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PhotoView 360 is an add-in package that allows for photorealistic rendering of solid models in the
SolidWorks software environment. It allows the user to add realistic materials, finishes, and labels to
the models, and to place the models in a variety of stock or custom
environments. The photorealistic renderings can be used to provide virtual
images of finished product designs before the products have ever been
manufactured. For example, a photrealistic rendering of the door assembly
model (from Chapter 6 of the textbook) can be seen in Figure 1.
The PhotoView 360 add-in can be used to render either part or assembly
models. In this tutorial, the rendering shown in Figure 1 will be creating using
both techniques.
Figure 1
Part 1: Photorealistic Rendering of a Part
Open the solid model of the Hatch part, created in Chapter 6 of the text (shown in Figure 2). From the
SolidWorks main menu, select Tools: Add-Ins, and enable the PhotoView 360 add-in, as shown in
Figure 3. Click OK.
Figure 2 Figure 3
The main menu will now have a PhotoView 360 entry, as shown in Figure 4.
Figure 4
If the Task Pane is not visible, enable it from the View menu, as shown in Figure 5.
The first step in the rendering will be to apply a material property to the appearance
of the hatch part.
Figure 5
Introduction to Solid Modeling Using SolidWorks 2013 PhotoView 360 Tutorial Page 2
From the PhotoView 360 menu, select Edit Appearance, as shown in Figure 6. In the Task Pane,
expand the entry for Appearances by clicking the plus sign, as shown in Figure 7.
Figure 7
Figure 6
Expand the Organic entry, and then the Wood entry. Click on Satinwood, as shown in Figure 8; the
various types of Satinwood will be previewed in the Task Pane. Double-click on the polished
satinwood entry, as shown in Figure 9.
Figure 8
Figure 9
Click the check mark in the PropertyManager on the left side of the screen to apply the material, as
shown in Figure 10.
Figure 10
Photorealistic rendering can take significant computing time and resources; however, our rendering can
be previewed in an interactive lower-quality graphics window prior to final rendering. To do this, select
Preview Window from the PhotoView 360 menu, as shown in Figure 11. Click OK in the message
window that appears, as shown in Figure 12.
Introduction to Solid Modeling Using SolidWorks 2013 PhotoView 360 Tutorial Page 3
Figure 12
Figure 11
Figure 14
Figure 15
Figure 16
Note the change in the preview window. Click the check mark in the PropertyManager to apply the
scene.
Decals can now be added to the part. A standard library of decals is available; in addition, custom
graphics files can be created and used as decals as well.
Introduction to Solid Modeling Using SolidWorks 2013 PhotoView 360 Tutorial Page 4
Begin by rotating the model into the approximate position shown in Figure
17. The decals will be applied to this large flat surface.
Select Edit Decal from the PhotoView 360 menu (Figure 18). Scroll down to
the Warning decal from the library, shown in Figure 19, and click. In the
Decals PropertyManager, click on the Mapping tab (Figure 20).
Figure 17
Figure 20
Figure 18 Figure 19
Select the large flat face as the surface to which the decal will
be applied (Figure 21).
Figure 21
Figure 22
Figure 23
Figure 24
Figure 25
Introduction to Solid Modeling Using SolidWorks 2013 PhotoView 360 Tutorial Page 5
Figure 28
Figure 29
As with the previous label, click the Mapping tab, select the large flat
surface, change the Mapping to Label, and mirror/move/resize your
custom label until it appears as shown in the preview window in
Figure 30.
Figure 30
Introduction to Solid Modeling Using SolidWorks 2013 PhotoView 360 Tutorial Page 6
To improve the appearance, we can modify the appearance of the label to make
the white label background transparent, allowing the wood surface to show
through. This can be accomplished by using a mask. Click on the Image tab in
the PropertyManager, and click on Selective color mask in the Mask Image
options, as shown in Figure 31. Select the Pick Color tool (Figure 32). Using the
Pick Color tool, click on the white background area in the Decal Preview, as in
Figure 33; this will select the color white to be “masked out” as transparent in
the final rendering. Click the check mark to close the PropertyManager.
Figure 31
Figure 32
Figure 33
The preview window will appear as in Figure 34. Save the part
file, which will now include the changes to the appearance.
Figure 35
Figure 37
Figure 36
Close the Final Render window, the preview window, and the part file. This modified file will be used in
the next tutorial as part of a photorendering of the door assembly.
Introduction to Solid Modeling Using SolidWorks 2013 PhotoView 360 Tutorial Page 7
We will now add a brass appearance to the hinges. Expand the Metals
entry, and click on Brass, as shown in Figure 40. Appearances can be
dragged from the list directly onto parts in the assembly window as
follows: Click and hold on the polished brass entry in the Task Pane, as
shown in Figure 41. With the mouse button still held, drag the
appearance onto one of the hinges in the assembly window (not the Figure 39
preview window), as in Figure 42.
In the context toolbar that appears, select the part option, as shown in Figure 43.
This will apply the appearance to all instances of the Hinge part, and the preview Figure 43
window will be updated.
Introduction to Solid Modeling Using SolidWorks 2013 PhotoView 360 Tutorial Page 8
The screws can be photorendered using this technique; however, we will demonstrate an alternative
technique in this tutorial.
Figure 44
Figure 45
In the Task Pane, select Brass from the list of metals, and click on
the sandblasted brass material. The screws will be rendered, and
the preview window will update. To see this in detail, you may
zoom in on the hinge in the assembly window; the preview window
will be updated accordingly, and the rendering of screws can be
seen in detail, as shown in Figure 46.
Figure 46
Zoom out to the previous level. Add a Scene if desired, and zoom/pan in the
assembly window until the image appears as desired in the preview window
(shown in Figure 47, with the Courtyard Background
from the Presentation Scenes selected). Save the
assembly, if desired. A final rendering could now be
produced and saved, using the same procedure as in
the previous tutorial.
Figure 47