# Is it even possible for Solidworks to create illustrations like these?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-even-possible-for-solidworks-to-create-illustrations-like-these/787236>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [May 22, 2017, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-even-possible-for-solidworks-to-create-illustrations-like-these/787236 "2017-05-22T21:11:54Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![voltaire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voltaire/32/313_2.png) [@voltaire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/voltaire)\
**Post date:** [May 24, 2017, 6:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-even-possible-for-solidworks-to-create-illustrations-like-these/787236/21 "2017-05-24T06:51:08Z")

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Anybody had a chance to play with Paint3D that came out with the latest Windows 10 Creators Update? I’m sure it’s not ideal, but maybe it’s more workable than the other alternatives, if the PC in question is that up to date.

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**Author:** ![Knowed\_Out](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/knowed_out/32/7380_2.png) [@Knowed\_Out](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knowed_Out)\
**Post date:** [May 24, 2017, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-even-possible-for-solidworks-to-create-illustrations-like-these/787236/22 "2017-05-24T15:29:58Z")

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Here’s [PC World’s article on Paint 3D](http://www.pcworld.com/article/3163631/windows/how-to-use-microsofts-paint-3d-creating-cool-3d-scenes-has-never-been-so-much-fun.html).

It looks like the user puts together 3D models with basic shapes and customizable skins and textures. The user can also choose from libraries of preconstructed models and create scenes like dioramas. There are drawing tools, but not as defined as Adobe’s. It doesn’t really fit what the OP needs to do.

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**Author:** ![Doubticus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e56c9b/32.png) [@Doubticus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doubticus)\
**Post date:** [May 24, 2017, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-even-possible-for-solidworks-to-create-illustrations-like-these/787236/23 "2017-05-24T15:58:38Z")

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> [@octopus](#):
>
> For those sort of illustrations AutoCAD would be perfectly fine.

If you are importing stock illustrations and drawing on top then yes. If you need to create “art” yourself then not so much. I actually use a combination of AutoCAD and Inkscape to make fast and impressive handout materials for our clients.

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**Author:** ![Napier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@Napier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Napier)\
**Post date:** [May 24, 2017, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-even-possible-for-solidworks-to-create-illustrations-like-these/787236/24 "2017-05-24T22:36:40Z")

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> [@Doubticus](#):
>
> If you are importing stock illustrations and drawing on top then yes. If you need to create “art” yourself then not so much. I actually use a combination of AutoCAD and Inkscape to make fast and impressive handout materials for our clients.

Yes, this is a good point, and I didn’t explain how I was doing some of those illustrations (though I should have). I often import an existing image, typically a photograph, and trace on the photograph. Often this is to do careful measurement of features in the photograph. Sorry I left that for everybody to guess about!

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