Previous users of Shape Magic say it's one of the easiest to use modelers, especially suitable for those wanting an inexpensive way to start creating their own 3D objects. Experienced modelers can make a wide variety of symmetrical and asymmetrical simple-to-complex organic, abstract and man-made objects. A simple interface applies simultaneous lathing-extrusion not typically found in other modelers.

Bracelets/rings made with petal and round cross sections. Columns made using 2 or 3 Shape Magic models combined. Goblet with lid made using template feature to match parts. Scepter made in 8 parts using template feature - twist special effect applied to some parts. Heart pendant made with LRsym cross section. Chain links made using bend special effect. Bowl made using asym cross section. Drapery made using linear cross-section. Drapery rod and finials made using round cross section.

Springs made using curve and bend special effects. Horns made using bend and twist. Shrub made using kink and surface roughness. Stone bench made in 3 parts with surface roughness added. Dragonfly's body and wings made using bend and curve. Vine made using twist, curve and roughness. Bird assembled from a number of Shape Magic parts. Mushroom and stump made using bend and roughness. Drapery made using twist, kink and bend. Archway made using bend.

Shape Magic is different from traditional 3D modelers. The following explanation will help you better understand how Shape Magic models are formed.

Think of the Side View as a cardboard silhouette. Although there is no Front View, the same silhouette is used for the Front. So imagine you have two pieces of cardboard perpendicular to each other (A).

Think of the Top View as a cookie cutter that will be used to cut out a thin plate (B). If the model has no top and/or bottom face, think of the Top View as a second cookie cutter with a smaller diameter that hollows out the thin plate (C).

As you move up the cardboard silhouette, the diameter gets larger and smaller. The cookie cutters get larger and smaller too (B > C > D).

As you cut out each plate, you stack them on top of each other. If the plates are thick, you'd get a coarse stack (E). Shape Magic uses very thin plates, so you get a smooth model as the final result (F).

As you stack the plates, special effects can be added. For example, each plate may be rotated slightly (twist) or the plates may be tilted (bend and curve).

3D Printing and Shape Magic

Over the past few years, the ability to "print" 3D objects has greatly improved. As a test, I had Vista Technologies print a Shape Magic design in plastic using an Objet Technology 3D printer. The image shows the design rendered in Bryce (left vase) and a photo of the printed vase (right vase). The vase is four inches high. As you can see, it's hard to tell the difference! This vase would be hard to reproduce by classic means because of it's non-round shape and the many indentations and curves. It's currently pricey to have an object printed (I paid $200, more recently it would cost $150) but I expect the price to come down dramatically in coming years.