Eddie Holecko: Project One, Digital Cleanup

Once the model was exported to an obj from RapidWorks, I imported the model into zbrush to clean up the polygons. 

Original geometry

Using the Dynamesh command in Zbrush, I evenly dispersed the polys throughout the object resulting in a much cleaner mesh. 

Dynamesh Model

I used Dynamesh in Z-brush to create several different high resolution and low resolution versions of the object.

29K polycount (left), 72k polycount (right)

191K polycount (left), 470k polycount (right)

After the model was exported as several obj files, I imported the low poly object into maya and experimented with creating a wire frame version.

maya screenshot, low poly obj

low poly obj (left),  reduced poly wire frame geometry (right)

Eddie Holecko: Project One, Process Photos

For this project, taking inspiration from H.R. Giger, I created a small WED clay sculpture.  The sculpt is roughly 4" tall so it works well with the 3D scanner's short range focus.  

roughed out creature sculpt

roughed out creature sculpt

refined creature sculpt

refined creature sculpt

refined creature sculpt-profile

rough creature sculpt back view

Next, the sculpt was sprayed with Kryolan Crystal Clear to seal the detail during the scanning process. The quick creature sculpt was then taken to the scanner.  I added several tracking points which make combining the geometry from each scan easier. 

Sculpture, with tracking points, mounted to the scanner.

Sculpture, with tracking points, mounted to the scanner.

Positioning the sculpture is very important in order to receive a clean scan. If the sculpt/object is not in focus then the scanner does not read the geometry. 

The scanner doing its magic

The scanner and  a glimpse at the Scan Studios interface

 In order to capture enough of the sculpture to work with in Rapid Works, Zbrush and Maya, I had to scan the object 360 degrees from three different positions.

Re-positioned sculpture

After the sculpture was scanned, I combined the scans from multiple angles to create one mesh.  I also cleaned up the geometry and cut out the metal pole that appeared in the scan. Then I imported the mesh into Rapid Works, where I patched a few holes in the geometry.  After the mesh was fused to one and completely patched, I exported an obj file.

Next, I imported the obj to Zbrush in order to clean up the geometry.  More information on mesh clean-up coming soon!

Eddie Holecko: Project One, Reference

I'm Eddie Holecko, junior visual effects major at the Savannah College of Art and Design. I love both sculpture and digital modeling and I look forward to this class because it integrates both techniques.  

Being interested in creatures and characters, I decided to sculpt and scan a maquette of an original creature inspired by one of my favorite artists, H.R. Giger. He is responsible for designing the very famous alien creature in Ridley Scott's film Alien.

Below are a few images of Giger's work.

Donovan.hettich 3D scanning exercise

1st post of scanning exercise a model is wire frame that i snipped from Rhino from a sculpture created by Professor Andrew F Scott .

                                                                    Wire frame model

 

Key Shot rendering 

Andrew F. Scott: Scanning Exercise01

This is my posting of My Scanned Image. The Image is based on an African Nkonde Figure.

I will be using it throughout the quarter to explore digital fabrication processes. To see Other works that I have created using this subject you can go to my Flickr page.

Image ghosted in rhino

 

The same image with texture map information

This is a keyshot rendering

Andrew F. Scott: Surface Population

Having some fun playing around with surface population scripts in grasshopper 

and rendering in Keyshot with a little post processing in Photoshop.

Andrew F. Scott: Fall 2012 First Post

This the first posting of the fall quarter 2012 where will will introduce a whole new cadre of digital sculptors to the scene.

This rendering was created using keyshot 3

This is my serial screen capture

Andrew F. Scott: Laser Scanning Focus NURBS

In this post I will present a workflow for using the laser scanner to create elements for sculptural compositions. The illustration above presents the finished composition composed of a Nurbs Surface and linear contour elements.


The data was scanned in an earlier post Black Power Nkisi: Laser Scan. In that post the emphasis was placed on using Rapid Works to extract polygonal elements that could be used to create sculptural compositions. In this post the emphasis will be placed on using Rapid Works to derive a series of Nurbs elements that will be used in sculptural compositions.

The AutoSurface sub-menu is used to generate your Nurbs surface patches. You should focus on generating surface patches using both Evenly Distributed Networks and Feature Following networks. Once these patches are generated you have a variety of tools that can be used to edit the networks. Finally you can use your scanned mesh as the background for a networks that you create by drawing directly on its surface.

The finished surface typology is then imported in Rhino as an IGES file. Within Rhino the Curve From Object command is used to extract the contour curves from the nurbs patch network. Its always a good idea to organize your elements on separate layers so that you can access them when needed and its just good craftsmanship..

Grasshopper in invoked from within Rhino. Once in Grasshopper a simple script is created to read in all of the curves and transform them into adjustable pipes. Play around with the radius adjustment to play with the proportion of your tubes with the underlying mass and as an element unto itself.

The tubes should be baked into Rhino from within Grasshopper on separate levels.

The data can now be used in a wide variety of digital fabrication processes at a wide variety of scales. During this quarter I am teaching both Digital Applications in Sculpture and Direct Metal Sculpture. I look forward to exploring how these data sets and workflow can be used in both contexts.

7/14/2011 Update

Below are two of the initial studies based on the scanned data.

The first study is a serial exploration of the form. While I like the way that the cardboard looks I am interested in using this form as an internal armature. I want to see how well aqua-resin and cheese cloth works over this form. I am also interested in doing another serial study using wood.


In this study a 3d print of the computer model was created then molded using Smooth-On Rebound 25 silicone rubber. Afterwhich, urethane models were created using Smooth-Cast 325. I am interested in doing a few more castings and material explorations using these models. This is only the beginning.