Category: Industry 2: Professional Practice and Enterprise

This batch of prints are from the new scans. Me and my partner split the batch in half so we each got 4 new prints to work on. My batch has our tutor as Professor Pepper, and 3 members of the orchestra; the conductor, drummer and cello player.

These scans had more complex poses so required more work before they were ready to paint. There was lots of extra bits of filament that I needed to remove with tweezers and then sand down to create a smooth surface.

Also, compared to the previous batch I had a lot more modelling and repairing to do. As usual the tops of heads and feet needed work to fill in. All of the prints were holding stuff in their hands. We used props during scanning to recreate this but they were too thin so didn’t print well, meaning I had to remove what was there and create something new. To create the props they’re holding like the drum sticks I used 2 different thicknesses of cocktail sticks which I then attached to the model using a combination on miliput and hot glue. I also created the drum and cello. The drum is made from an empty roll of film which I covered in a smooth layer of miliput and added details to the top. The cello is made from miliput and wooden sticks. I used the sticks to create the shape and neck then built up the details with the miliput. I will add strings made of thin wire at the end, after it’s painted.

When the miliput and glue was dry and had hardened I spayed them with primer to help to paint adhere to the surfaces well.

These are progress photos that show the basic colour of the instruments and clothing.

Here are the 4 completed figures and the 2 instruments that go with them. These figures really pushed me as the had more detail and complex poses than the previous batch. I chose to contradict the usual black and white attire of an orchestra by using a more colourful palette while not making them too bright. I did this to make them more visually interesting and it will help draw attention to them when they’re in the model. One particular piece that I’m pleased with is the cello. I think I made the shape well using a combination of wooden sticks to create a scaffolding and built up the details using modelling clay. I then painted it and coated it to give it a nice glossy finishing to imitate the wood used in instruments like the cello. I then added 4 strings using a thin metal wire which I attached using hot glue and miliput to secure and blend it into the body of the cello. Also it fits well in the pose of the figure and is true to scale.

The next 4 images are close up shots of the completed figures, the cello player, conductor, drummer and Professor Pepper.

3D printing is an additive manufacturing process where a 3D objects is created layer by layer using computer aided designs. Layers of material build up to create a 3D object. The opposite of this would be a subtractive manufacturing process, where a design is cut from a larger block of material. Some advantages of 3D printing are less wasted material, affordable start up costs, and the output is completely customisable. However, some disadvantages are can have a lower strength than traditional materials, increased cost at higher volume and usually requires post processing.

We had some 3D printed figure ready to work on so are just waiting on the batch from the most recents scans we did to be printed. Each print takes around 9 hours to complete, this is sped up when there’s more running at a single time. These will be just general visitors in the model. I will be mostly following the same workflow that I did previously as it seemed to work well for me. First I will need to remove the support structures and smooth the surface using sandpaper and tweezers. Then we’ll prime it to make sure the paint sticks well. The paints that work the best on PLA are acrylics and enamels. As we will be working with fine details we will need very fine tipped paint brushes. 

This image shows all the things I’ll need for preparing and painting the 3D models. This includes tweezers, players, scissors, sandpaper, milliput, acrylic paints, paint brushes, primer and sealer

First use tweezers and little scissors to pick of the big bits of extra filament. Then sand down the models to create a smoother finish. I’ve done the best I can at sanding them down and creating a nice surface to work with but there was only so much I could do because of the texture created by the 3D printer.

Then I used miliput, a type of modelling clay, to add in certain bits that didn’t print such as hands, phones and the tops of heads. I mixed the 2 parts in equal quantities for around 5 minutes. It softened up to become malleable and hardened again after a couple hours and was completely solid by the next day. All 3 of the figures needed some repairing. Most of it was fairly easy as it was just filing in the tops of heads and shoes but constructing a hand and phone was more challenging. I’m happy with the repairs I made but I’d look to improve the quality of the 3D scans and prints to avoid so many errors. The primer takes 24 hours to dry and hardened so after this I can begin painting them.

Spraying primer is an important step as it create a surface that the paint sticks to better. I put on safety equipment such as a mask, glasses and a glove for the hand I moved the models with. I sprayed them outside and also let them air dry outside. I had to shake the can for 2 minutes then spray from around 20cm away from the model, this helps to create a more even coverage. I did a combination of turning the model around, moving around the model and changing the height the model was at to try to cover every part. They’re not all perfectly sprayed as I couldn’t get the primer into certain bits such as the folds of some of the clothing but I think they’re covered well enough for painting. To improve this I would buy a fine nozzle extension to allow for a more precise spray. The primer is grey which helped as it was obvious which bits had been sprayed. The primer takes 24 hours to dry and hardened so after this I can begin painting them.

For painting I followed the same workflow and style that I did previously to achieve visual consistency across the figures. First I painted the clothing. 2 out of 3 of the figures are reprints so there is already a completed version made for the model. To get around this problem I made sure to change the colours of the outfits so that when they’re in the model you won’t realise. I wanted to make sure they all stood out without making all the colours obnoxiously bright. Furthermore, the brief wanted modern day looking people so I tried capturing that with the colour choices. I made sure to mix every colour myself and not use any paint straight from the tube. This make for more realistic and cohesive colour palettes. A tip that I was given was to desaturate the colours using grey to make the models appear larger. I made sure when making each colour to create an excess and not wash out the palettes. This way I would have spare to paint over any mistakes or bits I missed without spending the time mixing the exact colour again. This really helped save time especially as I got the the smaller details. 

After the outfits I did the hair and skin. I did each hair with slight colour variations. Giving it a bit more of a realistic look with some lighter and darker bits. Mixing and painting the skin tones was the most difficult part of the process. I tried to get the skin tones as accurate the the reference images as I could. I mixed equal parts red, yellow and blue then from that base created each models individual skin tone. I started with the darkest skin tone and worked to the lightest. This way I could work off the previous tone to create the next one. I did all the skin tones before I started any of the facial features. At this point it became very tricky to get into all the little areas without getting paint of the hair of clothes. Once all the skin was dry I started the facial features. I decided for each I’d do the lips, eyebrows and for the eyes, the white bit with a black pupil and line at the top for definition. I had to exclusively use the thinnest brush I have for these.

When all the painting was done and dry I finished them with a clear sealer. I lined them all up outside making sure to protect them if they fell. I sprayed them evenly all over from around 30cm away to help secure the paint and give them a matte finish. I sprayed them with 3 coats of sealer and left them to dry.

3D scanners take a physical object, and digitises it so it can be saved, shared, and edited on a computer. Scanners contain many components such as cameras and lasers. 3D scanners can achieve a level of precision and accuracy that a normal camera or 2D scanner can’t. 3D scanners measure millions of points in a single measurement with a high level of precision. Scanners retain this high level of precision on objects ranging from very small to very large. The scanning hardware makes the digital representations and the scanning software allows you to work with the scan. 3D scanning is used in many industries such as architecture and model making for prototyping, quality control testing and 3D printing.

We had a session in the EMS area doing some 3D scanning for the model of the Great Hall. It was good to practice and expand on the skills I learnt from doing this last year. My partner for this project had no experience doing this kind of work so I was able to take on more of a leadership role and teach him about the software and processes involved. I learnt some new things about 3D scanning and printing such as different materials that the printers can use and why you would choose each one. For example resin gives a more clean and smooth finish as opposed to PLA, Poly Lactic Acid, a biodegradable plastic.I also learnt about about 3D software that I could use such as Tinkercad, Unreal Engine and Cinema 4D for 3D modelling.

Before we started we made a list of what we needed to complete (left). We need to scan someone to be Professor Pepper, a Deep Sea Diver and their Diving Bell, an Orchestra, some more general visitors and the Wheel of Life.

On the right of the board are notes I made to help us use the 3D scanning software Shining 3D. This is an industry standard software as it’s one of the most reliable and highest quality 3D scanners. We used Eiscan sensors which are handheld devices that someone holds and moves around the person being scanned. 3D scanning works by a sensor sending out light which gets reflected off a surface and goes back into the sensor. The time this takes indicates how far away the subject is so the software os able to construct a model using this information.

Process: the subject picks their pose, making sure it’s something they can hold comfortably for a few minutes because too much movement will disrupt the scan. Then you select IR mode on Shining 3D, this is a lower quality scan than the other option but is more reliable. As our figures will be 1:10 scale we don’t need perfect details because they won’t be noticeable. Make sure to turn the data quality indicator on, the shows the subject being scanned in red, yellow and green on the monitor. Red is where there’s not enough data yet and green is when it’s got enough data. This helps you know what areas to scan again and what bits to leave. Then the person scanning starts to go around the model with the Eiscan sensor. A couple good tips I learnt where to start with the face and areas that are most likely to move during the scan, usually arms. Also when scanning try to work fluid motions because the sensor picks this up best. Once you’ve scanned the subject using the lasso tool, hold the shift key and circle around any errors to remove them. This is a similar process to using Photoshop. Then you’ll need to optimise and mesh the scan, this helps to fill in any gaps. It’s important to simply it to around 50 STL MB, so the file size is not too big and scan be printed. Finally save the scan and now it’s ready to be printed.

This is an image of the model scan forming in Shining 3D. It’s a quick process, only taking about 10 minutes from start to finish.

There were a few times that we had to repeat scans as they didn’t come out well. This was either due to the subject moving too much or the person scanning not capturing all the areas well enough. These are some of the scans we did during the session. We were able to scan Professor Pepper, 2 general visitors, and a 5 person Orchestra with a conductor, violin player, bass drummer, flutist and cello player. We picked instruments and poses that were authentic to the time period. For the instrument we used place holder such as metal poles and screw drivers so that the people being scanned could pose as if they where actually holding it. Once they’re 3D printed we will hand model the instruments. In the same way I did before I’ll hand fill any gaps or remodel any bits that don’t print well.

We also scanned the model of the Diving Bell using a different 3D scanning software that’s on an iPad called Polycam which is often used by architects for interior design work. It’s an easier software to use but produces lower equality scans with less detail. This is fine for the Diving Bell as it’s a big geometric shape with minimal detail so came out well with the scan.

We will have 1 more session of 3D scanning to get some more general visitors and scan the Wheel of Life as we didn’t get time to do those. We want more general people to populate the Hall right now we have 13 completed figures, 6 unpainted ones and 2 scans waiting to be printed. This is a total of 21 and our target was 25. Next week they will start to be 3D printed and once that’s done we can paint them.

The Great Hall model is currently in a flat pack form. The parts have been laser cut but we still need to make a frame for the basic shape to sit on. This is in panels and need to be stuck together. This should be a fairly quick process and then we can start to decorate the interior.

In order to capture the busy atmosphere of the Great Hall we need to make more figures to populate it more as there is currently only 15. This process will require 3D scanning, printing and painting. I booked a session to use the 3D scanner in the EMS. As well as producing a few more figures to go around the Hall we’re going to make an Orchestra to show how there was live music there at the time. I did some research about 19th century Orchestras to see how to best recreate this.

Orchestras are large groups but due to time we won’t be able to make that many so I think it’s best to scale it down to around 5 people. This will include a conductor who stands in the middle with a baton and 4 musicians who are sitting down around him. I plan on including a range on instruments such as flutes/ clarinets, percussion, trumpets/horns and strings. I will 3D scan people in the correct positions and give them props to signify the instruments but once they’ve been 3D printed I will hand model the details of the instruments.

Here are some reference images of 1800s Orchestras:

In addition to scanning people for the Orchestra, I will be scanning some of the replicas of the exhibits that where made. Such as the Diving Bell and The Wheel of Life. This way we won’t have to sculpt of 3D model the exhibits, we can just scan and print them. Also I will scan people to be specifically interacting with the exhibits, for example some sitting by the train which was in the centre of the Hall and someone in the Divers costume for the Diving Bell.

We were given a choice of Enterprise Projects to work on for this module, the one I chose was creating a 1:10 scale Model of the Great Hall. This is a live project so will push me to work collaboratively for a client to deadlines. The Great Hall was used in the 19th century to display new inventions and celebrate the advancements of science and technology during the Victorian times. I spent a lot of time over the summer working on some figures for this project so I wanted to continue with it. It will be a hands on project and I’ll get the chance to learn lots of new skills such as prop/ set design, woodwork, sculpting, 3D modelling/ scanning and electronics as well as improving my skills with model making. I think this will be a very rewarding project especially when we can see it all come together and be displayed. The client for this brief is the University of Westminster and more specially Peter Bonfield for the Universities 185th Birthday celebration. It is a piece designed to celebrate Westminster’s’ rich history and the historical importance of the Great Hall. The model is also being made to be viewed by students and staff at the university and potentially the general public.

I’ve done some research into the techniques and materials used in professional model making. I think it’s important when taking on a project to look at industry standard work so I’ve looked at some companies that make 3D models such as Phoenix Force and TPD Creative to see their process and what they use.

Model making has many uses across a range of industries, it is very important in the fields of design, engineering and architecture. It is crucial in the process of creating products and structures that function as intended and meet specific requirements. A model is a 3D representation of an object that can be used to test a range of things such feasibility, functionality, and performance. It’s used for prototypes, testing and analysing, visualising concepts and communicating ideas.

The main areas of interest in this project for me are making the figures, building the set/exhibits and post production such as lighting and arrangement. At this point in time there is a laser cut flat pack of the overall shape of the Hall, which is 3 meters long when built. There are also 15 completed figures which I worked on during the summer. They are wearing bright coloured modern clothing as we wanted the model to be as if modern day people had gone back in time and visited the Hall. This is a way of making the model more interesting and relatable to the audience. Also it will contrast the muted colours around the Hall to make the model more visually engaging. These are the figures I completed during the summer ( see blog roll titled ‘3D models summer work’ for detail on this process.)

The first thing I will be doing is making more figures to populate the Hall. This will involve 3D scanning, editing the scans, 3D printing and finally painting. I will aim to produce a minimum of 10 more to make the Hall feel more busy. The figures I’ve already made have lots of general walking and looking around poses so these will be perfect to generally having around the Hall but now I want some more specific poses such as people interacting with the exhibitions and each other. This will make the model more interesting for viewers as there will be lots of little interaction within the model happening. Also it has been documented that there was live music in the Hall so I will aim to reproduce this. I will scan and print people in the poses then model the instruments by hand. After the figures are completed I will move onto finishing up the base of the Hall and modelling some of the exhibits using a combination of 3D printing, 3D modelling and hand modelling. Due to the time constraints during the module we will be aiming to completed all the figures and begin creating the exhibits.

The Polytechnic Institution was opened in August 1838 to provide the public with a practical knowledge of the arts and sciences. The institution opened in 1839. Public attractions included exhibitions, working machines and models, scientific lectures, rides in a diving bell and demonstrations of photography. John Henry Pepper was its most famous showman, someone who we want to recreate for this model.

These are reference images of the Great Hall:

The next 2 provide a good list of the exhibits on display in the Great Hall:

This is a reference image we used to help create the laser cut flat pack of the Hall:

For this project I will be working as a model making so I did some research into this industry. The responsibilities will vary depending on their specific job and industry. Model making is a process that combines manual and digital techniques to accurately represent the desired object or design. Some tasks will require more detail than others.

Below are some key skills that a model maker needs:

1. Reading and interpreting technical drawings such as blueprints and floor plans.
2. Selecting appropriate materials for the project. Some options are wood, plastic, and metal.
3. Using a range of tools and equipment, such as saws, drills, laser cutters and 3D printers.
4. Applying finishes or coatings such as paint to the model.

After completing the presentation we each had to make our individual page for the team document. This page had to cover our own research and we where advised to treat it like an information poster instead of just a page of text. Unlike the video for this we had more individual creative freedom because the pages didn’t need to have the same format. The only thing we kept consistent was the landscape orientation so that it fits nicely as a team document.

Below is my page covering all my research about children’s book illustration. I planned out the poster in sections based on how I researched it, an introduction/ overview, the history, future/importance and case studies. I think the page has lots of information but isn’t too crammed that it becomes a mess. To make it more visually engaging I used a blue water colour paper texture for the background and complementary orange boxes for the text. Also I added in images the back up what the text was saying and various children’s book characters around the page.

This is the team document we submitted containing the link to the video and each of our pages of individual research. We kept the same cover for the document and video to provide visual consistency to make them look like a pair.

I found this project interesting as I was able to learn lots about an industry of interest to me, book illustration. Also it helped to improve my team working and communication skills as we had to stay in contact and work together to progress through the project and produce the desired outcomes.

We each began to write up scripts for the questions we where answering using our research. We made slight adjustments to the order and redistributed who was saying what part to make it more even. I did a few drafts and kept timing myself to see how long each of my answers would take to say. Each answer could be around 30 seconds long, so this was a good exercise in having to condense research into just the key bits. For a couple of my questions I collaborated with others in the groups as there was overlaps in the research. This is my drafted script for my answers.

Then we all met up as a group and created 1 script with each of our answers on. This took a while as we had to get the lengths of each answer right. Then we added the images we wanted on our pages to the Google slides. This was a helpful tool as it allowed us to work on the same document across multiple devices and see instant changes. We then coloured coded the parts to make it clear which bits each of us would say. My speaking parts are in orange.

After some practices we recorded to audio for the video making sure to keep it in a back and forth conversational Q and A style. To try and make the audio more interesting we added some vocal effects and changed some of the speeds. But we made sure that each speaker had the same vocal effect on each of their parts to make it clear that it was a conversation between multiple people. Having 1 combined script was very helpful and made the recording process easier. With the audio done the next step was to make the visuals for the presentation.

Prior to the session I started to condense my research into sections with only the most important parts. This will make it easier when I’m making my slide for the team document and deciding what we put in the 5 minute video. The sections that I’m gonna include is an introduction, the history, future and importance of children’s book illustrations and a couple of case studies.

As a group we discussed our plans for the layout and presentation of the video. We initially said doing voice overs of each of our sections. We liked that but wanted to make the video more engaging and cohesive between our research. So the way we’ve decided to do it is in the form of a conversational Q&A. The conversation with flow thematically rather than from 1 persons research then move onto the next person. This will help us combine our research to create a good map of the industry. Each answer will flow nicely into the next question.
We started by sharing our research then we created questions from each persons research that we thought where the most interesting. From these question we planned out an order that would make sense and cover everything we wanted to say.
This is the plan for how the voice over will go. In terms of the look of the video we will have the question appear on the screen and then images and key bullet points that caption and support the answer.

Over the week we will each properly plan out our questions and answers. Also we will share any relevant research with each other that are needed for our joint answers and collect the images we’ll use to support what we say. So before we meet up to record the audio we will have create a detailed script of what we want to say.

For the team document we don’t need a cohesive layout or look so this is more showing our individual passions and creativity. I’m gonna make mine in a poster style on InDesign using the majority of the concise version of my research.

This week I spent time researching the topic of children’s book illustrations. This is a broad topic and is only 1 section to fit into a short presentation. To help me keep my research concise I outline the different specific topics I wanted to cover. These were: a short introduction, a brief history on the topic, where the future of the industry is heading, the importance of illustrated children’s books and a couple of case studies. I really enjoyed this research and learnt lots of new information, some of which won’t make it into the presentation but is good to know.

The 2 case studies I want to include are about Alex T. Smith and Evgenia Malina. These are both illustrators whose style and work I admire. I will include some information about them both and hopefully be able to contact them. I will try reach out to them on Instagram. I’ve planned some potential interview questions for them that I hope I’ll get to ask and include in the video.

After collecting all the information I started to consider the structure and layout of my part of the presentation. The next step will be to reduce my research into small, easily understood sections and make a script for me to read alongside the presentation.