Blue Shadow

OSAAP's Design Software

Blue Shadow imports .jpeg files of images taken on our light panel. The frame of the light panel is used as a known datum, allowing the software to scale everything inside the frame from the known dimensions. Once scanned in, the CAD features allow for quick and easy design and layout of a Shadow Board.

Blue Shadow is based on a linear flow concept. Simply define the size, color, and thickness of the shadowboard needed, import the .jpg of your tools, and begin your design. Customize your board with easy-to-follow icons to straighten and align your tools. Slots for finger access can be added with two clicks of your mouse. Text can be customized and placed on your board with a range of fonts and sizes. Final check will highlight errors in red. Tool files can be individually saved to allow you to build a database. When you are done, save the shadowboard file in our proprietary .bord format and email it to us.

Blue Shadow Overview Video
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Frequently asked questions

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How do I convert my file to .dxf?

The video in this article offers a quick tutorial on how to get your file converted to a .dxf file.
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How Do I Fix Pictures of Round Parts That Scan in as an Oval?

This is not an uncommon occurrence whenever round parts are not in the center of the light panel because shadows and light distortion throw off the image.

Since discovering this distortion, we have developed our software to take this into account. 

Simply click the "Round" icon, found under editing tools. 

This will find the center of the ellipse and build a circle around it. While this works most of the time, it is not faultless, so we ask that you please check the actual diameter of your part(s) against the diameter of the circle in Blue Shadow.

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What does the Tool with Default Depths Message Mean?

ALL tools are set to 15mm as a default once the images are scanned into the software.

You can check the depth by pressing the "I" key on your keyboard; for information.  Tools default depths will be purple in color as shown below. 

After hitting the "i" key on your keyboard you will see three different color texts depicting the depth of each tool

  • If your text is PINK that means that the tool is still at its default depth
  • If the text is GREEN then the tool is set to a custom depth
  • If the text it YELLOW then the tool has a multi-depth 

If you attempt to save the file before changing the depths; you will get the message "Tool with Default Depths Detected".

You can still save the file over the message.

The purpose of the message is to remind the user to change the depths.

How Do I Copy A Tool From One Design and Paste it Into Another?

If you have a tool on your shadow board design that you want to duplicate to use on another board design, there is no need to go through the scanning process again. Instead, use one of our methods for transferring tools.

 

Method #1: Copy/Paste

1. Open both projects in separate BlueShadow windows.

2. Click the desired tool to make it active.

3. Press the C key on your keyboard to copy the tool.

4. To make your other Blue Shadow window active, click anywhere on the grid in that window.

5. Press the V key on your keyboard to paste the tool. This tool can be edited as you would with any other scanned tool.

This method can be used to copy and paste more than one tool at a time. Simply make all of the tools active during step 2.

 

Method #2: Export as .TOOL 

1. Click the desired tool to make it active.

2. Open Tab 6: Check and Save.

3. Click Export Selected to .TOOL, then select your file name and destination.

4. This .TOOL file can now be easily dragged and dropped into the Blue Shadow project of your choosing.

What Files Types Can We Upload?

The best way to provide OSAAP with information and data about your board design is to upload them directly to the board in your project within your Web Portal Account.

You can upload images, excel files, pdf and more. You can also upload most CAD file formats.

 

A complete list of the file types you can upload follows below:

  1. Jpg: Image
  2. jpeg: Image
  3. csv: Table
  4. txt: Table
  5. tab: Tab;e
  6. ssv: Microsoft project plans
  7. xps: Microsoft's version of a PDF format
  8. oxps: Microsoft's version of a PDF format
  9. xls: Excel file
  10. xlsx: Excel file
  11. pdf: Adobe Systems extension is a Portable Document Format
  12. svg: A graphics file that uses a two-dimensional vector graphic format
  13. tool: OSAAP cutout shape on a board design
  14. bord: OSAAP board design
  15. dxfX: CAD format
  16. dwg: CAD format
  17. stl: CAD format
  18. stp: CAD format
  19. sldprt: CAD format
  20. igs: CAD format
  21. step: CAD format
  22. sat: CAD format
  23. x_t: CAD format

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