3D Modelling

Export files and images from BricsCAD® Shape - Joachim's Journey Part 16

By Joachim Corijn 5 min March 2, 2020
Export files and images from BricsCAD® Shape - Joachim's Journey Part 16

As we come to the end of our Journey into the land of BricsCAD® Shape, I want to show you how to take your marvelous creations from BricsCAD Shape and export them to 2D images and alternative file formats.

Save a BricsCAD Shape drawing to another file format

As standard, all BricsCAD Shape files are stored as .dwg . This is a highly compatible file format read by most of the industry-leading CAD platforms. However, you might need to export your model to a different file type.

To save your drawing to another file type:

Navigate to File -- SaveAs and a dialog box will appear:

Export files and images from BricsCAD<sup>®</sup> Shape -saveas-1024x676

SaveAs dialog box BricsCAD Shape

You have two main options for saving file types (although many variations of each exist):

  • .dwg This file type is used by Open Design Alliance compliant applications and can be readily shared with users of software such as BricsCAD, Solidworks and AutoCAD.
  • .dxf can be created in either ASCII or a binary format. It can be opened with applications such as Adobe Illustrator, IsoDraw and the ASCII versions can even be opened with text editors.
  • .dwt It is also possible to save the drawing as a drawing template .dwt.

Exporting

Exporting offers even more options!

To export a file from BricsCAD Shape:

  1. Set the view before you begin exporting. Set the view in the LookFrom widget to "Top" for 2D entities, to create truly "flat" exports or use a different camera angle to create some interesting results.
  2. Select the entities you wish to export.
  3. Navigate to: File -- Export.Export files and images from BricsCAD<sup>®</sup> Shape -export
  4. Select the export file type.Export files and images from BricsCAD<sup>®</sup> Shape -formats-768x562

BricsCAD Shape offers many different file type exports:

  • .bmp will provide you with a fully rendered, 2D image. Applications as wide-ranging as Windows Image Viewer, Adobe Photoshop and even Chrome support this format however, vector information is lost.

    Export files and images from BricsCAD<sup>®</sup> Shape -farm-1-1024x503

    example of a .bmp export

  • .dae is a graphic-centric, 3D filetype, it can be opened by programs such as Blender, Photoshop and GLCPlayer.

    Export files and images from BricsCAD<sup>®</sup> Shape -dae blender-1024x577

    example of a .dae file opened in Blender

  • .fbx retains 3D data. It can be opened with a range of software like Paint 3D, Cheeta3D and Autodesk Maya.

    Export files and images from BricsCAD<sup>®</sup> Shape -open in paint 3d-1024x576

    example of a .fbx file opened in Paint 3D

  • .stl is arguably the most widely known file type for 3D CAD files and its probably shorter to list the 3D CAD programs that don't support it than the ones that do. This file type is ideal for exporting to 3D printers and to rendering software.

    Export files and images from BricsCAD<sup>®</sup> Shape -stl rhino-1024x576

    example of a .stl file opened in Rhino 3D

  • .wmf contains both vector and .bmp information. It works in a similar way to .svg file types and as such, can be opened by Adobe Illustrator, IsoDraw and even Paint.

    Export files and images from BricsCAD<sup>®</sup> Shape -wmf opened in illustrator-1024x578

    example of a .wmf file opened in Adobe Illustrator

Export images

It is possible to create 2D raster and rendered images from your BricsCAD Shape models.

  1. Type Render into the command line to access the dialog box.
  2. Set the size of the image, the file location and the file type.
  3. Hit OK.

You have a choice between 3 file export types:

  • bmp
  • jpg
  • png

Export files and images from BricsCAD<sup>®</sup> Shape -farm

example of a render image

PDF export

You can also use the old "print to PDF" trick to convert your files to PDF. Navigate to File -- Print and choose your paper size (including custom sizes), quality. You even have options to include text editability!

Learn more about importing, exporting and editing files in BricsCAD Shape.

What's next?

This time we explored ways of exporting your models. Next time we finish up the tour with my Lazy Man's Guide to BricsCAD Shape.


Download BricsCAD Shape free

Watch the webinar "BricsCAD Shape in 10 minutes"


More CAD lessons:

    1. What is BricsCAD Shape?
    2. Download & Install
    3. Get started
    4. The Interface
    5. Commands
    6. Selecting Objects
    7. Transform
    8. Materials
    9. Components
    10. View Styles
    11. Layers
    12. Editing Entities
    13. More way to Edit Entities
    14. Arrays
    15. Dynamic User Coordinate Systems
    16. Export files and images
    17. Lazy Man's Guide to BricsCAD Shape

Disclaimer: All brand names and product names mentioned in this post are trademarks or service marks of their respective companies. Including, but not limited to; Adobe Photoshop, Adobe, Adobe Illustrator, Chrome, Blender, Photoshop, GLCPlayer, IsoDraw, Windows, Paint, Paint 3D, Cheeta3D, Autodesk Maya, Autodesk and AutoCAD.

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