Custom Window Trim

[PoleCat]

Any recommendations for making customized trim around windows?

[Allan Chesney]

The window trim tools are part of the Wall Properties.  On the Wall Properties, select Trim Tab, select the correct side of the wall and choose Opening. Click the Select button and choose what you want.  Double click the texture image to change the texture, colours etc.  Also go to the window Properties, Basic tab and make sure the Trim box is ticked so it will show.

Allan

[PoleCat]

That's fine for running plain casing around the window but I am talking about built up woodwork fashioned from several different types of molding.

[Allan Chesney]

The casing does not have to be plain - you can use any texture but unfortunately it does not render on the vertical edges as the texture does not turn direction at the corners.  You could replace the side pieces with a separate piece of 'wood' and rotate the texture on these.  You may have to set it a mm (or fraction of an inch) thicker so it sticks out in front of the ordinary frame used for the top and bottom.  Getting the mitres on the corners may be a challenge.    Bit fiddly but can be done. Of course if you are using curtains then these side pieces are covered anyway.

It may also be possible to do it using a fixed position photoboard.  You would have to make the photoboard the exact size of your window frame and make the centred rectangle (the actual window) magenta in colour. It would then become invisible, so you would have in effect the complete frame as one object.

Allan

[Mike1158]

You can always make one in sketchup or any cad program.  Just import via the wizard in 3ds, dxf, dwg.............

[PoleCat]

You can always make one in sketchup or any cad program.  Just import via the wizard in 3ds, dxf, dwg.............

That would be the graceful way of doing it. I need to figure out how to create these objects so once they are imported into TFP they can be manipulated readily like one of the built in objects. Specifically, I would like to be able alter length, width, and material orientation on individual members. Is there any way to control this sort of fuctionality during the design / import process?

[Nik]

Could you try with this simple block.3ds ??

One face has a different texture to allow tweaking...

[PoleCat]

I am going to fiddle around with it and see. I have been experimenting in order to educate myself. I exported a door from TFP to DXF and opened it in TCad. I separated out the components to different layers, i.e. frame, leaf, glass, panel. I saved this as dxf and 3ds. Then I imported into TFP. The 3ds object lost all separations and was HUGE! It did inset correctly however. The dxf object retained the separation and they could be re-textured individually. However, it was no longer usable as a door, the scale was way way off and the insertion point was off the map. Lots to figure out!

[PoleCat]

Well that block got me moving in the right direction. Still not getting the separation I need though. I noticed that the block used two materials (Material#0 & Material#1) and they seem to be the key to defining separate constructs in the object. My example had several but during import it went to one. I'll post a picture when I figure out how.

[PoleCat]

It took some doing but I finally managed to get one seperated. It involved using the same term in the the attribute proprty as the material property. Also set pen colors to different values.

[Doug.S]

When I make .3ds objects in another 3D program, I selectively create separate texture domains by naming selected faces/facets and usually applying a different color to each.

Thus when imported into TFP, the domain regions remain separated and different materials can be applied.  Scale is usually close or off by a factor of mm/inch/feet conversion.

I did many in FP11 but only a couple so far in TFP.

Only issue with scaling is that for objects with a hole such as a picture frame with no picture....changing the overall size in TFP also changes the frame width proportionally so large changes in size make frames not match in frame material widths...so must make several to the correct proportions.

[Allan Chesney]

The 3DS Block is very useful and in the past I used it extensively (in previous versions).  In TFP however I usually use the Custom Member (Interior Accessories(Curtains Icon) /Decorative). With this you can change all faces separately and it has all the other usual Properties of other objects, so no 3DS limitations.

In the image I used it to make the vertical edges of the window frame but as I said in an earlier post the mitred corners are a problem. The frame is too wide but at least it demonstrates the use of the Custom Member for the vertical pieces.

A photoboard or custom 3DS with separate textures for each side (so the vertical sections can have the texture rotated) may be the only way to go.

I have never had a problem with the scale of a 3DS or DXF on import, except when I forgot to set the size in the import wizard!

Allan

[Doug.S]

In FP11 I generated some .3ds mitered crown moldings (inside and outside corners and long straight section)

There were many other .3ds objects as well by several people

For any users new to TFP....suggest you look in FP (8,10, and 11) forum if you need a special object
http://forums.imsisoft.com/forums

If file is missing, mention source name/author and file name and maybe one of us here has it and can re-post it here

[dkb194]

I posted earlier on help looking for 45 degree crown mouldings and crown moulding that would run over the edge of a wall opening. Your 3ds file would be appreciated.

[Doug.S]

here are ones I made for upper cabinet tops but are suitable elsewhere too

straight and outside corner

inside corner can be made by overlapping 2 straight sections a little