2. Digital bodies¶

Introduction¶

Since the dawn of history, the hand has been the first tool known to humans. With it, humans carved rocks, made their tools, and held the hands of others to build meaning in life. The hand is not just a physical part of human body; it is a universal language: the language of giving, creativity, strength, and inclusion.

In this project, I decided to rediscover the hand in a new digital age. To make it a bridge between humans and technology. To transform it from an emoji into a functional architectural object. I present to you Carpo Yad designs.

Carpo= wrist in ancient latino.

Yad= hand in arabic.

Research & Ideation¶

Hands are a symbol of human communication, expression, strength, and movement. The hand in design can represent:

Human communication: The hand reflects expressions and emotions.
Craft: The hand is the tool of the artist and craftsman.
Interaction and use: The hand holds, displays, and represents.

The hand is not just a physical part of human body; it is a fundamental medium for expression, interaction, and creativity. By digitally capturing the shape of the hand and processing it using 3D scanning, mesh manipulation, laser cutting, and 3D printing, the body is transformed from a biological element into an architectural and geometric object that can be used in practical life as a display tool.

My project for Digital Bodies Week will be display stands or décor, designed in the form of human hands in contemporary abstraction. The idea is based on the relationship between the body, design, and function, transforming the hand (the primary human tool for interacting with the world) into a functional object for installation and display.

The project explores the relationship between the human body and digital technologies by transforming the hand—a universal symbol of communication and action—into a functional and artistic tool used as a display stand.

References & Inspiration¶

For thousands of years, hands have been a source of symbolism and artistic expression. They are a tool for creation, labor, and creativity, as well as a means of human communication. In art and design, the hand is not just a physical organ, but a symbol of life, giving, strength, protection, and even individual and collective identity.

Therefore, hands and their associated symbols have existed since ancient times, represented in sculptures and monumental statues, and to this day, they are present as an important element in the arts. To further clarify the concept, I have divided the chronological use of hands in art and design into three eras:

1-Ancient and Historical Art:¶

Cave murals featuring handprints as the earliest form of human expression.
Greek and Roman statues that highlighted the fine details of the hand as a symbol of strength and skill.
Religious symbols such as the "Hand of Fatima," which embodied protection and blessing.

2-Modern and Contemporary Art:¶

The works of Auguste Rodin (such as the sculpture "The Hand of God"), in which the hand becomes a source of birth.
The artist Alberto Giacometti, who highlighted hands in his sculptures as a symbol of human fragility.
Pop art and abstract art, which used the shape of the hand in symbols and logos (such as the peace and power signs).

3-Contemporary Design and Digital Experiences:¶

The use of the hand in industrial design as a functional and aesthetic element (stands, holders, hooks).
In Digital Bodies & Fabrication, the hand is a source of inspiration for 3D printing and laser cutting, with its curved and complex shapes that embody the interplay between the organic and the digital.
The works of Bio-design and Parametric Design artists, which translate the natural lines of the hand into innovative geometric compositions.

Reference¶

The Hand

Auguste Rodin

Ancient Greece Bronze Votive Statue Hand

Marble left hand holding a scroll

Cave of the Hands

Hands sculpture in venice

Handwriting

Hand Touch Screens

Digital hand

industrial sketch

Parametric

Stone craver

Process and workflow¶

Since I chose hands as the subject of my project, and based on what was mentioned in our lecture about “how can you acquire a 3D model”, I decided to try most of the mentioned methods:

credited to Fabricademy

"Laser Cut Based on a Downloaded 3D Model"¶

CHOOSING MODEL

I started my search for a suitable model for the design idea I was thinking about and I searched several sites for 3D models.

After searching, I decided to download this model from the site CULTS.

PREPAIR ON FUSION SLICER

After downloading it in .stl format, I imported it into Fusion Slicer to prepare the file for laser cutting. This program allows you to convert 3D files into 2D cutting patterns. This program converts 3d models into slices whose properties can be controlled, making them ready for cutting using materials such as wood and cardboard.

NESTING

After preparing the file on Fusion Slicer, I imported it into Inkscape to make the necessary adjustments before cutting. The most important things I did were:

ensure that your design in 2D.
Rearrange the slices on the canvas to minimize wasted canvas space.
Change the colors to ensure they match the cutting machine's colors.

(As you can see in the before and after picture below, I reversed the colors to match the cutting and engraving colors on the machine that we have, with red for cutting and blue for engraving).
Change the cut width.

( cut width= hairline .001mm).

The laser cut nesting ¹ was created using Incsape and saved as PDF.

PREPARING FOR PRINTING

After verifying the file, we transfer it to the device connected to the cutting machine. Then, we open the saved file in either SVG or PDF format. After opening it in Inkscape, we verify it again. We open the program included with the cutting machine, and drag and drop the file into the program.

LAZER CUT

During our practical lecture, we learned how to use the laser cutting machine TROTEC. and its accompanying software. We learned how to open the files to be cut, how to select the appropriate cutting settings for each material, and how to select the colors to confirm the type of operation, whether cutting or engraving. We worked on setting up the machine, starting with ensuring the hood was working, then turning it on, and then preparing the cutting board and the location and height of the laser lens.

The image below shows the cutting machine settings, including power, speed, and frequency, for cutting 3mm thick MDF wood.

After I prepaired the file of the pattern that I want to cut, I prepared the cutting machine and settings, then started the process of cutting the slices for the model.

ARRANGEMENT & ASSEMPLY

The resulting cut strips are numbered and marked to facilitate the arrangement and assembly process. I assembled them piece by piece and attached them using wood glue (this particular step is fun, much like playing with a puzzle:). After the glue dried, I painted the resulting model white.

The following video also shows step by step the arrangement of the pieces to reach the final model.

FINAL PRODUCT

NOTE: backgrounds AI generated using Photoroom app

"Digital Body Modeling with MakeHuman + Rhino"¶

MAKEHUMAN I downloaded the MakeHuman program and started exploring it and learning how to work with it. The program is important because there are many properties that can be changed on objects to benefit from them in designs.

Since I aim to make a design of hands, I searched for the most suitable hand shape from the existing objects, then I exported it in STL format.

Then I went to the Rhino program, imported the file, and the body I selected appeared.

Here I started editing the model to reach the goal, which is the hand, as I removed the rest of the body parts.

Then I started transforming the hand into the design I wanted,after rotation and aligning the hands at the desired level, I merged them using the command MeshBooleanUnion, so they became one object.

4hands Stand by dosam.studio on Sketchfab

The 3d model ² was created using Rhino.

After preparing and completing the design I wanted, I exported the file in STL format and moved it to the Ultimaker Cura software to prepare it for 3D printing.

3D Printing Workflow

The 3D printing process begins with a digital model and ends with a printed physical object. It consists of several basic stages:

3D Model Design The model is designed using software such as Rhino, Fusion 360, or Blender, and then saved in .STL or .OBJ format.

Slicing the Model In this stage, Cura software is used to convert the digital model into an instruction file called G-code, which the 3D printer can understand. The software divides the model into thin layers and determines how the printer will move, the amount of material output, temperature, speed, and other settings.

Printer Preparation This includes installing the printing filament, calibrating the surface, and adjusting the temperature.

Printing The G-code file is sent to the printer, which begins building the model layer by layer until the shape is complete.

What does Cura do?

Cura is the link between the digital design and the actual printed part.

Ultimaker Cura is one of the most popular slicing programs in the world of 3D printing. Its primary role is to:

Import the 3D model.

Define print settings (such as layer thickness, print speed, temperature, fill ratio, and supports).

View a detailed preview of the layer-by-layer print.

Generate a G-code file that precisely guides the printer as it works.

"3D Scanning for Model Making"¶

Let's move on to the third method to get a 3D model 3D Scanning.

3D scanning is a method of creating a digital replica of a real-life object. It works by capturing the shape and details of the object from multiple angles, then converting this data into a 3D model that can be modified using design software like Rhino or Blender or prepared for 3D printing. 3D scanning is used in a variety of fields, such as art and design to reproduce models; in fashion to scan the human body to create custom clothing; in gaming and virtual reality to bring real faces and objects into digital worlds; and in the medical field to create accurate prosthetics or anatomical models.

Used TECHNOLOGY : Structured-light 3D scanning

How does it work:

The scanner uses structured light (a fixed pattern of light, such as lines or a grid) projected onto an object.

When the pattern falls on an uneven surface, the lines are distorted (bent, expanded, or compressed) according to the shape of the surface.

One or more cameras capture these distortions in the pattern.

Software analyzes the distortions using geometry algorithms (such as trigonometry) to determine depth information for each point on the surface, and then constructs a 3D model.

Advantages:

The ability to quickly capture complex shapes and precise surfaces.

The scanner can be used for very small and large objects, by changing settings or using different scanner models.

Support for capturing colors and textures with the final geometric model.

Challenges:

Glossy or reflective surfaces may distort the light pattern or cause false reflections.

Full-body scanning often requires scanning from multiple angles and then combining the results to obtain the complete model.

Ambient lighting should be dim or dim to avoid blurring the projected light pattern.

For more details about the technology, you can read the article on How does structured-light 3D scanning work?/ ARTEC

During the practical lecture, we learned about two types of 3D scanners.

First type is SENSE.

The Sense 3D Scanner from 3D Systems is easy to use, but it's limited in fine detail, and lighting affects the accuracy of the results. Additionally, the available device doesn't allow for exporting and editing the final results.

Second Type is ARTEC.

Artec 3D scanners are powerful devices that scan any object and convert it into a 3D model with extremely high accuracy, even for small details. They're easy to use and can be exported in various formats, such as STL, OBJ, and PLY, suitable for industrial, medical, or artistic purposes. The Artec 3D scanner is more powerful and accurate than the Sense 3D, but it's much more expensive and better suited for professional projects.

We start the 3D scanning process by identifying the object to be scanned, and slection of the surface that we want to put it on.

We open the software on the computer and experience of seeing the object through the scanner, and Determine the appropriate scanning distance and angel.

After we do a full body scan, a model creation box will appear, here we press next and start editing.

After we finsh our editing we press model creation, so the software start alligning the model, then our model will be ready.

Artec 3d Scan Model-compressed by dosam.studio on Sketchfab

Third type is KIRI APP.

The KIRI Engine app is a free and powerful 3D scanner that lets you transform images and videos into high-quality 3D models using techniques such as photography and LiDAR scanning. It supports exporting models in multiple formats, including STL and OBJ, and is suitable for both beginners and professionals.

Steps to prepare a 3D model using 3D scanning

To create a 3D model using the 3D scanning method, I first downloaded the Keri app on my mobile phone and conducted a quick test run, then I started my project:

I chose the model I wanted to use for scanning, and since my designs are inspired by hands, I chose a model of a hand I already had.
I placed the model in the middle of a round, easy-to-roll side table.

I opened the app and selected the 3D scan with video.I started the scanning process, during which I rotated the table and scanned the object from a height of 45 degrees until I completed a full rotation.
When the scan was complete, the application processed the file, which took about two minutes, and displayed the final result file.

Then I exported the file to .obg format, and via email I downloaded it to my laptop.

3D scanned hand mesh by dosam.studio on Sketchfab

I opened the file on Rhino and shown in the image below, after removing the excess faces, bridging the gaps, remeshing the mesh, and removing the noise, I started experimenting with a new design using the model I obtained from the 3D scan.

NOTE: This design was created specifically to experiment with 3D scanning technology and test its accuracy in capturing details.

Hands 3d by dosam.studio on Sketchfab

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Tools¶

All Photos & videos of this page credited to DOA'A ALHINTY

Fabrication files¶

File: Laser cut sheets ↩
File: 3d modelling of 4 hand stand ↩