Third Fusion 360 Design: My Mug 11/25/24

This third Fusion 360 tutorial marked a turning point in my CAD journey I learned how to bring vibrant color into my models by diving into the Autodesk Fusion menu on my own. No step-by-step guide this time! I simply opened the Appearance panel and began experimenting with materials, finishes, and hues. It felt liberating to chart my own path and uncover capabilities beyond the basic sketch-and-extrude workflow.

I started by opening my existing bottle design from the previous tutorial. In the Render workspace, I clicked Appearance, browsed the library of plastics, metals, and paints, then dragged a glossy red material onto the bottle’s main body. Next, I applied a brushed-metal finish to the cap and a translucent blue to the interior. Instantly, the model came alive reflections danced across curves, and edges appeared sharper against the contrasting colors.

Along the way, I discovered that every material has editable properties: roughness, tint, reflectivity, and even texture maps. Tweaking these sliders let me dial in the exact look I wanted from a satin-matte finish that mutes highlights to a high-gloss surface that really pops under lighting. Exploring these options on my own taught me far more than any single tutorial could; I now feel confident customizing appearances for any future project.

I’d love to hear from anyone who’s mastered Fusion 360’s color tools do you have favorite material presets or custom maps you swear by? And what are your best tips for achieving seamless transitions between two different finishes? Share your advice below so we can all add a splash of creativity to our CAD designs!