2/7/2012 | DriveWorksXpress Headstart Webinar
This webinar takes you through the quick and easy steps involved in automating your design process with DriveWorksXpress in SolidWorks 2012.
Lets Go Design
PhotoWorks Step-By-Step Guide

The goal of this book is to teach you how to use the PhotoWorks software to create photorealistic renderings of parts and assemblies, and produce both electronic and paper output of those renderings.

Course details and prerequisites:

Type: Reference Book
Level: Intermediate
Price: $89.95

Recommended Prerequisites:

  • Attended the SolidWorks Essentials training course or equivalent level of knowledge.
  • At least one month of experience using the software.


Book Features:

  • Unlock the full power of SolidWorks design tools with the helpful instructions and tips available only from technical training experts on staff with SolidWorks Corporation.
  • Build your skills and confidence quickly with 45 easy-to-understand tutorials and practice exercises, each building upon the previous lesson.
  • Reinforce your new skills with the accompanying CD, with features time-saving project files for tutorial and practice exercises.
  • Learn at your own pace – review each lesson as often as you want or quickly move on to the next lesson.
  • Follow along with more than 1000 full-color images and screen captures that serve as easy to understand visual cues.


Course Outline


Chapter 1: Introduction

  • About This Book
  • What is Photorealistic Rendering?
  • Right Brain Versus Left Brain
  • What’s This Book About?
  • Cameras
  • Rendering Results
  • PhotoWorks


Chapter 2: Getting Started

  • What is the PhotoWorks Software?
  • Starting PhotoWorks
  • PhotoWorks User Interface
  • Getting Help
  • Options
  • Monitor Corrections


Chapter 3: Basic Part Rendering

  • Display Modes
  • Software OpenGL
  • Appearances
  • RealView Shadows
  • RealView Scenes
  • Case Study: Display and Appearances
  • Case Study: Appearances from Materials
  • The Rendering Process
  • Case Study: Idler Arm
  • Appearances
  • PhotoWorks Scenes
  • PhotoWorks Appearance Editor
  • Rendering
  • Sub-image Rendering
  • PhotoWorks Scene Editor
  • Editing PhotoWorks Properties
  • PhotoWorks Studio
  • Case Study: PhotoWorks Studio
  • Exercise 1: Bracket
  • Exercise 2: Screw Driver
  • Exercise 3: PhotoWorks Studio


Chapter 4: Mapping Texture Appearances

  • Introduction
  • Textures
  • Case Study: Texture Mapping
  • Texture Mapping
  • Texture Orientation
  • Mapping Adjustments
  • Exercise 4: Textures
  • Exercise 5: Texture Mapping Practice


Chapter 5: Applying Appearances

  • Introduction
  • Case Study
  • Creating Custom Colors
  • Hierarchy Review
  • Overview
  • Case Study: The Chess Set
  • Appearance Library
  • View Image File
  • Creating Appearance Folders
  • Case Study: Hybrid Appearances
  • Embedding Appearances
  • Linking Appearance
  • Illumination
  • Organizing Files

Exercise 6: Ice Cream Scoop

  • Chapter 6: Assemblies and Configurations
  • Rendering Part Configurations
  • Case Study: Part Configurations – The Chessboard
  • Appearance Hierarchy in an Assembly
  • Case Study: Assembly Configurations – The Locking Pin
  • Active Custom Folder
  • Case Study: Rocker Switch
  • PhotoWorks Legacy Data
  • Exercise 7: Lighter
  • Exercise 8: Lighter Configurations
  • Exercise 9: Custom Appearances and Folders

Chapter 7: Decals

  • Decals
  • Case Study: Monitor Face
  • Case Study: Label Mapping
  • Case Study: Multiple Decals
  • Case Study: Gradient Masks
  • Exercise 10: Travel Mug
  • Exercise 11: Chisel

Chapter 8: Viewpoint

  • ViewPoint
  • Positioning the Viewpoint
  • Named Views
  • Perspective View
  • The SolidWorks Camera
  • Case Study: Cameras
  • Apparent Depth
  • Case Study: Apparent Depth
  • Standard Lens
  • Depth of Field
  • Case Study: Setting Depth of Field
  • Case Study: Getting Behind the Walls
  • Exercise 12: Depth of Field
  • Exercise 13: The Assembly Line


Chapter 9: Scenes and Lighting

  • Scenes and Lighting
  • Scenery Examples
  • Scene Editor
  • Applying Appearances to Scenery
  • Scene Library
  • Case Study: Scenery
  • Lighting
  • Shadows
  • Lighting Schemes
  • Case Study: Flashlight
  • Spot Lights
  • Lighting Characteristics
  • PhotoWorks Light Characteristics
  • Foreground Effects
  • Exercise 14: The Book Light
  • Exercise 15: Stapler


Chapter 10: Advanced Lighting

  • Rendering Basics
  • Case Study: Lighting Principals
  • Ambient Light
  • Indirect Lighting
  • Lighting Concepts
  • Global Illumination
  • Case Study: Global Illumination
  • Setting Up Global Illumination
  • Case Study: Fire Truck
  • Photo Studios and Area Lights
  • Caustics
  • Case Study: Caustics


Chapter 11: Reflective and Transparent Appearances

  • Reflections
  • Case Study: Environments
  • Case Study: Kitchen Scene
  • Transparent Appearances
  • Exercise 16: Workbench
  • Exercise 17: Lotion Bottle


Chapter 12: Output Options

  • Output Design Intent
  • Output Options
  • Render to the Screen
  • Case Study: Contours
  • Render to a Printer
  • Case Study: Print a Picture of the Micrometer
  • Rendering Images to a File
  • Case Study: Sales Brochure
  • Screen Presentations
  • Case Study: Power Point®
  • Alpha Channels
  • Transporting Files
  • Case Study: Transport Files
  • Exercise 18: Product Information Sheet
  • Exercise 19: PowerPoint® Slide
  • Exercise 20: Contours


Chapter 13: Putting It All Together

  • Putting It All Together
  • Exercise 21: Miter Saw


Chapter 14: PhotoWorks Gallery

  • PhotoWorks Contest