In the realm of 3D design, the devil is in the details—and decals are no exception. Mastering the management of decal files within the 3DEXPERIENCE platform can transform your SOLIDWORKS projects, elevating them from good to great with the power of precision and consistency. Join us as Ankit Gupta elucidates the process of managing these crucial files, from understanding the pivotal ‘.p2d’ file extension to the effective organisation of image assets. Our comprehensive guide will take you through a meticulous workflow to ensure your decals are not just an afterthought, but a seamless aspect of your design narrative on the 3DEXPERIENCE platform.
by Ankit GUPTA
Managing decal files efficiently ensures seamless integration and consistent application across projects. In this blog, we’ll explore how to manage decal files effectively within the 3DEXPERIENCE platform.
Understanding Decal File Extension
Decal files in SOLIDWORKS are saved with the extension ‘.p2d’. These files not only contain the path or reference to the image file but also store illumination settings applied to the decal. It’s important to note that the original image file associated with the ‘.p2d’ file is required for insertion.
To streamline decal management on the 3DEXPERIENCE platform, it’s recommended to organize image files in a designated bookmark folder. When launching SOLIDWORKS, these image files automatically download to the Windows folder location:
`C:\Users\Public\Documents\SOLIDWORKS\R11xxxxxxxxxxx\<FolderName>`
Here is a step-by-step process:
1. Save image files in the bookmark folder on the platform.
2. Launch SOLIDWORKS > upon launch, the image files will download to the specified Windows folder location. Note: Please ensure that you’ve mapped the bookmark folder correctly to access image files from the platform.
3. In SOLIDWORKS, navigate to `Display Manager > Decals`. Right-click in the Display Manager and select “Add Decal.”
4. The Decals Property Manager opens with three tabs: Image, Mapping, and Illumination. From ‘Image’ tab, Select “Browse” and choose the image file from the downloaded folder location to map correctly.
5. After configuring the decal settings, save the decal locally within SOLIDWORKS.
Once the decal is saved, upload the content back to the platform’s bookmark folder.
Mapping Bookmark Folder
To utilise custom decals efficiently, it’s essential to map the bookmark folder within SOLIDWORKS. By mapping the folder, SOLIDWORKS automatically fetches decal files.
By following these steps, you can effectively manage decal files for SOLIDWORKS within the 3DEXPERIENCE platform, ensuring smooth integration and consistent application of custom decals across projects.