2. Digital bodies¶

Research & Ideation¶

The concept of the Digital Body investigates how the human form can exist, interact, and transform across digital and physical spaces. It goes beyond simply representing the body with 3D models, avatars, or motion capture—it is about extending our physical presence into virtual and augmented realities, translating movement, shape, and identity into data and design.

Digital bodies can react to data, interact with environments, and become part of immersive experiences, bridging technology, performance, and identity. From wearable sensors that track movement or physiological signals, to AI-generated avatars and responsive digital art, the Digital Body allows us to rethink what it means to move, perform, and exist in both physical and virtual worlds.

In this project, the human form is scanned or digitally modeled, then deconstructed into modular shapes that can be cut with a laser and reassembled. By dividing the body into interlocking parts, it can be recreated using the minimum amount of material, combining efficiency with creativity.

This approach bridges digital design and physical fabrication, turning the body into a tangible, reconfigurable object. It allows us to explore the relationships between geometry, material constraints, and spatial construction, showing how technology can transform the way we perceive, construct, and experience the human body.

get inspired!

Head portion - Betiana Pavon - FabLab Bcn
Artistic Slicing - Stephanie Vilayphiou - GreenLab
Artistic intervention - Kae Nagano - FabLab Kamakura
Exploration fabrication techniques - Hala Amer - FabLab Bcn
Electronics & DIY scanner - Naim Al-Haj Ali - CPF
Advanced - Grasshopper Slicing - Aslı Aydın Aksan - TextileLab Amsterdam

DEFINITION

The Digital Body is the representation, extension, or transformation of the human body through digital technologies. It is an augmented, tracked, replicated, measured, or imagined body that exists between the physical and the virtual.
Is a hybrid entity born from the translation of the physical body into data, 3D models, algorithms, or avatars. It manifests through computational media and can be analyzed as: * iconic representation (avatar, 3D scan) * performative extension (body tracking, AR) * informational organism (biometric data) * identity construction (virtual body, avatar politics It is a space where perception, identity, power, and technology intertwine. The Digital Body is not just an avatar or a 3D scan: it is an expanded, mediated, recorded, measurable, performative, and relational body.

Categories of Digital Bodies:

Digital Representation
3D avatar
digital twin
photogrammetry
mocap
skeleton tracking

Augmented Body

AR body
filters
digital overlays
digital prosthetics
sensory wearables

Data Body

biometrics
heart rate
EEG
GSR
GPS
the datafied body

Performing Digital Body

dance + reactive systems
motion-tracking-controlled VJing
theatre + tech
live volumetric performance

Synthetic / AI Body

AI-generated bodies
autonomous avatars
deepfakes
synthetic humans

CONCEPT MAP

Digital Body =

→ Representation → avatar, scans, motion capture → Extension → AR body, digital prosthetics, wearables → Data Body → biometrics, sensors, analytics → Identity Body → gender fluidity, avatar politics → Performing Body → dance, VJing, interactivity → Synthetic Body → AI, deepfake, generative forms

1. Digital Body as Representation

It is the body translated into a digital format. Main forms

2D/3D Avatars
Used in videogames, VR, virtual social spaces, * virtual performance.
3D Body Scans (photogrammetry, LiDAR)
High-fidelity digital copies.
Motion Capture / Body Tracking
The body becomes data used to animate digital models.
Volumetric Capture
Captures the moving body in 3D for VR/AR.
Digital Twins
Accurate digital copies used in medicine, * sports, ergonomics.

In Art

virtual performances
immersive installations with digital shadows, * silhouettes, point clouds
identity transformation projects
digital mirrors, augmented bodies, glitch body

2. Digital Body as Extension

The body is augmented through technology—no longer a copy, but an expansion of what the body can do. Examples

AR overlays → animated digital layers on the body
Cyber prosthetics → digital extensions of the body
Augmented sensoriality → wearables that extend perception
Biofeedback (EEG, ECG, galvanic, respiration) → body generates visual/sound output
Body as interface → the body becomes a controller (Playtronica, capacitive sensors, computer vision)

In Performing Arts

dance with motion capture
theatre where actors control visuals/audio through movement
neural performances (EEG → visuals)
corporeal VJing

3. Digital Body as Data

17stThe body becomes a data source—a central theme in contemporary thought. What data? * position, movement, posture * rhythms * heart rate * temperature * stress levels * facial tracking * gestures * voice * fingerprints, retina, biometrics

Key concepts

Quantified Self
Body Analytics
Biometric Identity
Datafication of the body
Body as archive / body as memory

In Art

works transforming bodily data into visuals
biofeedback installations
algorithmic bodies
critiques of surveillance + loss of agency

4. Digital Body as Identity

The digital body becomes a space of identity. Examples

avatars as expressions of the self
fluid, mutable, non-biological bodies
experiments in gender, fluidity, fragmentation
digital drag
glitch or deformed bodies as artistic language
post-human and trans-human aesthetics

Philosophical themes

posthuman
cyberfeminism
ecology of the digital body
body as digital narrative
immaterial materiality

5. Digital Body in Performance & Interactive Installations

A fundamental base for contemporary immersive experiences.

Techniques

computer vision
skeleton tracking (Kinect, ZED, Mediapipe)
AI body tracking
capacitive sensors (Playtronica)
mocap suits (Rokoko, Xsens)
volumetric capture
visuals in TouchDesigner / Unreal / Unity

Interaction models

body as brush
body as musical instrument
body as dynamic sculpture
body as storyteller
body as political device

6. The Digital Body as Artistic Material

Artists treat the digital body as a sculptable material.

Typical manipulations

morphing
glitch
distortion
fragmentation
duplication of the body with textures/patterns
transformation into point clouds
transitions between real and synthetic

7. Aesthetics of the Digital Body

Recurring aesthetics:

glitch body
pixel skin
mesh body
skeleton tracking visuals
AI-drawn body
volumetric ghost
holographic body
limbs
mirror worlds
post-human forms
liquid / fragmented / generative avatars

8. Digital Body & AI

AI pushes the concept further. New forms

synthetic AI-generated bodies
deepfake body
body swapping
impossible bodies (AI body synthesis)
dataset-trained bodies
autonomous avatars with emergent behavior

9. Digital Body as Politics

Major contemporary discourses involve the digital body.

Themes * surveillance * privacy * digital identity * gender * data rights “Who owns your digital body?” * algorithms that decide who you are * digital colonization * architectures of power

10. Digital Body vs Physical "Body

The digital body does not replace the physical one. It is:

an extension
a projection
a possibility
an experimentation field
a political space
a second (or third…) body

TEMPORAL LINE

Period	Key Developments
1960–70	Video art → Nam June Paik
	Performance → body art and electronic mediation
1980	Cyberfeminism (Haraway, Cyborg Manifesto)
	Early human–machine interfaces
1990	90s VR (Sensorama, CAVE VR)
	Virtual world avatars (Active Worlds)
2000	Motion capture in artistic practice
	Second Life and digital identities
2010	Kinect → democratized body tracking
	Smartphone AR
	Quantified Self
2020–Today	Generative AI → synthetic bodies
	Volumetric capture
	XR (AR/VR/MR)
	Post-human / multispecies digital identities

6. Typical Technologies

A list of the main technologies used in creating, capturing, and interacting with the Digital Body.

Tracking

Mediapipe
Kinect
OpenPose
ZED camera
LiDAR / depth sensing

Acquisition

Photogrammetry
Volumetric capture

Wearable

IMU sensors
Biosensors
EEG, EMG
Playtronica (capacitive touch)

Software

TouchDesigner
Unreal Engine
Unity
Blender
Notch
Runway ML
AI systems

7. Applications in Art & Design

Immersive installations

Digital mirrors
Particle bodies
Reactive silhouettes
Audio-visual body

Performance

Dance + visuals
Digital theatre
Corporeal VJing
Live avatars

Design / Fashion

Digital fashion
Smart textiles
Avatar fitting
Digital aesthetic prosthetics

Bio-art / Neuro-art

EEG → generative visuals
Heart rate → sound
Breath → interface

8. Aesthetics & Languages

Glitch body
Exposed mesh body
Point-cloud body
Hologram
Liquid body
Fluid avatars
Mutant identities
Real/virtual overlap
Spectrality (ghost body)

9. Key Theorists

Donna Haraway — Cyborg Manifesto
N. Katherine Hayles — posthuman
Rosi Braidotti — Posthumanism
Paul B. Preciado — body as political technology
Lev Manovich — new media / digital representation
Mark Hansen — body + digital perception
Paul Virilio — digital speed + body

10. Relevant Artists

Laurie Anderson
Stelarc (cyborg body)
Bill Viola
Hito Steyerl
Lu Yang (avatar identities)
Holly Herndon & Spawn
Jon Rafman
Sutu
Zach Lieberman
Troika Ranch
Random International
Refik Anadol

11. Politics & Ethics of the Digital Body

Biometric surveillance
Avatar control
Identity exploited by algorithms
Body as data capital
Deepfake identity
Loss of agency
Aesthetics of digital power
Rights over one’s digital body (“digital bodily rights”)

Historical & Anatomical References

Antiquity * Vitruvius — human body as proportion + measure

Renaissance * Leonardo da Vinci — anatomical + mechanical body * Vesalius — internal anatomy → precursor of digital slicing

Modern Era * Muybridge — sequential movement * Marey — chronophotography * Taylor & Gilbreth — ergonomics, motion study

Connection to Digital Body * Historical concepts → foundations for mocap, tracking, digital anatomy

Ergonomics & Digital Body

Ergonomics: adaptation between human body, tools, environment.

In Digital Body:

Mocap must respect physical limits
Wearables must ensure comfort
VR/AR must prevent fatigue
Posture and gesture analysis

Key ergonomic concepts

Range of motion (ROM)
Neutral posture
Joint load
Sensory comfort
Reduced cognitive/physical fatigue

Digital Body as Representation & Digital Sculpture

The digital body becomes:

A virtual representation (avatar, 3D scan)
A digital sculpture to be deformed, fragmented, sliced, recomposed
A plastic digital material (mesh, voxel, clay-like)

Key concepts

Point cloud / mesh
Sliced body
Segmentation
Morphing / distortion

Artistic Precursors

Vitruvius, Leonardo, Vesalius
Muybridge, Marey
Stelarc, Hito Steyerl, Rafman, Lieberman, Lu Yang

Slicing Techniques

Mesh segmentation
Volumetric slicing
Layered rendering
Cross-section animation
Glitch slicing

Artistic Symbolism

Fragmentation = identity + memory
Body as mutable sculpture

References & Inspiration¶

Digital Bodies Inspiration Moodboard by Carlotta Premazzi

reference

Process and workflow¶

3D Body Scan
↓
Mesh Cleaning
↓
Digital Slicing
↓
2D Layout (Laser Cut Files)
↓
Laser Cutting
↓
Assembly
↓
Reconstructed Body

Tutorial — Digital Bodies¶

1. Research and Concept¶

Objective: Define your idea and gather inspiration.

Look for artists and projects related to Digital Body and sliced body.
Examples: Stelarc, Hito Steyerl, Jon Rafman, Lu Yang, Zach Lieberman, Refik Anadol.
Decide your focus: whole body, a body part, mannequin, or abstract sculpture.
Make preliminary sketches to understand proportions, layering, and sectioning.

2(A). Creating the body in MakeHuman¶

Begin by modeling the body in MakeHuman, defining the basic proportions and anatomical features.

💻 MakeHuman Tutorial

Download & Installation

✅ Goal: Obtain and install the open-source MakeHuman software.

📦 Steps: - Search for the official "MakeHuman Community" website. - Download the latest stable installer appropriate for your OS (Windows, macOS, Linux). - Run the installer and follow all on-screen prompts. - Launch the application to begin working with the default figure.

Interface & Navigation"**

✅ Goal: Understand the main tabs that control the character creation process.

📦 Key Tabs: - Modeling/Model: Primary area for shaping the character's body using sliders and mouse manipulation. - Geometries: Used for adding accessories like hair, clothes, eyes, and teeth. - Materials: Used to apply and adjust the skin texture and shaders. - Pose/Animation: Selects a fixed pose or applies animations. - Export: Final step for saving the model in formats like FBX or OBJ.

Body Modeling: Shaping the Figure

✅ Goal: Define the character's core physicality (Macro and Detail).

📦 A. Using Macro Sliders (General Shape): - Adjust Gender (male/female transition). - Set Age (child to elderly). - Control Height, Weight, and Muscle mass.

📦 B. Direct Manipulation (On-Screen Sculpting): - Click and hold the Left Mouse Button on the body part (e.g., thigh, waist). - Move the mouse forward/backward to adjust volume/mass. - Move the mouse left/right to adjust width/depth. - Use modifier keys (Shift/Ctrl) while dragging for precise detail sculpting.

Refining Details & Finishing

✅ Goal: Add specific elements and prepare the figure for presentation.

📦 Refinement Steps: - Geometries: Apply clothing, hair meshes, and teeth models. - Materials: Fine-tune skin texture for realism (e.g., color, shininess). - Pose/Animation: Select a pose to check the character's appearance in different attitudes. - Measurements: Check precise body dimensions if needed for external tailoring or fitting.

Exporting the Final Model

✅ Goal: Prepare the final 3D file for use in other software (Blender, Unity, etc.).

📦 Export Steps: - Navigate to the Export tab. - Choose the necessary format (FBX or OBJ are common). - Select export options (e.g., include pose, materials, and associated geometries). - Click Export and save the file to your computer.

2(B). 3D Acquisition¶

Objective: Transform a physical object (body, body part, or mannequin) into a digital model.

Tools:
- 3D Scanner (photogrammetry or LiDAR)
- Camera for photogrammetry
- Software: Blender, Meshroom, RealityCapture, Rhino

Steps:
1. Place the subject in a well-lit, stable area.
2. Capture multiple scans from different angles.
3. Import the scans into the chosen software.
4. Generate the complete 3D mesh and clean any acquisition errors.

Body Preparation

The person stands or sits in a stable position, keeping the upper body as still as possible. The bust is exposed clearly so the scanner can capture the silhouette and anatomical details. The environment is kept neutral, avoiding strong reflections, shadows, or patterned backgrounds that could interfere with the scan.

Scanner / Camera Setup

A 3D scanner—typically a structured-light or infrared depth scanner—is positioned in front of the body. The scanning software is calibrated to recognize skin tones, contours, and textures. The operator adjusts lighting and distance to ensure accurate geometry capture.

Data Acquisition

The scanner projects patterns or light sequences onto the bust, recording the way they deform across the surface. The operator moves around the person—or rotates the platform—to collect data from all angles: front, sides, and back of the shoulders. Multiple passes ensure full coverage, especially in areas with concave forms such as under the chin or between the shoulders.

Point Cloud / Mesh Generation

The software produces a point cloud representing the entire scanned bust. This point cloud is then converted into a 3D mesh, generating a digital model that reflects the real proportions and geometry of the body.

Cleaning and Alignment

The mesh is cleaned by removing noise, filling holes, and correcting small scanning artifacts. The model is aligned along the correct axes, scaled if necessary, and prepared for digital manipulation or further processing.

Exporting the 3D Model

Once the digital bust is clean and complete, it is exported in common 3D formats (e.g., .OBJ, .STL, .PLY). This file can then be used for applications such as digital design, simulation, virtual garments, laser-cut pattern extraction, or physical fabrication.

3. Mesh Repair and Manipulation¶

Objective: Obtain a mesh ready for slicing and fabrication.

Software: Blender, Meshmixer, Rhino, Fusion360

Steps:
1. Check the mesh for holes, intersections, or non-manifold surfaces.
2. Use mesh repair tools to close holes and simplify the model.
3. Optional artistic manipulations:
- Extrusions
- Slicing (layering, horizontal/vertical sections)
- Distortion, morphing, deformations
4. Ensure all parts are closed and solid for cutting or printing.

In Blender, isolate the desired section by applying a Boolean modifier with the Difference operation (body – cube), obtaining a clean and precise cut of the model.

1. ✂️ Blender Tutorial: Cutting an Area of Interest

Scene Preparation

✅ Goal: Set up the main object (Target) and the cutting tool (Cutter).

📦 Steps: - Select your main model (the Target object, e.g., the body). - Add the cutting tool: Press SHIFT + A and select Cube (or another suitable mesh). - Rename the Cube to CUTTER in the Outliner (optional, but recommended).

Positioning the Cutter

✅ Goal: Define the exact volume that will be removed from the Target.

📦 Steps: - Move (G) and Scale (S) the CUTTER to intersect the precise area you wish to remove. - Press H to hide the CUTTER temporarily; this helps you visualize the Target Model clearly.

Applying the Boolean Modifier"**

✅ Goal: Apply the subtraction logic to the Target Model.

📦 Steps: - Select the Target Model (the body). - Go to the Properties panel (Wrench icon). - Click Add Modifier and select Boolean.

Configuration: Difference Operation"**

✅ Goal: Set the modifier to subtract the Cutter from the Target (Target – Cutter).

📦 Settings: - Ensure the Operation is set to Difference. - For the Object field, use the eyedropper or dropdown menu to select the CUTTER (the Cube).

Finalization and Cleanup"**

✅ Goal: Make the cut permanent and clean the scene.

📦 Steps: - Click Apply in the Boolean modifier panel. (Warning: This step is permanent.) - Press ALT + H to reveal the hidden CUTTER. - Select the CUTTER and press X or Delete to remove it from the scene.

4. File Preparation for Laser Cutting¶

Objective: Create 2D files (DXF/PDF) from the 3D model layers.

Steps:
1. Divide the model into slices or layers corresponding to the laser cutting.
2. Export each layer as DXF or PDF.
3. Add alignment marks if needed.
4. Check material thickness and scale the layers correctly(cardboard 4mm).

✂️ File Preparation for Laser Cutting (Autodesk Slicer/Fusion 360)

Import and Setup

✅ Goal: Load the final 3D model and prepare the workspace.

📦 Steps: * Open the slicing tool (Autodesk Slicer or Fusion 360's Additive Manufacturing workspace). * Import Model: Load the clean, cut 3D model (e.g., the model resulting from the Blender Boolean operation). * Orient Model: Verify the model's orientation and scale within the software.

Selecting the Slicing Technique

✅ Goal: Determine the method for converting the 3D form into 2D interlocking parts.

📦 Techniques (Examples): * Interlocking Slices (Stacking): Slicing the model into layers along the X, Y, or Z axis. * Radial Slices: Creating pieces that radiate outwards from a central point. * Curve Slices: Utilizing curved planes to slice the model into unique, interlocking layers.

Material and Parameter Settings

✅ Goal: Define the physical constraints necessary for accurate joint assembly.

📦 Key Settings: * Material Thickness: Input the exact thickness of your physical material (wood, acrylic, etc.). This is critical for joint sizing. * Sheet Size: Set the maximum dimensions of the material sheet available on your laser cutter bed. * Kerf Compensation: Apply a precise value to compensate for the laser beam's width (kerf) to ensure joints fit snugly.

Generating the Layout and Export

✅ Goal: Generate the final 2D cutting files nested on sheets.

📦 Steps: * Generate Slices: Allow the software to calculate and generate all 2D slices, including all interlocking tabs and slots. * Layout: Use the layout/nesting function to efficiently arrange the pieces onto the defined sheet size, minimizing waste. * Export 2D Files: Export the final layout as DXF (Drawing Exchange Format) or SVG, which are standard formats for laser cutting machines.

Generating and checking the slices in Slicer for Fusion 360 Import the model into Slicer for Fusion 360 to divide it into layers, inspect the structure, and prepare the slices for the next construction phase.

Laser cut sheets and optimization by Carlotta Premazzi

5. Laser Cutting¶

Objective: Transform digital files into physical parts.

Steps:
1. Select material: cardboard 4mm 2. Set machine parameters:
- Laser power 75/40 - Speed 100/35 - Frequency:
- Layer order: graving, cutting
3. Perform a test cut on a small piece.
4. Cut all layers of the model.

✂️ Laser Cutting Workflow

✅ Goal: Physically transform the nested 2D files into precise, ready-to-assemble components.

📦 Steps: - Material Preparation & Testing: Select your material and ensure it is flat and clean. Perform small test cuts on scraps to calibrate Power and Speed for a clean cut edge and reliable penetration. - Machine Setup : ** Place the material sheet flat on the bed. Use the calibration tool to set the laser focus accurately based on the material thickness. Define the origin (homing position) for the job. - File Import & Kerf Adjustment: Load the DXF/SVG file into the cutter's control software (as LightBurn). Apply Kerf Compensation (Offset) to the drawing outlines to precisely account for the width of the laser beam, which is essential for achieving tight joint fits. - Parameter Configuration: Set the precise parameters based on your test results: * Power: Controls the energy applied (penetration depth). * Speed: Controls the cut quality and heat buildup (charring). * Frequency (PPI/Hz): Controls the smoothness of the cut edge (higher frequency usually means smoother edge). - Execution Order (Crucial): Always configure the job to cut inner paths first (holes, slots), followed by the outer perimeter. This prevents pieces from shifting once cut, maintaining dimensional accuracy. - Final Cut & Safety: Start the main cutting process. Ensure the ventilation system is running at full capacity** and never leave the machine unsupervised.

Laser Cut work with Alexandre at Fablab Lisbon by Carlotta Premazzi. Dholetec machine, Lightburn Software, cardboard 4mm.

6. Assembly¶

Objective: Build the mannequin or physical sculpture.

Steps:
1. Follow the layer order defined in the digital model.
2. Use glue, pins, or interlocks to join the pieces.
3. Check that the model is stable.
4. Optionally, document the process with stop-motion or step-by-step photos.

7. Documentation¶

Photograph the mannequin or assembled parts in high resolution.
Document the workflow: software, tools, materials, and settings.
Save and upload files:
3D: STL / OBJ
2D: DXF / PDF

Tools¶

Software

3D Models¶

Bust-female-realsize-makehuman by cpds on Sketchfab

Assemblage¶

Cardboard body assemblage simulation in Slicer for Fusion 360

Result¶

Cardboard Manequin by Carlotta Premazzi

Fabrication files¶

File: 3d MakeHuman modelling of realsize female bust

File: Laser cut sheets bust/female/realsize

Lecture on September 23th, 2025, Global Instructors: Anastasia Pistofidou

Student checklist

[ ] Include some inspiration: research on artists or projects that work with the human body
[ ] Document the use of 3D scanner and software to acquire a 3D model
[ ] Document the process of repairing and/or manipulating a 3D mesh and slicing it
[ ] Document the process of file preparation for laser cutting
[ ] Learn how to laser cut, document the workflow including the machine settings, material type and thickness
[ ] Upload your 3D file (STL/OBJ) and your 2D files (DXF/PDF)
[ ] Build and/or assemble a mannequin or body parts
[ ] Create a stop motion or step-by-step assemblying process and upload one picture (HIGH RES) of your mannequin (extra credit)