Bringing 3D models to life... literally
- How to turn your 3D art into a real world object -
Floyd Bishop, 1 September 2003

Have you ever wished you could bring that cool CG model you are working on out of the machine and turn it into an object you could hold in your hands? It sounds like something from the movie "The Matrix", right? Well, it is possible and it's a whole lot easier and affordable than you might think. I recently asked Rod Contreras of 3D Art To Part to use his build process to help bring some of the characters from the Icepond Studio short film "Bass Hole" out of the digital pond and into the real world. This article will show you the planning stages of prepping your models for fabrication, the actual build process, and the final results.

Image: Fabricating a model from a 3D digital mesh is no longer as difficult or costly, as seen here with the Bass Hole turtle.

The Uses of a Real World CG Model
Designers who specialize in product visualization are the most common users of this technology. Products that the team at 3D Art To Part have helped bring to life range from consumer remote controls to character models for game companies and everything in between. Some customers are finishing the models they create to make them suitable for making a mold which is then used to make production models in other materials. If you've got an idea for a better mousetrap, this process just might be the way to bring it to life.

One new application Rod told me about was a sculpture preform. Instead of sculpting an entire model in the computer, the artist creates a fairly detailed model in the computer, has the model brought into the real world, then coats the model with a thin layer of clay. He then goes into this clay, adding fine details such as scales, veins, small wrinkles, or whatever else the artist wants.