the CATIA settings.
View Centered: Creates a surface at the center of the
screen
Origin Centered: Creates a surface at the origin of the
part

The size is a ratio of the window size (independent of the

zoom factor)
The size of the mesh is equal to ¼ of the screen size
Note: to manage accurately the size of the surface refer
to “Scaling” section

The model axis orientation is used to define the surfaces.

The mesh is aligned along the model axis.
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Open surfaces are created on the plane which is parallel to

the screen.

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Student Notes:
How to Create Surfaces (2/3)

The Number of Sections icon can be used to add sections to

make open and closed primitives closer to the real shape.
You can apply this effect on Sphere, Cylinder, Torus and
Circle.
This option is OFF by default
Click the option to enable it

The modification function is automatically opened after the

creation and the entire mesh is selected (allows to quickly
position or scale the element).
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Student Notes:
How to Create Surfaces (3/3)

Use the Sweep Primitives to create the Surfaces.

You can define a surface by the rotation of a curve around
an axis
You can define a surface by the extrusion of a curve along
a direction

The modification function is automatically activated after the creation of surface and the
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entire mesh is selected (allows to quickly position or manage the points of the curve).

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Student Notes:

Manipulating Surfaces
You will learn how to deform surfaces using the surface manipulation functions.
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Student Notes:
About the Surface Manipulation

Manipulation functions enable you to control the mesh that drives the surface.

The compass is used to select handles that show the allowed

manipulations. The pointer does not need to be on the
handle to manipulate it.

The handle origin is by default positioned at the middle point

of the selected elements. To specify another location use the
Compass Definition option if needed.

During the manipulation, the surface is roughly pre-

visualized.
The impacted area is displayed in a darker shade.
The surface is exactly computed at mouse release.
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Student Notes:
Applying Translation (1/3)

You can perform translations along 3 directions or onto 3 planes (defined by the
directions), depending on the mouse pointer position
To move selected elements, select the Translation icon. The icon is displayed as shown.

Translation along a direction

To perform the translation:

Move the mouse to highlight the required

axis or plane (no need to be on the element)
Click and keep the left mouse button pressed
Move the mouse to translate the elements
Release the mouse button
Translation onto a plane
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Student Notes:
Applying Translation (2/3)
You can translate the selected elements by required value using Data Definition
icon.

Three options are available for translation using Data Definition.

Translated Compass

Selected elements for Translation Compass and selected elements get translated.

Aligned Coordinates Compass at the Origin

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Compass gets translated and selected Compass and selected elements get
elements are aligned on compass plane translated to the origin of the surface.

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Student Notes:
Applying Translation (3/3)

You can translate the selected elements with the

help of 3D elements using the Pick icon.

Select the Pick icon.

Select a 3D element

To have a better control during the translation,

use the Attenuation command

Option on

Option off
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Student Notes:
Applying Translation along Normals

You can perform translations along the normal to the selection as if performing a
local offset.
To translate normal to the selection, select the Local Normals icon. The icon is displayed as
shown.

To perform the translation:

Select the elements - vertices, edges or

faces.
Move the mouse to drag selected elements
along their own local normals.
Release the mouse button

To have better control during translation use the Translation along Normal
Attenuation command

Option on

Option off
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Student Notes:
Applying Rotation

You can perform rotations around one of the three axes of the handle.
To rotate the selected elements, select the Rotation icon.
The icon is displayed as shown

To perform the rotation:

Move the mouse to highlight the required rotation axis
Click and keep the left mouse button pressed
Move the mouse to rotate the elements
Release the mouse button

A graphical display informs you of the angle value

During manipulation, use the control key to enable a 5°step.

If needed, use the Compass Definition option to specify the

origin of the rotation and the orientation of axis (see the
corresponding section).

To have better control during translation, use the Attenuation

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command

Option on

Option off

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Student Notes:
Scaling

You can perform scaling along a single axis, along two axes or a full 3D scaling.
To scale selected elements, select the Affinity icon. The icon is displayed as shown.

To stretch in a single direction:

Move the mouse to highlight the required axis or plane
Click and keep pressed the left mouse button
Move the mouse to scale the elements
Release the mouse button
Scaling along three directions
Use the control key to perform a 3D scaling (along the three
directions):
Press the control key
Click and keep pressed the left mouse button
Move the mouse to scale the elements
Release the mouse button

If needed, use the Compass Definition option to specify the

origin of the scaling and the orientation of axis.
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To have a better control during the translation, use

Attenuation command
The corresponding dimensions of selected
manipulator get highlighted.

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Student Notes:
Aligning (1/2)
You can align selected elements on a chosen support. The support
can either be a plane or an axis.

To perform the alignment:

Define the compass origin and orientation
Select the type of alignment
On Plane: Projects vertices onto the
compass plane
On Axis: Projects vertices onto the
compass axis
Pick: Projects vertices onto selected edge,
or plane
Select the elements to be aligned, which can be
vertices, edges or faces.
Click the manipulator arrow depending on the
direction where you want to align the elements.
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Student Notes:
Aligning (2/2)
Alignment of selected elements on an axis, plane or 3D element can
be managed using three options.

On Plane: Used for aligning the elements with Selected edge for alignment
compass plane.
On Axis: Used for aligning the elements with
compass axis.
Pick: Used for aligning the elements with 3D
element.
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Projection on compass axis Projection on compass plane Projection on 3D element selection

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Student Notes:
Applying Weights (1/2)

Use the Attraction icon to modify weights

Use the selection filters to enable edges or vertex selection

and then modify their attributes.

The value of the weight is displayed on the bar. (value

between 0 and 100%).

To modify a weight value: Vertex weight modification

Select the elements to modify.
In the ‘Manipulation / Weight’ manipulator select the
required percentage.

If the weight is applied to an edge or a vertex, its look is

different from the others (the edge is thicker, the line is not
dotted, the vertex is a bigger circle).
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Edge weight modification

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Student Notes:
Applying Weights (2/2)

When you select a surface or an edge two options are available, both provided by
the same function:
Smooth Attraction
Sharp Attraction

Smooth Attraction Sharp Attraction

The value of the weight is indicated with a

“minus” sign for sharp edges.
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Student Notes:
Defining Precise Parameters for Manipulation

When you manipulate vertices, edges or faces, you can precisely define parameters
using the Data Definition icon. This displays a contextual dialog box which enables
the specification of precise values.
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Student Notes:
Surface Manipulation for Sweep Primitives (1/2)

When you select the Revolve or Extrude command, the manipulation functions
enable you to control the input curves that are required to generate sweep surfaces.

The ‘Align Point’ tool is used to align the point either horizontally or vertically.

The ‘Close Curve’ tool is used to join the two endpoints of the curve in order to close it.
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Student Notes:
Surface Manipulation for Sweep Primitives (2/2)

The ‘Drawing View’ tool is used to view the plan view.

The ‘Length’ tool is used to position the view laterally

so that the length of extrusion can be changed.

The ‘Angle’ tool is used to position the view laterally

so that the angle of rotation can be changed.
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Student Notes:

Modifying the Topology

You will learn how to modify the topology of the subdivision surfaces.
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Student Notes:
What is Topology Modification?

You can modify the basic surfaces using the five dedicated icons from
styling surfaces toolbar. For these edition commands, the result with
current selections is first previewed, then executed by clicking the
Apply button.

Modification is previewed Pre-selection at the level Modification is applied

of the other element
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You can double-click the

The icon of the validation is selection to modify the mesh.
visible on the selected element. The first click will select the element
and the second click will modify it.

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Student Notes:
Merging the Surfaces (1/2)

The Merge function creates a surface between the open edges of two
subdivisions in order to assemble them.

The following options are available in the Tools Palette which shows different
merging results.

Merge Surface Selection Merge Join Extrude

Select surface 1 and surface 2 to create the merging surface

Select surface 3 and surface 4 to create the next merging surface

3
1
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Student Notes:
Merging the Surfaces (2/2)

You can use three merging options from the Tools Palette to see different results.

This option allows you to reselect

the surfaces

The merged edge

is created
in the middle of
the two sections

The two sections

are joined by one
common surface
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The two sections

are joined by two
extruded surfaces

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Student Notes:
Extruding a Face (1/7)

The extrusion function creates faces depending on the selected element.

The Tools Palette helps you to specify the selection filter (face or edge)

A face selection creates an extrusion made of 5 faces, the extrusion

direction is normal to the selected face
Preview Creation

An edge selection operates only on the border of open surfaces.

It creates a single face on a plane defined by the mean plane of the face connected to the edge.
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Student Notes:
Extruding a Face (2/7)

You can use multi-selections to create a set of extrusions, join faces or fill holes.

Use the control key to add a selection

Use a trap (with shift key) to create extrusions of a set of elements

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Student Notes:
Extruding a Face (3/7)

Use the control key to create a junction between 2 unconnected faces.

Select 2 unconnected faces or edges to create a junction
With Ctrl command Without Ctrl command
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Student Notes:
Extruding a Face (4/7)

Use the Control key to fill holes

Select 4 connected faces or edges to fill a hole (using a trap or multi-

selection)
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Student Notes:
Extruding a Face (5/7)

Use the Ctrl key to create combinations

Select 3 connected faces or edges to fill the

space between those faces

Select 2 connected faces or edges to

combine an extrusion
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Student Notes:
Extruding a Face (6/7)

Use the control key to create holes

Select two faces to create a hole. This works if the faces are not
directly connected and if the tangencies of the faces are about
the same. See next slide for details.
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Student Notes:
Extruding a Face (7/7)

Cases of hole creation

If the angle between the normal of the two selected faces is less
or equal to 90 degrees, the operation will result on a join of the
two faces.
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Case with result

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Student Notes:
Extruding an Edge (1/4)

Edge extrusion

Options:
Fill Extrusion

Examples
Fill option with propagation
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Student Notes:
Extruding an Edge (2/4)

Extruding an edge of a flat surface using the Fill option.

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Student Notes:
Extruding an Edge (3/4)

Extruding an edge of a flat surface using the Fill option.

Generated faces are created

without weight on joined edges

If a sharp edge is present

on the boundary to be
filled then the edge
between the original
shape and the new faces
will be sharp.

It is possible to fill several zones in a

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single operation, using multi selection

(CTRL Key or SHIFT key) to select all
edges defining different zones.

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Student Notes:
Extruding an Edge (4/4)

Extruding an edge of a surface using the Fill option.

Fill Extrusion
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Student Notes:
Inserting Sections

The Section Insertion function adds a number of sections to the mesh which
will cut faces in a number of parts. The number of cuts can vary from 1 to 9.
The slider on the right of the screen is used to define number of cuts.

Cutting will propagate to the connected faces.

Selected Edge
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Slider

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Student Notes:
Subdividing Faces

The Subdivision function creates a set of faces inside the selected faces.
The slider on the right of the screen is used to define the ratio between
0.1 to 0.9.

Use the control key or a trap using Shift

Key to add elements and subdivide the
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selection.

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Student Notes:
Deleting Faces

Use this function to erase faces or edges. A closed surface will be

changed to an open surface.

Face erasing
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Edge erasing
Use the control key or a trap using Shift Key to
add elements and subdivide the selection.

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Student Notes:

Operations
In this lesson you will go through the following operations on subdivision surfaces.

Editing Multiple Surfaces

Dimensioning a Surface
Associating Elements
Other Operations
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Student Notes:

Editing Multiple Surfaces

You will learn how to select multiple surfaces and perform the same modification on
them and use a surface to modify another.
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Student Notes:
What is Multi-Surface Edition

This function allows you to:

Perform the same action on several subdivision surfaces

Modify a subdivision surface using another

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Student Notes:
How to Edit Multiple Surfaces (1/2)

To multi select:

You must be in the modification command.

You need at least two surfaces.

To perform the same action on several subdivision

surfaces:

Select the Modification icon

Select the surface

Select the Multi Selection icon

Press the Ctrl key and select another

surface(s)

You can change (Add, Remove) the set of

selected surfaces using Ctrl key

Select the Multi Selection icon which brings

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you back to the Modification command

Select edges, faces or vertices of the surfaces

and apply transformation (translation,
rotation, affinity, alignment, attraction)

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Student Notes:
How to Edit Multiple Surfaces (2/2)

To modify a subdivision surface using another

When working on the first surface you can
define the compass with a second surface, and
perform operations such as a rotation or an
alignment on the first surface.

Select the Modification icon

Select the first surface

Select the Multi Selection icon

Press the Ctrl key and select the other surface

Select the Multi Selection icon to return to the

Modification command

Define the compass on the vertex of the second

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surface

Select edges, faces or vertices of the first

surface and apply the transformation (rotation,
affinity)

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Student Notes:

Dimensioning Surfaces
You will learn how to control the dimensions of a subdivision surface.
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Student Notes:
What is Surface Dimensioning?

The main constraint of a stylist is the size of the product bounding box.
This function allows you to:
Specify the exact dimension of the subdivision surface

A toolbar contains a set of dedicated options

Toolbar Name Icon Description

Tools Palette Transform vertices along the direction

(For of selected dimension
Dimension) Transform vertices along the two
Type of displayed directions
Modification Transform vertices along the three
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displayed directions
Orthogonal Automatically changes the view
View Change point to the closest view plane
Compass Modifies the origin and orientation of
Definition the compass to define new axis system

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Student Notes:
How to Control Surface Dimensions (1/3)

The function operates either in object-action or

action-object mode
You can select elements before using the
function
You can use the function and select elements

Select the function icon

Select the surface
The view point automatically changes to the
closest view plane

Transform the surface in one direction using this

icon
Edit the dimension to change
The transformation is applied in the direction
of the selected dimension.

If the Type of Modification is set as shown, and the

dimension is edited the transformation will be
applied in two directions.
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Student Notes:
How to Control Surface Dimensions (2/3)

Transform the surface in three directions using

this icon
Edit the dimension to change
The transformation is applied along the three
displayed directions

You can change the view point to the closest view

plane using this icon
Rotate the surface
Select this icon to change the view point.
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Student Notes:
How to Control Surface Dimensions (3/3)

You can modify the origin and orientation of the

compass using this icon
Select this icon to change the compass
definition
The compass position can be modified using
the compass definition options available in the
tools palette
Select the Compass Definition icon to go back
to the Dimension command.
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Student Notes:

Associating Elements
You will learn how to link an existing subdivision surface to a point, line, curve or
another surface.
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Student Notes:
What Is Associating elements?

This function allows you to associate a point, line, curve or surface to the mesh and
then deform the surface by deforming the associated element.

Any kind of curve/surface can be used:

IMA Curve/Surface
FreeStyle Curve/Surface
GSD Curve/Surface
Sketcher Curve

A toolbar contains a set of dedicated options

Toolbar Icon Name

See Selection
Tools Palette Curve Selection Tools section
(For
Alignment) Association Removal

All Association Removal

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Student Notes:
How to Create Associativity

You need to have an additional point, line, curve or

surface in addition to the IMA surface.

The function operates either in object-action or

action-object
You can select elements before using the
function
You can use the function and select elements

Select the function icon

Select the surface
Select the curve
Select the elements to associate to the curve, a
cyan line linking the selected vertices and the
curve shows the association
You can add or remove associated vertices using
selection management (see corresponding
section)

You can add a new curve to the association using the

first icon
Select a curve
You can remove the current curve association using
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this icon
Select the first icon to select a curve and then
select a curve
You can remove all the associated curve using the
third icon

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Student Notes:
More About Associativity (1/4)

If a curve is deformed then the surface will

also be deformed
To deform a curve use the Curve
Deformation tools palette

The mesh elements linked to the curves

are automatically moved

The surface is then recomputed

The vertices are still movable using either the

Modification function or by Vertex alignment

You can find out the association between the elements

by referring to the specification tree. Two masks will
get added to the icons
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This mask gets added to the This mask gets added to the
icon of the feature which is icon of the feature which is
handling another feature. handled by another feature.

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Student Notes:
More About Associativity (2/4)

Warning: The surface will never exactly follow the curve shape!
To optimize the « morphing » between the curve and the surface, you first have to
create the curve as close as possible to the surface and ensure that the mesh is
sufficiently dense to follow the curve during deformation.

Example 1: (Surface associated to Curve)

Curve close to the

initial surface

Low mesh density

High mesh density

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Student Notes:
More About Associativity (3/4)

Example 2: (Surface
associated to Curve)

Curve far from the

initial surface

Low mesh density

High mesh density

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Student Notes:
More About Associativity (4/4)

Example 3: (Surface associated to Points)

Example 4: (Surface associated to Surface)

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Student Notes:

Other Operations
You will learn how to create a symmetry of a subdivision surface, how to define the
working zone and how to use Generative Shape Design functions in the Imagine and
Shape workbench.
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Student Notes:
How to Create a Symmetry

In order to create a symmetry you need a subdivision surface and a

symmetry plane.
Select the Symmetry icon
Select the surface
Select the symmetry plane (The order of selection may be reversed)
If the surface and symmetry plane do not intersect, the result is a
mathematical symmetry.

If the surface and symmetry plane intersect, you have the option to
select one of the two solutions.
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Student Notes:
What is Defining the Working Zone

This function allows you to define a working area on a mesh in order to

modify only this part of the mesh.

A toolbar contains a dedicated option

Toolbar Icon Name

Tools Palette Swap selection

(For Working
Zone)
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Student Notes:
How to Define the Working Zone

Select the function icon

Select the surface
Select the elements that you want to modify using the selection tools
You can swap the element selection. All protected elements become
unprotected and vice-versa
Select the Modification icon and modify the elements in the working
zone.

Working Zone definition Swap selection

Modification of Surface
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In the Modification Tools Palette, click De/Activate Working Zone to

reset the protection of selected elements.

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Student Notes:
What is View and Selection Mode?

This function allows you to restrict modifications to the visible mesh

elements only. Follow the procedure to change the mode.

Select the Modification icon.

Select the surface that you want to modify.
Select the View and Selection Mode icon. All the hidden edges are no
longer visible within the subdivision surface and the hidden elements
visible in the mesh can not be picked.
Modify the visible elements.

View and Selection All:

All the edges of the mesh are
visible and can be picked

View All and Selection Front:

All the edges of the mesh are visible
but only the front edges can be picked

View and Selection Front:

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Only front edges are visible and can be

picked

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Student Notes:
What are Shape Operations?

The Shape operations toolbar lets you access a set of functions belonging to
the Generative Shape Design (GSD) workbench

These functions can be used to create or modify curves and surfaces.

It avoids frequent switching from the IMA to GSD workbenches.
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Trim Fillet

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Student Notes:

Imagine and Shape Recommendations

You will learn about general methodology and settings management.
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Student Notes:
General Methodology (1/7)

1 Create Subdivision
surfaces

2 Split/Trim/Fillet in
IMA Shape
operations

3 Create the Solid and

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add Dress-Up in Part

Design

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Student Notes:
General Methodology (2/7)

Use Shift-trap as much as possible for mesh selection combined with views
management (F4).

Do not hesitate to use and customize Shortcuts to functions

Example:
F10 – Hide/Show
Space – Modify

Use the Escape key to exit a function as much as possible and a shortcut to
Modification function, for example the Space bar.

Ergonomic advice:
Put your left hand on the left side of the keyboard for a quick access to:
Control / shift
Escape
Space
F4
F2
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Student Notes:
General Methodology (3/7)

Create your model using several Subdivision surfaces. Where possible avoid
creating a complex shape with only one surface.

Try to « think » how to break down the shape into elementary blocs. This is the key
to speed-up the creation. See corresponding (General Methodology 4/7, 5/7 and 6/7).

Keep the Subdivisions as light as possible by limiting the mesh density, to ensure a
better surface quality and easy manipulation of surface.

Combine the subdivision surfaces with GSD or other operations (trim, split, fillet) to
finalize the shapes.

Benefit from Sharp Edges modeling which gives a better feeling for the shape. The
sharp edges are then similar to styling curves. Then use GSD fillets on these edges.
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Student Notes:
General Methodology (4/7)

The mesh structure as well as the topology has to be carefully managed. This is
the key to obtain the target shape.
Before starting to create a shape, it is recommended to analyze the topology
structure of the shape you have in mind.
Start then by creating a very light mesh structure corresponding to this shape,
then by refining this mesh you will progressively get the final shape.
A good way is to determine the virtual sharp edges which are filleted afterward
with GSD.

Example 1: Modeling a mouse

In most cases this has the following structure
To create the model start with a basic closed surface
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Student Notes:
General Methodology (5/7)

Example 2: Modeling a toy plane

The main structure of the shape can be described as a set of blocks as shown in the
picture
Those blocks are of course refined to obtain the final shape (insertion of sections,
local subdivision, etc.
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Student Notes:
General Methodology (6/7)

Example 3: Modeling a toy plane / Bad topology

This example shows a bad structure and the importance of this in the final shape.
The main body of the plane is made of one basic shape and subdivision and extrusion are used to
add material. Since the main body is not divided into separate blocks it will be impossible to
achieve the correct shape.
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Student Notes:
General Methodology (7/7)

Smart selection
When selecting a feature and opening a command, all the feature' s fathers
(subdivision surfaces or styling curves) are temporarily highlighted to enable easy
selection. The selected feature is also temporarily hidden. With this new behavior, you
do not need to edit the subdivision surface in the specification tree.
Example:

Click any IMA Modifications of

commands Subdivision surfaces
are available.

Final result
Subdivision surfaces
are highlighted
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Student Notes:
Settings Management (1/2)

Use materials with reflections, for example Painting.

To have a nice reflection image on the material do the

following:
Open Apply Materials catalog
Select Painting tab
Right-click « DS Dark Red » material
In Rendering tab click this icon
Copy the address
Close all dialog boxes
In Tools/Options/Infrastructure/Material Library
paste the address in Environment Image File field
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Now apply any materials to the shape and if

necessary increase the reflectivity value

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Student Notes:
Settings Management (2/2)

To improve the environment set the following:

Use two light sources with parameters
similar to those shown.
Use a perspective view with an angle higher
than 15°(default value) to inspect the
geometry and to get a better feel for the
shapes.
Use the ground in perspective view to get a
better feel for the vanishing lines.
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Use two windows if possible, one in parallel view and the

other one in perspective and with the ground.
You can switch from one to the other one rapidly using
Control-Tab keys.

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Student Notes:
Data Migration

In order to edit the subdivision surfaces created using CATIA level prior to R18, you
need to migrate these surfaces. This can be achieved using the Migration command
available in the contextual menu.
The old subdivision surfaces that need to be All the subdivision surfaces in the part are
migrated are highlighted in brown color in the migrated to R18 level.
specification tree.
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Student Notes:
Size Management

To have a better indication of the size of your model you can create a light skeleton
with some leading dimensions.
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Student Notes:
Tree Structure Management (1/4)

In order to simplify data management, store Styling surfaces in one Geometrical Set
and perform operations in another. The styling surfaces are then easier to find and
modify.

Avoid if possible the use of Ordered Geometrical Sets and PartBody containers to
create Subdivisions or Styling Curves
Example:
Create Three Geometrical sets:
One for the Styling surfaces
One for the Shape operations
One to contain the results of the Shape operations
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Student Notes:
Tree Structure Management (2/4)

Do the Shape operations inside the Operations Geometrical Set

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Student Notes:
Tree Structure Management (3/4)

Copy the result with link of Shape operations inside the Results Geometrical Set, or
create a Join containing the result. The access to key results is then faster and simple
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Student Notes:
Tree Structure Management (4/4)

“Solid” operations are created in the PartBody

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Student Notes:
Quality management (1/4)

There are a number of rules to apply in order to improve surface quality and ensure offset
computation.

Subdivide sharp edged faces having collinear tangency corners.

In some cases and in order to simplify the mesh, delete unnecessary faces at the boundaries (see
next slide)

Group of faces to subdivide

Sharp Edges

Collinear tangencies

Collinear tangencies
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Student Notes:
Quality management (2/4)

2 Suppression of unnecessary faces at the

boundaries (in order to simplify the mesh)

1 Subdivided group of faces

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3 Refinement of boundaries (points alignment)

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Student Notes:
Quality management (3/4)

The Valence of a vertex corresponds to the number of connected edges

Example:

Valence 6
Valence 4
Valence 5

Valence 3
(internal)

Valence 3 Valence 2
(border)

If Valence = « 4 internal » or « 2 border » or « 3 border » surface quality = C2

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If Valence is different: the quality can be less (C1) but the surface can still be offseted.

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Student Notes:
Quality management (4/4)

Example
The general idea is to move the « particular valence » Point located in low
points out of high curvature acceleration area curvature area
Point located in high
curvature area

In a valence 5 case, very often managed in shapes, the shape located around
the valence 5 vertices is not very good.
To improve this, subdivide the shape as illustrated and refine the mesh to get
a similar shape. The surface quality is then better
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Student Notes:
Curvature

An even distribution of points is necessary in order to obtain a good curvature.

The first illustration shows a good mesh distribution, the shape is very smooth.

The second illustration shows a non-homogeneous mesh distribution, the shape is

wavy.
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