Images without background

General Questions
1

Hello,

We often export images of the simulation models. However, we need the images without a background. Removing the floor/grid is a first step, but is it possible to create an image of the models and have the rest of the image as a transparent background? Or is this something that would be possible in the future?

2

Hy,

I do this with an workaround:

  1. Set the background-color in VC to one color which is almost unique compared to colors on components.

    image
    image1598×370 18.7 KB

  2. Save the picture

  3. gimp: how to make a transparent background | Thomas Cokelaer's blog

Hope that helps?

Regards
Feature

3

Another approach is to export the model as 3MF or OBJ

Export 3MF_OBJ
Export 3MF_OBJ1177×744 143 KB

Then open the 3MF or OBJ in Paint 3D and save as PNG with transparency

Save PNG.PNG
Save PNG.PNG1220×994 218 KB

The appearance of the model won’t be exactly the same as in VC, but for many cases it’s good enough.

4

Thanks for the recommendations!
At the moment, we are using the suggestion of captain_feature, but were looking for a method that would be more efficient. With a lot of images, it can be a time consuming task. We’ll stick to this method for now and see if a functionality like that might be introduced in a later version of Visual Components :slight_smile: :crossed_fingers:.

5

The Blender addon has this feature, here’s a video of it in action (in the last minute or so of the video):

1 Like
6

Use vcApplication.saveBitmap() command to auto export the image for every X seconds or manually click.

7

The Blender addon seems like a good solution, thanks!

8

With the vcApplication.saveBitmap() command I don’t know how to make sure that the background is invisible. I just get the exact image that is on the screen, including the background.

9

Oh, OK, I see, my bad.
Need to handle transparency after saveBitmap().

10

I found that it is not hard to handle image transparency.
Since can use PIL in VC.

from PIL import Image

png = Image.open("D:\\sample.png")
png = png.convert("RGBA")

data = png.getdata()
newData = []

# Choose white pixel here
for item in data:
  if item[0] == 255 and item[1] == 255 and item[2] == 255:
    newData.append((255, 255, 255, 0))
  else:
    newData.append(item)

png.putdata(newData)
png.save("D:\\sample_exported.png", "PNG")
11

FYI. Here is the add-on from scratch.

https://forum.visualcomponents.com/t/transparent-background-and-merge-new-background/2666

1 Like
12

@idkfa Thanks! This also seems like a clean and easy to use solution!