In this tutorial, you will learn how to create a custom 3D company sign with your logo and place it on a building facade in cadvilla. Furthermore, you will texture the sign for both 3D and 2D display so it remains visible in your plan and in your 3D view. Optionally, you can add realistic mounting bolts and apply a metal texture for a professional look. Finally, you will save the finished sign as a reusable group and insert it into new projects to save time.

Important Note (Version Requirement)

[0:38] Group function requires cadvilla 9.0 or higher

• Please note that the function group in this tutorial requires cadvilla version 9.0 or higher.

1. Prepare the Logo Image (Aspect Ratio and File Size)

[1:02] Select a suitable image file

• Prepare your logo as a JPEG or PNG file on your computer.
• In the example, the tutorial uses a JPEG first, and later shows a PNG with transparency.

[1:43] Check the aspect ratio in Windows

• Right-click your logo file and select Properties.
• Switch to the Details tab.
• Check Dimensions (example shown: 1200 x 600), therefore the aspect ratio is 2:1.

[2:24] Keep resolution and file size reasonable

• Use a resolution that is not too low, however also not unnecessarily high.
• The tutorial recommends keeping the file size below 200 KB, because very large images can be counterproductive for 3D display.

2. Create a Section View and Define Guidelines for the Sign

[3:04] Create a new section view

• Switch to the 2D view of your project.
• Click View and select New Section View.
• Insert the section line in front of the facade. Hold CTRL to create a horizontal section view line.

[3:40] Arrange windows for parallel work

• Click View and select Vertical to arrange the views side-by-side.

[3:57] Create guidelines in the section view

• Click 2D & Layout.
• Open 2D Guidelines and select Guideline > Numeric parallel guideline.
• Alternatively, press P (shortcut) for the numeric guideline tool.

[4:17] Define distances precisely

• Place a guideline and enter the Distance from reference point value as required (confirm with Enter).
• Create additional guidelines to match your logo aspect ratio.

[4:48] Create a centered vertical guideline reference

• Press G for a vertical guideline.
• Right-click and choose Construction support > Center point.
• Click the left and right reference points (for example between windows) to define the center.

[5:32] Verify the sign proportions

• In the example, the tutorial defines a guideline frame of 3.00 m width and 1.50 m height, which matches a 2:1 logo ratio.
• Consequently, the logo will not appear distorted on the sign.

3. Create the 3D Surface for the Sign and Apply the Logo Texture

[6:22] Create a single 3D surface and draw the rectangle in the section view

• Click Construction > Single 3D surface > Insert with rectangle.
• Select the wall surface in the 3D view first.
• Then draw the rectangle in the section view using the guideline intersections.

[6:47] Define surface parameters and assign the 3D texture

• The single 3D surface dialog opens automatically.
• Set Thickness to 0.01 m. Set Distance from plane to 0.10 m.
• Click Tiles.
• In the following dialog select 3D-View.
• Click Texture and choose your logo image file, then confirm with OK.
• Adjust appearance values if required:
  • Diffuse portion (example shown: 100.0%)
  • Intensity (example shown: 30.0%)
  • Highlight size (example shown: 30.0%)

4. Define the 2D Display (So the Logo Is Visible in the Floor Plan)

[7:51] Switch to 2D display settings

• In Tiles dialog, click 2D Display.
• For Fill style, select Texture.
• Select the same logo image again.

[8:24] Fit the texture and set exact size

• Enable Adjust to area.
• Enter Width = 3.00 m and Height = 1.50 m (or your exact values).
• Confirm with OK.

[9:01] Fix tiled preview (stretch to full surface)

• If the logo appears tiled, click the button with the four green arrows to stretch the texture over the entire surface.
• Confirm with OK again.

5. Add Mounting Bolts (Optional)

[9:28] Note: bolts require professional editions

• For creating bolts, you need cadvilla professional or professional plus.

[10:04] Create a cylinder and set cylinder dimensions

• Click Construction > Primitives > Cylinder >  Free positioning.
• Right-click in a 2D view and select Properties.
• Set:
  • Radius = 0.05 m
  • Height = 0.12 m
• Confirm with OK.

[11:00] Rotate the bolt horizontally

• The cylinder is selected.
• Click Edit and select around X-axis.
• Rotate by 270 degrees, therefore the cylinder becomes horizontal.

[11:46] Move the bolt precisely

• Press R for move with reference point.
• Move the cylinder to the correct position on the wall using the section view and guidelines.

[12:46] Create the other bolts

• Right-click the cylinder and choose Multiple copy.
• In the tool options:
  • Set Number to 3
  • Set Distance to 0.30 m
  • Set direction to Left (180°)
• Confirm with OK, then reposition bolts if required with R.

[14:02] Apply a metal texture

• Open Catalog > Textures > Materials > Metal.
• Select Aluminium.
• Drag and drop the texture onto the cylinders in the 3D view.

6. Save the Sign as a Group

[14:25] Save selection as group

• Switch to the 2D view.
• Select the entire sign, including bolts, with a selection frame.
• Right-click and choose Save selection as group....
• Enter a group name (example shown: Company Sign) and confirm with OK (twice).

7. Insert the Group into a New Project and Edit It

[15:26] Insert the group from the catalog

• Open a new project.
• Click Catalog, then open Catalog - Groups.
• Select My groups.
• Double-click the group to preview it, and then drag and drop it into the plan.

[15:59] Important: drag into the 2D view

• Always drag a group into the 2D view if you want it displayed in 2D as well.

[16:37] Reposition precisely

• Press R (move with reference point) to center the sign between windows.

[17:33] Separate the group to make changes

• Right-click and select Separate group.
• Then you can delete bolts or replace the logo texture.

[17:54] Replace JPEG with PNG (with transparent background)

• Open Properties of the sign.
• Click Tiles > 2D Display.
• Select Logo_PNG.png and confirm with OK (twice).
• Consequently, the transparent background is displayed correctly.