Creo Illustrate

Generate illustrations and animations from any CAD design with PTC’s technical publications software

How Creo Illustrate Benefits your company

Quickly and accurately communicate complex product, service, and parts information to the people that need it the most throughout the entire product lifecycle.

THE BENEFITS ARE REAL

Save Time Designing & Managing Illustrations

Easily Create Interactive 3D Animations & Illustrations

Gain Knowledge with User Friendly Training Manuals

Utilize Features to Focus & Illustrate Complex Parts

Key Features of Creo Illustrate

Transform CAD into Clear, Interactive Instructions

Quickly convert complex 3D models into step-by-step visual instructions anyone can follow. Create exploded views, animations, and detailed procedures that simplify service, assembly, and training—no technical background required.

Stay Synced with Design Updates

Stop reworking illustrations every time engineering makes a change. Creo Illustrate stays linked to your CAD data, so updates automatically carry over to your visuals. That means less rework, fewer errors, and always-accurate documentation.

Publish for Any Format—Even AR

Whether it’s a PDF, a digital manual, or an augmented reality experience, Creo Illustrate has you covered. Share your product knowledge across platforms with support for animations, vector graphics, and real-time 3D content—anytime, anywhere.

More impactful, higher value technical publications

Share complex information easily via 3D technical illustrations

To develop 3D content efficiently and at scale, content creators must have the resources to:

Create 3D illustrations from existing engineering files
Auto-update illustrations when product changes occur
Reuse illustrations/animations across multiple tech pubs

Creo Illustrate enables creators to achieve this and more.

Packages & Features

Sequence and Animation (3D, VR/AR)	Essentials	Standard	Professional

For creation of any animated view of the content whether it’s for traditional 3D animations on the desktop, or for use in creating AR/VR experiences.

Windchill Integration (PLM, SLM & MFG)	Essentials	Standard	Professional

Allows connection of Creo Illustrate with Windchill either for PLM, Service or Manufacturing). Can use either the workgroup manager or direct connection.

Standards & Profiles	Essentials	Standard	Professional

Allows standards to be enforced across all illustrators, for example line weights, colors, text sizes. Profiles allows for a subset of a standard to be applied to illustrations depending on the use- case, for example a parts list versus an animated disassembly sequence, or rules on how parts are displayed.

Localization	Essentials	Standard	Professional

Define source & required languages for an illustration & manage the translation process either with or without Windchill translation management. End-user can then select which language they require within the graphic & text & notes will appear in the selected language.

BOM Editing	Essentials	Standard	Professional

Enables editing of the BOM structure within Creo Illustrate. Parts can be grouped or combined into service kits or sub-assemblies, either for easier animation or so that only a whole sub-assembly, for example a pump, can be ordered rather than the individual constituent parts

Part Replacement	Essentials	Standard	Professional

Allows for an old part out to be swapped for a new part. The new part assumes any callouts or notes that were previously assigned to the old part within Creo Illustrate.

Assemble and Smart Explode	Essentials	Standard	Professional

Assemble allows for alignment of for example holes, faces – this allows for accurate positioning of parts as they are assembled in Creo Illustrate. This is important for cases where a lot of assembly is done within Creo Illustrate. Without this tool then parts can only be assembled by dragging a part into its position. Smart Explode automatically explodes selected parts within an assembly.

3D to 2D Figure Associativity	Essentials	Standard	Professional

After a 3D figure is created & converted to 2D & cleaned up (removal of unwanted lines etc.); when the 3D figure is updated, the 2D figure will update & any clean up that was previously done on the 2D figure is also updated.

Creo Illustrate Essentials

Sequence and Animation (3D, VR/AR)
Essentials
For creation of any animated view of the content whether it’s for traditional 3D animations on the desktop, or for use in creating AR/VR experiences.

Windchill Integration (PLM, SLM & MFG)
Essentials
Allows connection of Creo Illustrate with Windchill either for PLM, Service or Manufacturing). Can use either the workgroup manager or direct connection.

CAD data Associativity
Essentials
Automatically update illustrations when associated CAD data changes.

Multi Format Publishing
Essentials
Allows for publication to multiple 3D, 2D vector/raster formats as well as formatted PDF.

Standards & Profiles
Essentials
Allows standards to be enforced across all illustrators, for example line weights, colors, text sizes. Profiles allows for a subset of a standard to be applied to illustrations depending on the use- case, for example a parts list versus an animated disassembly sequence, or rules on how parts are displayed.

Localization
Essentials
Define source & required languages for an illustration & manage the translation process either with or without Windchill translation management. End-user can then select which language they require within the graphic & text & notes will appear in the selected language.

Massive Assembly
Essentials
For users of massive models (over 16GB) this option allows for use of more than 16GB Memory on a local machine.

BOM Editing
Essentials
Enables editing of the BOM structure within Creo Illustrate. Parts can be grouped or combined into service kits or sub-assemblies, either for easier animation or so that only a whole sub-assembly, for example a pump, can be ordered rather than the individual constituent parts

Part Replacement
Essentials
Allows for an old part out to be swapped for a new part. The new part assumes any callouts or notes that were previously assigned to the old part within Creo Illustrate.

Assemble and Smart Explode
Essentials
Assemble allows for alignment of for example holes, faces – this allows for accurate positioning of parts as they are assembled in Creo Illustrate. This is important for cases where a lot of assembly is done within Creo Illustrate. Without this tool then parts can only be assembled by dragging a part into its position. Smart Explode automatically explodes selected parts within an assembly.

Floating License
Essentials
Can have a floating license of Creo Illustrate.

3D to 2D Figure Associativity
Essentials
After a 3D figure is created & converted to 2D & cleaned up (removal of unwanted lines etc.); when the 3D figure is updated, the 2D figure will update & any clean up that was previously done on the 2D figure is also updated.

2D Illustration Authoring Tools
Essentials
For creation of 2D drawing within a 2D figure, for example for adding missing details from a figure.

High quality 2D Vector output
Essentials
Output very high-quality line art from Creo Illustrate

3rd Party CAD Import
Essentials
Allows for direct import of 3rd Party CAD like CATIA, SolidWorks.

Creo Illustrate Standard

Sequence and Animation (3D, VR/AR)
Standard
For creation of any animated view of the content whether it’s for traditional 3D animations on the desktop, or for use in creating AR/VR experiences.

Windchill Integration (PLM, SLM & MFG)
Standard
Allows connection of Creo Illustrate with Windchill either for PLM, Service or Manufacturing). Can use either the workgroup manager or direct connection.

CAD data Associativity
Standard
Automatically update illustrations when associated CAD data changes.

Multi Format Publishing
Standard
Allows for publication to multiple 3D, 2D vector/raster formats as well as formatted PDF.

Standards & Profiles
Standard
Allows standards to be enforced across all illustrators, for example line weights, colors, text sizes. Profiles allows for a subset of a standard to be applied to illustrations depending on the use- case, for example a parts list versus an animated disassembly sequence, or rules on how parts are displayed.

Localization
Standard
Define source & required languages for an illustration & manage the translation process either with or without Windchill translation management. End-user can then select which language they require within the graphic & text & notes will appear in the selected language.

Massive Assembly
Standard
For users of massive models (over 16GB) this option allows for use of more than 16GB Memory on a local machine.

BOM Editing
Standard
Enables editing of the BOM structure within Creo Illustrate. Parts can be grouped or combined into service kits or sub-assemblies, either for easier animation or so that only a whole sub-assembly, for example a pump, can be ordered rather than the individual constituent parts

Part Replacement
Standard
Allows for an old part out to be swapped for a new part. The new part assumes any callouts or notes that were previously assigned to the old part within Creo Illustrate.

Assemble and Smart Explode
Standard
Assemble allows for alignment of for example holes, faces – this allows for accurate positioning of parts as they are assembled in Creo Illustrate. This is important for cases where a lot of assembly is done within Creo Illustrate. Without this tool then parts can only be assembled by dragging a part into its position. Smart Explode automatically explodes selected parts within an assembly.

Floating License
Standard
Can have a floating license of Creo Illustrate.

3D to 2D Figure Associativity
Standard
After a 3D figure is created & converted to 2D & cleaned up (removal of unwanted lines etc.); when the 3D figure is updated, the 2D figure will update & any clean up that was previously done on the 2D figure is also updated.

2D Illustration Authoring Tools
Standard
For creation of 2D drawing within a 2D figure, for example for adding missing details from a figure.

High quality 2D Vector output
Standard
Output very high-quality line art from Creo Illustrate

3rd Party CAD Import
Standard
Allows for direct import of 3rd Party CAD like CATIA, SolidWorks.

Creo Illustrate Professional

Sequence and Animation (3D, VR/AR)
Professional
For creation of any animated view of the content whether it’s for traditional 3D animations on the desktop, or for use in creating AR/VR experiences.

Windchill Integration (PLM, SLM & MFG)
Professional
Allows connection of Creo Illustrate with Windchill either for PLM, Service or Manufacturing). Can use either the workgroup manager or direct connection.

CAD data Associativity
Professional
Automatically update illustrations when associated CAD data changes.

Multi Format Publishing
Professional
Allows for publication to multiple 3D, 2D vector/raster formats as well as formatted PDF.

Standards & Profiles
Professional
Allows standards to be enforced across all illustrators, for example line weights, colors, text sizes. Profiles allows for a subset of a standard to be applied to illustrations depending on the use- case, for example a parts list versus an animated disassembly sequence, or rules on how parts are displayed.

Localization
Professional
Define source & required languages for an illustration & manage the translation process either with or without Windchill translation management. End-user can then select which language they require within the graphic & text & notes will appear in the selected language.

Massive Assembly
Professional
For users of massive models (over 16GB) this option allows for use of more than 16GB Memory on a local machine.

BOM Editing
Professional
Enables editing of the BOM structure within Creo Illustrate. Parts can be grouped or combined into service kits or sub-assemblies, either for easier animation or so that only a whole sub-assembly, for example a pump, can be ordered rather than the individual constituent parts

Part Replacement
Professional
Allows for an old part out to be swapped for a new part. The new part assumes any callouts or notes that were previously assigned to the old part within Creo Illustrate.

Assemble and Smart Explode
Professional
Assemble allows for alignment of for example holes, faces – this allows for accurate positioning of parts as they are assembled in Creo Illustrate. This is important for cases where a lot of assembly is done within Creo Illustrate. Without this tool then parts can only be assembled by dragging a part into its position. Smart Explode automatically explodes selected parts within an assembly.

Floating License
Professional
Can have a floating license of Creo Illustrate.

3D to 2D Figure Associativity
Professional
After a 3D figure is created & converted to 2D & cleaned up (removal of unwanted lines etc.); when the 3D figure is updated, the 2D figure will update & any clean up that was previously done on the 2D figure is also updated.

2D Illustration Authoring Tools
Professional
For creation of 2D drawing within a 2D figure, for example for adding missing details from a figure.

High quality 2D Vector output
Professional
Output very high-quality line art from Creo Illustrate

3rd Party CAD Import
Professional
Allows for direct import of 3rd Party CAD like CATIA, SolidWorks.

Advisor and customer in discussion at a table, representing guidance and support.

Take the Next Step

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Talk to An Expert

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Below you’ll find answers to our most commonly asked questions.

You can count on personalized support around the clock by email, live chat, or by joining a live webinar.

Additional Resources

Data Sheet

Creo Illustrate Product Overview

Download the Data Sheet

Brochure

Powerful 3D Illustrations for an Efficient Service & Parts Operation

Download the Brochure

eBook

4 Reasons Remote Monitoring is Your Best Move to Better Service

Download the eBook