Extended modules > 3D Documenation > 3D Documentation overview
  
3D Documentation overview
One goal of the 3D design process is the communication of ideas and thoughts. Some of these may be difficult to show on the part. Creo Elements/Direct Modeling provides various means to attach information to your model to document aspects of the design and manufacturing process.
The 3D Documentation module contains all the tools you need to annotate your 3D models. No separate license is required. Activate 3D Documentation by clicking the 3D Documentation check box under Applications in the Modules dialog box.
If you want to send your documentation to Creo Elements/Direct Annotation, your notes, dimensions, etc., must be associated with docuplanes. You should follow these steps:
1. Create a docuplane.
2. Create annotations. Make sure you associate them with docuplanes as you go.
3. Gather annotations to docuplanes free annotations.
4. Create a new drawing by transferring docuplanes.
If you want to annotate your model to share it with a colleague, you can create free annotations (without docuplanes). However, you can view a model by docuplane so you may want to create them even if you don't want the annotation sent to your drawing in Creo Elements/Direct Annotation.