To Emboss or Add Decals to Parts or Surfaces

Emboss or Engrave a Face or Plane

The Emboss feature raises or recesses a profile relative to the model face by a specified depth and direction. The embossed area can provide a surface for a decal or painting. A recessed embossed area can provide clearance for another component in an assembly (not available in Inventor LT).

Start with a part file that contains a 2D sketch of the profile you want to emboss or engrave.

1. Click 3D Model tab Create panel Emboss .
2. Using the Profile selector, click in the graphics window to select one or more profiles (sketch geometry or text) to emboss or engrave.
   Tip: To make selection easier, turn off automatic projection. In the Application Options dialog box, Sketch tab, deselect Autoproject Edges During Curve Creation.
3. 3. Choose an emboss type:

   • Emboss From Face. Raises the profile area.
   • Engrave From Face. Recesses the profile area.
   • Emboss/Engrave From Plane. Adds and removes material from the model by extruding both directions or one direction from the sketch plane. If both directions, material is removed and added, depending on the position of the profile relative to the part.
4. Specify the options associated with the type of emboss you’re performing:
   • Depth. (Emboss From Face and Engrave From Face) Specifies the offset depth to emboss or engrave the profile.
   • Taper. (Emboss/Engrave From Plane) Specifies the degree of taper. The angle is positive toward the face of the model, allowing draft for removing the part from a mold.
   • Top Face Appearance. Specifies an appearance for the face of the embossed area but not its lateral sides. In the Appearance dialog box, click the down arrow to show a list. Scroll through the list or type the first letter to locate the desired appearance. Click OK.
   • Direction. Specifies the direction of the feature. Useful if the profile is on a work plane offset from the model face.
   • Wrap to Face. (Emboss From Face and Engrave From Face) Specifies if the profile is wrapped on a curved face. Limited to a single face, not a seamed face. The face can be planar or conical only, not a spline. Clear the checkbox to project the image to the face instead of wrap. If the profile is large relative to the amount of curvature, the embossed or engraved area distorts slightly as it projects to the curved face. The wrap stops when a perpendicular face is encountered.
5. Click OK.

Show Me How to Create an Embossed Face or Plane

Edit an Emboss or Engrave Feature

For best results, follow this sequence:

1. If necessary, in the browser, click the Emboss feature to expand its contents.
2. Right-click the Sketch icon, and then click Edit Sketch.
3. In the active sketch, right-click the text, and then click Edit Text.
4. In the Format Text dialog box, change text as necessary, and then click OK.
5. Use other sketch commands as necessary to change other sketch geometry, and then right-click, and click Finish Sketch.
6. In the browser, right-click the emboss feature, and then click Edit Feature.
7. Click Profile, and reselect new text or sketch geometry to include in the embossed feature. Change any other settings in the dialog box as needed, and then click OK.

   The embossed feature updates with the changes to the sketch geometry and text.

Create a Decal on a Surface or Part

To create decals, you insert an image in a sketch, position it using constraints and dimensions, and then apply it as a decal using the Decal command on the 3D Model tab.

If you create the decal on a part instead of a surface, use the Delete Face command to remove unneeded faces. The part is automatically converted to a surface.

1. Create a part file. On the default sketch, create a line and then click Return. Click 3D Model tab Create panel Extrude and extrude the line as a surface.
   Note: Make that the extrusion is the exact size of the decal image. If necessary, edit the sketch and resize the line, and then edit the feature to modify the extrusion distance.
2. Click 3D Model tab Sketch panel Create 2D Sketch and then select the extrusion face.
3. Click Sketch tab Insert panel , click Image. Browse to locate a .bmp, .doc, or .xls file to represent the decal, and then click OK.
4. In the graphics window, click to place the image and then position it as desired. For example:
   • Click in the center of the image and drag to move it.
   • Click a corner of the image and drag to resize it. The image maintains its original aspect ratio.
   • Click an edge to pivot the image.
   • Use constraints and dimensions to fix the position and align it to other geometry
   Tip: Right-click the image in the graphics window and use options in the Image Properties dialog box to reorient the image. To create a transparent background for the decal, click Use Mask.
5. When the image is positioned correctly, right-click and choose Done. Then right-click again and select Finish Sketch.
6. Click 3D Model tab Create panel Decal .
7. In the Decal dialog box, use the following options to select and place the decal:
   • Image. Specifies an image to use as the decal. Image must be in .bmp, .doc, or.xls format. In .doc and .xls files, the printable area is selected and retains its native formatting. If resized, the image retains its original aspect ratio. Use dimensions and constraints to position the image on the sketch.
   • Face. Select the face on which to apply the decal.
   • Wrap To Face. Specifies whether the image is wrapped on one or more curved faces. Clear the checkbox to project the image onto one or more faces without wrapping. Select the box to apply a decal on cylindrical, toroidal, and other nonplanar faces. The projection is normal to the sketch plane.
   • Chain Faces. Applies the decal to adjacent faces, such as a fillet or over an edge.
   Decal placement with Wrap To Face and Chain Faces selected:

   
   Decal placement on a cone with Wrap To Face and Chain Faces selected:

   

   Decal spanning spline, straight, and arc surfaces with Chain Faces selected:

   Note: The decal image distorts when projected on an irregular surface or adjacent faces. The faces move closer to being perpendicular, the amount of distortion increases because the image is projected.
8. When the decal is applied as desired, click OK.

Show Me How to Create a Decal on a Part

Place a Decal on an Assembly Component (not available in Inventor LT)

When a decal spans a seam across parts in an assembly, create a thin-walled part the same size as the decal.

1. In the assembly file, right-click and choose Place Component.
2. Browse to and open the part file containing the decal.
3. Add work features as necessary to assist with decal placement.
4. Add assembly constraints to position the decal.

   Alternatively, convert an assembly to a derived part, and then apply the decal to the part.

   Tip: If you use the decal in multiple assemblies, create iMates to simplify positioning the decal.