Image-to-model
Sometimes the fastest input is a picture. This walkthrough turns a photo or hand sketch into an editable parametric model.
Before you start
- A clear reference image
- One or two known dimensions of the object
- 1
Capture a clean reference
Use a straight-on view with good contrast. A square-on photo or a tidy sketch reads far better than an angled, cluttered one.
- 2
Upload and ask
For a photo of a part, open the Drawing workspace and pick From Photos in the dock: Photo Draft walks you through calibrating the photo and confirming its dimensions, then builds parametric features, not a mesh. For a real object you want as a 3D shape, drop the photo on the Reverse Engineer workspace instead: HelioAI builds a textured mesh from the single photo, and Convert to Solid makes it CAD.
- 3
Anchor the scale
Give a known dimension — in Photo Draft, draw a calibration line over a length you know, such as an outer diameter of 40 mm. This anchors the size so the rebuilt solid comes out to scale.
Tip: One real measurement is the difference between a correctly sized part and a good-looking guess.
- 4
Review the rebuild
HelioCad interprets the image and builds a parametric solid. Check it against the reference and note anything to correct.
- 5
Refine by asking
Dial in the result with follow-up prompts in the AI orb just like any other model — adjust dimensions, add features, and clean up details.
What you built
A parametric solid rebuilt from an image and refined to match the real object.
Follow along in HelioCad
Open a workspace and build it as you read. It runs in your browser — no install required.
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