Watermark in Solidworks

There's stuff on the web. "water mark with PC" Got some hits.

You've probably already done this.

Good Luck.

Yeah, creating the watermark isn't the problem. It's getting it into Solidworks/AutoCAD that is causing me grief. I just want to be able to bring the transparent text into Solidworks and place it over my drawing so you can still see the drawing easily, but a lightly shaded text is visible. My end goal is to have the "watermark" image files available as something like a stamp, which I can simply "stamp" my drawing when completed, before sending it to anyone. I would like to create things such as:

"CONFIDENTIAL"

"INTERNAL USE ONLY"

"CLASSIFIED"

"NOT APPROVED FOR CONSTRUCTION"

ETC, ETC...

"WHATEVER YOU DO, DON'T ACTUALLY BUILD THIS!!"

We convert all of our drawings to PDF for distribution - creating a stamp like you describe with Adobe is simple. It doesn't help if you really want to stamp the source file, but it works well with "shop copies".

Thank you,

That is where i was headed if I just couldn't get the CAD Programs to do it. (which I can't) Why the heck is this not something already available as a plug-in for SW or ACAD? Ohhh well, maybe the new 2010 version will have this feature... I'll just have to upgrade.

I agree - it seems like something that should be a pretty basic feature. Another of my pet peeves is the complete absence in any drafting package (that I have ever worked with) of the overlapping CL centerline symbol. Just proves that software designers aren't really engineers!

With respect to the CL symbol, many 3D MCAD programs have this built in. I think I have also seen in in AutoCAD, but this may have been their Mechanical package.

My Canon printer can do this as an extra while printing from any program.....check your printer manual, it may be easier than you think......

You might even "pre-print" your paper using Word or similar, in a contrasting color, then print your documents on that.......I am sure in Word and or in the printer, you can do a "washed out" color quite easily.....experiment.

What about drawing what you want in AutoCAD, then edit and save it as a block. Paste in as needed? I've done a lot of funky stuff with title and revision blocks so this should work.

I think I even remember doing it on a side job but I can't find it without looking and that is too close to work on the weekend.

The E-Drawing application that comes with SW has some of this functionality, but more for viewing. I've never tested it to see if it printed. Perhaps you could try and publish/print your drawings through E? I no longer have access to solidworks so can't test any theories...

Chris

When saving from Photoshop, save it as a Post Script file(.PS) and make sure you select "enable transparency" if you made the picture or words using transparency. The imported drawing can then be
positioned by dragging it around or by specifying co-ordinates. The PSDRAG
and PSQUALITY variables control the drawing's appearance when it is being
dragged.

Although the easiest way to put a watermark on yor doc. is to let your printer do it. Most decent printers allow you to select an image or phrase to watermark your doc.

Paint.NET is a freeware Photoshop clone. (http://www.getpaint.net/) If you can export your image to a JPG, or other file, that program can do what you are looking for.

If you cannot export and you have MS Office, you can install the MDI printer driver. The MDI document can be exported to a TIF file.

Good luck.

I will try that this morning. Thank you for the great answer!

I do like the printer option, but the one problem I see with that, is when I create a drawing, It is placed onto the network for our people to use. It can be printed from just about anywhere (even in multiple states). And I need the mark on the original drawing, and visible when looking at it on the computer screen.

Thank you to everyone!

I'd bet that I'll have my marks by the end of the day.

I believe you have the functionality within CS4

Give look 1 / look /

In Word - format/background/watermark

Free editor

hello wire,

How you doing?

With reference to the book by "O'Rielly"/ I have a book on another subject by him and it is amazingly detailed. I can recommend any book written by him!

You sent some useful links my friend. I am saving them, just in case!

Hello wire,

In Word - format/background/watermark.

I forgot you could do that in Word.

Cheers my friend!

Take care............

For what it's worth its a doddle in sketchup:-

Right click, Edit Sheet Format

Insert Picture (Save your message as a picture and select it)

Set transparency to .97 or whatever.

Save sheet format or as drawing template.

Not really sure about thee watermark feature inside SolidWorks but i'm sure there should be some functionality .......

As for stamps we have been using blocks for a stamping feature where you can define the layer and line weight and even customise your tool bar with an icon for each stamp as necessary .... Hope this helps

Solidworks user

Anthony @ Alno

www.alnoproductservices.com.au