About Illustrations
To create an illustration, you must first import a 3D or Schematic CAD file into Creo Illustrate. Illustrations created in Creo Illustrate are saved in C3DI (*.c3di) files. Each C3DI file contains the following elements:
• A linked or embedded CAD file you import. The source CAD file includes 3D model geometry or Schematic data and an associated engineering bill of material (eBOM).
• A service bill of material (sBOM) containing items, such as parts and subassemblies, pulled from the source engineering bill of material (eBOM)—as well as optional service-only items, such as kits and 3D library objects representing tools and supplies.
• One or more graphic figures you create using the source CAD data and annotation objects, such as callouts, sections, explode lines, and symbols. Figures with 3D data may contain an animation or sequence.
Each figure in a C3DI file has these properties:
• Illustrates some or all of the items in the sBOM.
• Can include automatically-generated callouts and an associated item list showing item names, numbers, and quantities.
• Can be saved separately as an image file, a 2D ISO or CGM illustration file, or as a 3D file.
You can export individual figures in a C3DI file as raster images, 2D illustration files (ISO or CGM format), or as 3D files. In addition, you can publish Creo Illustrate C3DI files as a Creo View PVZ file that contains one or more figures in one or more formats. A PVZ file is suitable for distribution and review in Creo View visualization applications.
By default, the following operations happen automatically when you import data to a new illustration:
• The New Figure dialog box opens to create the first figure.
• The eBOM is mapped to the sBOM.
To change the default settings, see
To Set Loading Options.