Another new feature in SolidWorks 2010 is the ability to view decals that you have inserted using PhotoWorks even without having PhotoWorks turned on or installed. This is very nice functionality to have available to you because you may want to send a model with a decal on it to someone that does not have PhotoWorks and they will not be able to see it.
How is this done you may be asking. Well to start off you are going to want to make sure you have a model that has a decal on it. If you do not you will want to turn on PhotoWorks through Tools > Add-Ins and select PhotoWorks > Decal and this will lead you through the steps necessary to add a decal onto your model.
Once you have a decal inserted you will need to turn on the ability to view decals. You can do this 3 different ways but in the end they will all give you the correct result. These ways are:
- View > Decals
- Hide/Show Items (Heads-up View toolbar) > View Decals
- View Decals (View toolbar)
Once you turn this option on you will be able to see your decals as shown in the picture below.
On another side note in regards to decals, you are now able to view decals in eDrawings which will be really nice for sending off a realistic model to a potential customer showing them exactly what their product may look like.
This functionality became available in 2009 SP4
Jason,
You should be able to toggle the view of decals in SolidWorks 2010 regardless of wheather or not the photoworks add-in is turned on. Also Dave is correct, this is actually a 2009 feature, in SolidWorks 2010 you will be able to view decals in PV360 and eDrawings, maybe thats what your notes were trying to tell you!
hey guys, thanks for the comments.
according to the what’s new document this is new in 2010 (the ability to view decals without photoworks activated).
however, i just checked it again with solidwork 2009 sp4.1 and i can also view decals without photoworks activated.
i really wish solidworks would leave the what’s new document to what’s really new to that release. mike, can you put a good word in for me?
Also keep in mind that for non-PW users, you can have a “cheap” decal thru use of sketch picuture, abet they are limited to planar surfaces. Sketch pictures also come over to eDrawings2010.
You actually have PV360 to thank for all of this; in order to get decals into 360, a partition in the SW file structure had to be written for them. That was the key to getting them into eDrawings.
regards
Mark
thanks for the extra info mark! great to hear from you again!
H Mark,
Why not add decal as standard feature not pro feature ?
Today Inventor have decal even the basic / standard.
I think sometimes SW is too commercialize every button or command
Huhhhhh
Sorry our of topic.
Inventor just release for Icopy.
Very good feature that SW not have today. Catia also have this feature.
Would you like to forward this issue to SW R & D ?
Create enhancement access is not enough. We need free way access. Its you Sir !!!
Dont get me wrong, I am I fan of SolidWorks.
Just hope Sw to better and easier for end user !!!
Regards,
Nurk