Any one ever try making some outlines on illustrator or similar? Very fun…can print full size outlines as well.
I was just reading this tutorial in the resource section before I saw this thread.
Great explination.
Quote:
Any one ever try making some outlines on illustrator or similar? Very fun…can print full size outlines as well.
I used to do outlines and rocker in lightwave, a 3D modeling and render program(often used to do 3D effects in tv series). Good since you can model on top of a photo to steal outlines and rockers from photos. I’ve then exported to dxf and used a program to print dxf fullscale. After micki sent me a copy of APS3000 i would design in APS, then copy it to lightwave as a photo, then make the dxf in lightwave, etc… It then occured to me as I was doing this in lightwave that I had all the data for the curves in APS3000, so why did I need to plug in exactly the same data in lightwave to print it? So I wrote the short piece of code in java to print .brd files fullsize(had to write the code to read the fileformat since I didn’t have access to the aps3000 code). Since the first copy I received from miki they have also added the feature to overlay the outline and rocker over a picture which is an excellent feature.
If you are familiar with illustrator, by all means it’s a great program and will do the job just fine. There are a bunch of other programs that will do the trick as well. However APS3000 is made for making surfboard and is free, something you can hardly say about illustrator(nor lightwave, autocad, inventor, 3D studio max, maya, etc. for that matter).
regards,
Håvard
PS. Just to make it clear, I do not work for the APS3000 team. I just wrote a small piece of code and let miki and jimmy have it rather than releasing a separate program that would print outlines and rockers fullsize.
I didn’t want to be the first to say so, because I feel like I rave about APS so much, people might think I work for them,
but,
exactly.
Made for it. And great at it.
(If Jimmy peeks, now I only wish you could reverse the board’s direction, see the OUTLINE and rocker views next to each other)
YES for Janklow’s excellent proposal of having a multiple view of the lines created.
Wouter
I’ve been using Illustrator and it has helped me out a lot making templates, but I had to learn to use the pen tool which isn’t the easiest thing for some of us. Unfortunately I usually have to use more than one line to make my outlines so combining smooth flowing curves requires some work. I’m embarrased to say this, but it actually took me 4 days to perfect my last 9-0 template. But, it was well worth the effort. It was my intent to sell this last board, but I’ll just have to shape another 'cause I’m keeping this one. Besides, my wife is getting used to me riding everything first anyway. Much to her dismay.
Now APS3000 is free? Where do I get it?
oh yes, i forgot how fortunate i am to have this software…it IS expensive. I use it for work so i guess i’m a bit spoiled. Anyway, yes, aps3000 is superior for the fact that it’s purpose is specific. I use both. One thing i have done is create an outline in some other program, save/export as .jpg and then import that image into aps3000 as an outline i then can trace. Illustrator is also a fun place to make logos and such…here are some more pix i have from messing around when i should be working…
Takes no time to download.
Best thing since sliced bread as far as I’m concerned.
Actually, sliced bread has zero addiction factor compared to APS3000, so ah…
Shout if you need help!!
i dont blame you raving about aps3000. i dont work for them either but the software and machine make so much difference to my business and satisfaction of my customers etc.
there is an easy way if you know your ay around illustrator… create a pdf from the print menu then open the pdf in illustrator. walla vector curves ready to scale.
Never thought of that…
I would use it for sure if ever got into that business. Good thinking, Dave.
http://www.atuacores.com/english/surmesure.php
A nice template designer, with always perfect curves, easy to manipulate. You can’t print full size though, but it allows you to order EPS blanks cut to the template you created.
At least it’s a nice tool for visualizing a project before making it and playing with all sorts of templates.
I use Autocad. Works really well but my version doesn’t print to PDF format so I either have to print from Autocad or print to DWF format, then print from a DWF viewer. Unfortunately I can’t find a local print shop that has Autocad or is willing to load Autocad’s free DWF viewer tool, so I can’t do single sheet plots for my rocker/outline templates. Print-n-tape works though and now that I’m printing on 14x11" paper, it really doesn’t take that much time. Takes me about 10 minutes to draw a new template now and most of that is spent adding fractions in my head - Autocad doesn’t let you enter a spline curve point as (18.5"/2 + 1/16", 3’). One nice thing about Autocad is that it has a built-in scripting language, so there’s a possibility that you could write a program that inputs a series of points (e.g., spread-sheet style) and automatically draws a best-fit spline curve through that. Then you could go in later and manually adjust the curve if necessary. One of these days I’m going to spend some time and do that.
I’ve been using Autocad since before APS became available, but have been meaning to try APS. Really though, the only problem I have with Autocad is getting full-scale, single page print-outs. This wouldn’t be a problem if I had a plotter, but they’re expensive. Can you take the output file from APS to a print shop and get a full size plot on a single piece of paper? Or do you tape as well?
I tape but a print shop can do it on one sheet from a PDF you export your image to, yes. And if you’ve never used APS, you owe it to yourself to try it. It’s pretty damn optimized for making surfboard temps.
The APS/Illustrator combo is wicked valuable for making HWS keel and frame templates.
Two blokes, one APS expert, and one Illustrator wizard could make a killing.
The APS3000 is definitely a great tool and easy to use. I really like the print to pdf option and printing the whole template on separate sheets. The only thing that bugs me (and it is petty) is that I wish you could roatate the board to make the nose face “north”. When I make my templates I still like to eye the board out and check out the curves. With the board facing sideways, I have to tilt my head. But why am I complaining. Its a free program and it rocks.
Cheers,
Rio
How’s it going guys… just wanted to let you know we’ve set up a forum specific to the APS3000 at http://aps3000.com/forum/ . If you make your feature requests there, we are much more likely to see them. Jimmy’s the boss and decides what features are and aren’t added to the software… but I’ll give you a hint: the more a feature is requested (in terms of shear number of people), the more likely it will be considered for addition. Until a large number of users have expressed their want to have a new feature added or a current feature tweaked, the chances are slim that anything will be changed (because right now it seems like the majority of our users are more than happy with the ways things are). So your best chance of getting a new feature added is to rally support among the other APS3000 users, and then convince us why it’s needed. We’re not afraid to make changes to the software, we just don’t want to bloat it with features only a few people will use – or worse – change features that the majority of other users are happy with as is.
Thanks
-Ryan
Awesome. I vote for regular foot board view! 
And simultaneous view of rocker and outline…mmm, and profiles if possible
(Just registered and it won’t let me post yet (**)
Yeah, sorry about that. We’ve been getting a lot of spam on the forum so we had to enable email verification before allowing users to post. After registering, you should get an email with a link to the activation page. After clicking on that link you’ll be good to go.