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template for 3-d shapes

updated fri 30 jul 04

 

Carl Finch on wed 28 jul 04


At 10:10 AM 7/28/2004 -0400, Gaye Sekula wrote:

>Is there is a book or software for making templates for 3_D shapes?

Could you elaborate a bit? Are you wanting to make something like a
2-dimensional profile of of a pot to be wheel-thrown? Like a lathe
profile? There are computer programs that allow you to do this quickly and
easily, and then have the capability to rotate such a profile through 360
degrees, creating a 3-D model. That model can be displayed on your
computer monitor at any angle of view, with surface texturing and "glaze"
(color, pattern, glossiness), lit by one or more spotlights, and rotated,
turned and captured in animation.

If what you mean is a series of "slice" profiles, these programs can do
that as well.

I'm thinking of 3D Studio Max, Autodesk VIZ, trueSpace, and DesignCAD that
I've had some experience with. There are many others, as well.

--Carl
in Medford, Oregon

Gaye Sekula on wed 28 jul 04


Is there is a book or software for making templates for 3_D shapes?

Thanks,
Gaye, San Antonio

Ivor and Olive Lewis on thu 29 jul 04


Dear Gaye Secula,
I am not sure what you intend doing when you ask "Is there is a book
or software for making templates for 3_D shapes?"
I wrote an article, published in Pottery Making Illustrated a few
years ago, which described how to make a flat shaped card cut to give
the profile of an intended pot. All you need are a few draughting
tools; rule, set square, pencil, eraser, pad of drawing paper and you
are away. Its a very simple task to accomplish.
Otherwise any good graphics program such as Corel or Adobe gives you
all the power you need. Corel has a low cost version.
If you want to make 3D shapes in the computer then you could chose
Cinema 4D which is now in version 8 and is an uphill learning task or
go for Rhinoceros which is easier to get to know. Bryce is an
interesting 3D environment as well. I can construct a cyber space pot
in one program and transfer it to Bryce to render the glaze.
Need more? Contact me off list.
Best regards,
Ivor Lewis.
Redhill,
S. Australia.

(Check PMI archives to find out which issue article was in)