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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). |
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. |
Shape Magic Products are designed by
Rich Schafermeyer. |