Find the right tools to complement your 3D printing projects

Step #1: Create a 2D design

Learning the process of 3D printing takes some basic design knowledge and the right tools to set you on the path to success. The best place to start is with a 2D sketch that is easier, faster and more intuitive than attempting to draw a 3D design from scratch. You can use CorelDRAW® to capture your initial concepts as a mock-up to see how the design will look or sketch on top of an image, showing how all the elements will come together. By using the basics of 2D vector graphics and bitmap image editing, you'll have the foundation for any 3D printing project.

Solution: CorelDRAW® Graphics Suite

With this diverse design program, you'll find all of the necessary design tools and features to lay the foundation for your 3D printing goals.

• Create mockups as line drawings
• Originate sketches
• Incorporate color drafting
• Use tracing tools to design with precision

Step #2: Make your 2D design a reality in 3D

Once you've created your design, you can export your CorelDRAW 2D sketch to .DWG. Next, you can open the CAD file in a 3D design application and transform the 2D sketch to 3D using precise design tools. Once your 3D project is completed, you can then export it to print on a 3D printer, such as those made by Stratasys, Makerbot or 3DSystems, or send it to a 3D printing output service such as Shapeways or Sculpteo.

Solution: CorelCAD™

• Extrude and revolve to create basic 3D solids from 2D shapes
• Create and add new 3D primitives from scratch, such as a box, cylinder, sphere, cone, torus and wedge
• Connect, subtract and intersect to join or cut shapes for more advanced geometries
• Sweep and loft for creative and organic 3D structures
• Export the finished 3D solid model to .STL – the 3D printers' primary file format

Step #3: Fine-tune your design with finishing touches

Enhance your completed 3D print project by adding a colored surface – which can be painted or vinyl glued. You can create a 2D mock-up that represents what the final painted surface will look like once completed. Use packaging design and layout tools to create the image as a flat surface, then the image can be printed to vinyl and cut. From here, the image is now ready to be applied to the 3D-printed project.

Solution: CorelDRAW® Technical Suite

Open your 3D .STL file in Lattice3D Studio in CorelDRAW Technical Suite to achieve the desired views, such as the front, sides, top or bottom. Send your project to Corel DESIGNER as a vector drawing to receive editable vector shapes, including contours for the vinyl cutting.

• Open 3D files, such as .STL or .DWG, in Lattice3D Studio visualization application
• Send 3D views to Corel DESIGNER® for graphics editing
• Design colored surfaces with illustration and layout tools
• Edit and retouch images with Corel PHOTO-PAINT®
• Enhance your project with digital painting

Step #4: Share or sell your 3D project

Communicate news about your latest 3D projects or visually promote your 3D products with illustrated flyers, graphics, brochures, catalogs and web pages. Gain additional exposure for your 3D projects by joining an online 3D printing community, such as Shapeways or Sculpteo, that provides a creative forum to share ideas, gain design inspiration and sell your custom 3D creations.

Solution: CorelDRAW® Technical Suite

• Open in 3D to generate views as vector drawings for presentation graphics in CorelDRAW
• Create photo-realistic renderings of the 3D model as bitmap images for retouching
• Use Corel PHOTO-PAINT® for professional bitmap editing
• Create multi-page layouts in CorelDRAW or Corel DESIGNER
• Create your product's web page with Corel® Website Creator™

Step #5: Design specific how-to instructions

Create user guides or assembly instructions to make your 3D printing projects work! Now that you've created the basic framework for your 3D project, you'll need to provide some basic how-to information for the end-user or printer.

Solution: CorelDRAW® Technical Suite

Benefit from sophisticated technical illustration tools and industry-leading file format support for a clearly understandable visual technical documentation.

• Load 3D files into Lattice3D Studio to specify the view
• Use 3D authoring tools to create disassembly views
• Send isometric views as vector graphics to Corel DESIGNER for technical illustration
• Add callouts, dimensioning, text and other important elements
• Publish your documentation to PDF or HTML for sharing with your clients