2. Digital bodies¶

Digital bodies¶

_{Henry Moore, Reclining Figure, 1978}

Research & Ideation¶

As a painter, the physical and emotional body are usually my main area of research and exploration. At the fabricademy we are given a chance to explore the human form from a different perspective. This week I would like to research not only the human body as my subject, but to look at form from other perspectives too.

References & Inspiration¶

When looking at the distortions of the human body on Blender or Mesh Editor that Rico and Anastasia demonstrated, my mind kept jumping to the work of Henry Moore. In my paintings I use the human body to translate an emotion or suggest a state of being. While my choice of color may not be reflective of realism, the body is aimed to be precise, literate. Henry Moore’s sculptures also seem to do the same, they are emotional, they are at times intimidating, but unlike my approach, his form is not precise, but rather abstract. He allows nature to inspire the shape, while using natural materials to sculpt these giant forms. The way he bends and curves the human body, remind me of the landscapes they sit on. It is no surprise that he dreaded the idea of his sculptures sitting indoors. His work feels like it was born from the ground it sits on, they compliment each other.

As Dominic Witek writes “His sculptures recall the shapes of natural materials, of different rock surfaces, for instance. His human figures are rarely detailed; they come in large forms, which harmoniously combine smooth surfaces with sharp sides.”

_{Henry Moore, Large Reclining Figure, 1984. Credits: The Henry Moore Foundation}


_{Henry Moore, Recumbent Figure, 1938. Credits: The Henry Moore Foundation}	_{Henry Moore, Two Figures 1949}	_{Henry Moore, Reclining Figure, 1951. Credits: The Henry Moore Foundation}

After careful observation, I started to think of the studies done in neuroarchitecture and how our brain reacts to different shapes and forms. Studies indicate that we have neural triggers when interacting with sharp angles. Our brain signals threat. This happens especially in architecture and interiors. In contrast, curves calm us, and lower our cortisol levels. We tend to associate curves with natural forms, with bodies, with tenderness. Something about Henry Moore’s sculptures was soothing my anxious mind and I was enjoying this!


_{Henry Moore, Oval with Points, 1968-70}	_{Henry Moore, Oval Sculpture, 1964}	_{Henry Moore, Reclining Figure, 1936}

While doing all this research, I also looked at the work of Frank Lloyd Wright. His philosophy of organic architecture and how he used nature to integrate form and function as one, further fuelled my inspiration for this week's development of digital bodies. Lloyd used natural materials and textures in his design, as he believed that this created a connection between the design and its environment. However, natural materials such as wood or stone also have a soothing effect on us. Studies show that when the body is sensing something organic, it calms, thus reducing blood pressure and heart rate. We further experience “soft fascination”, a term used in Attention Restoration Theory. Soft fascination gives us the opportunity to be engaged in low stimulated activity and in doing so creates an internal space for quietness. Touching the curved edges of a wooden table, using a hand carved ladle, while listening to the breeze in the trees, soothes and calms us. We return to a deep subconscious place of safety.


_{Frank Lloyd Wright, Raul Bailleres House, Acapulco, Mexico. Project, 1951 – 52}	_{Frank Lloyd Wright, Fallingwater (Kaufmann House), Mill Run, Pennsylvania. 1934 – 37}	_{Frank Lloyd Wright, V. C. Morris Shop, San Francisco. 1948 – 49}

Process & Workflow¶

3D Scanning

Once my research and ideation was clear to me, I decided to begin by scanning two things- a clay cup that I made years ago and my ear, using CrealityScanner. The clay cup is symbolic of a hand-made object with curves, which I use daily for my coffee. I wanted to scan something that resonated with my research. My ear was for the same reason, it holds so many curves, coming in and out. The shape of the ear reminds me of both the body in the embryonic position and Henry Moore’s sculptures.

I worked on these scans in the CrealityScan program. Since I couldn’t scan the bottom of the cup in the initial scan, I had to do two scans and then align them together. You can do it both automatically and manually, using the Creality Scan 4.

I used my Mobile device when doing the actual scan, so I had to import the scans to my laptop, as I wanted to work on them there.

To be able to get a clear scan, I had to place objects around the cup, so that the scanner could detect different textures, layers and colors.

This also meant that I had to delete these objects using the Lasso select (shift+left mouse button for drag and select).

Once I had one of the scans all cleaned up, I imported the other scan to the same project. You can do that by clicking "Import from mobile device" on the left navi bar in the same project tab. Then you have to go through the same QR scan steps. When both your scans are clear of clutter, you can then align the scans, both automatically and manually. I had to do mine manually.

And then Voila!

You can now export it as an .obj file and go and play in blender!!!

Blender

This is where the fun and the nightmare begins! Make yourself a calming cup of tea, put on some healing frequency meditation music and try to enjoy! This is if you are using a macbook and have never used a program like Blender. Blender is amazing, and open source, but it takes a minute to figure it out and get used to. That was my experience anyway!

If you want to work and play with your scanned image, you have to import your .obj file in blender. When in Object Mode, you can move, scale, measure, box carve etc. If you want to sculpt, then you have to change to scalp mode in the top tab. This is where all the fun truly begins.

I mainly used the sculpt tools to distort and play around with my cup. The variations and the tools (and the add-ons) in blender are endless.

With a right click you can change the radius and strength of the tool you are using.. making the variations and possibilities even more endless.

Here is a fun texture and (not at all) a strange shape I made out of my cup! I must say, as an artist and a maker, I work with my hands all the time. I love working with clay! Using blender can be very frustrating sometimes, because you want to use your hands to actually bend or stretch or smooth an object. But nevertheless, it is so much fun!

When you feel that you are finished with your edits, you can export your file. I exported mine as an .obj, to be able to play around with it more in Mesh Editor or just to have it ready for Slicer for Fusion.

After downloading and installing Blender, Make Human and Slicer for Fusion, I also started working on an actual human body in MakeHuman. I must mention that I followed Rico's instructions on how to add MakeHuman as an extension in Blender, but found that using the MakeHuman program separately was easier.

Note: If you are a mac user, like myself, installing MakeHuman might be a little problematic. If you are unable to install due to mac not trusting the developer, you can manually force your mac to allow the installation by going into System Settings- Privacy and Security- Open Anyway.

MakeHuman

I found MakeHuman to be simple and easy to use. As soon as you open, it already has a human that you can easily change and adjust body parts according to what you wish to achieve.

I wanted to make a human that resonated with my sketches during life drawing classes! And so I made her..

You can adjust every inch of her body.. from her toes to her earlobes! Your imagination and goal is your limit.

You can also decide her pose.

Since I wanted to play around in Blender once I was done creating her, I wanted her to stand a certain way. I also aimed at making her somehwat curvy. To be able to use it in blender later, you need to export it as an .obj file.

Boolean

Back in Blender, I will show you how to use the Boolean tool to cut whatever part you want from the body.

Once you have imported your 3D human, you can use the cube and resize tool (in the left menu drop bar), and cover the 3D model in the parts where you need to cut.

{ width=300 align=left } { width=300 align=right }

Check from all sides to make sure that the subject is in the cube from all sides (if that is what you want ofcourse)

Select you subject and in the right menu click on modifer and add Boolean (you may need to search for it)

Select the dropper and select the cube (the object that you want to delete)

Don't forget to APPLY!

Once you have applied you can select the cube and delete

Tip: for mac users its fn+delete

I had initially decided to play around with my 3D human in Blender and Mesh Editor, to try and distort the body and create a new form from it. The idea was to use the human body as a canvas, and sculpt an object out of it, which I would then cut using a laser.

After many many many hours, I realised that this is endless. With the limited time we had for this assignment, I decided to return to the initial 3D and cut out parts of the body to leave something curvy and maybe somewhat abstract. Moreover, I decided that since I will be using a laser to cut out my 3D model, it may be a more fulfilling experience to cut out a human size, curvy part of the body, with plywood. Export your file in obj format, so you can later import it to Slicer for Fusion 360.

Slicer for Fusion 360

Once your 3D model is ready, you can upload it to Slicer for Fusion 360. Open Slicer for Fusion 360 and first of all sign in! This is important for later. I made the mistake of not signing in and I didn't save my final file and lost my assembly video. This just makes things a little hard, when it's time to assemble the model.

To import your .obj file - click on import on the left.

The first thing you should do after importing your 3D model is custom set your plywood or cardboard sizes.

Another important thing is making sure that your 3D model size is the same in slicer, as it is in Bender. You can check the size in Bender and apply here, if Slicer has automatically changed it. Make sure that you have set the correct units!

Once everything is set, you need to decide how you would like to slice it, stack it etc. I wanted to cut my model using plywood and I had limited number of sheets I could use. I played around with slice distribution and slice direction to have no issues with my slicer (red indicates the issues).

Tips: - Always cut two small parts to test and see if they work. Sometimes the locks are too tight and you will need to adjust. Think big scale. Two small parts may seem to assemble smoothly, but remember that you are going to have many big and small parts to assemble together. Make sure they fit each other smoothly - Once you export your eps files, you can use illustrator to nest them on the sheets better and minimize how many sheets you use afterall. Slicer doesn't do this very well, slicer isn't thinking about sustainability

To export the files you need to click on "Get Plans" at the very bottom left of Slicer for Fusion 360, then save it as an EPS so you can go ahead and nest it yourself later.

At this stage, I made a few mistakes, unfortunately. Even though I tried to minimise the assembly issues that the parts had, I never got to a point wehre I didn't have highlighted part in red in Slicer for Fusion, indicating an issue. Moreover, I didn't save my slicer file and so when I began assmebling the 3D model, I couldn't watch the assembly steps. To be able to safely save the slicer file, you must create an account. I strongly advise doing so, before you even begin working in Slicer for Fusion 360.

However, this meant a few things. I can try the assembly without a video and I could get creative with my 3D model. If you remember, I mentioned how I work mostly with my hands and wanted to distort the body? Well this may be my opportunity.

Laser Cutter

While working with the laser cutter is important to follow the safety guides!

The lid must be closed while the laser cutter is in motion
Do not open the lid immediately after the cutting process is finished. Give time for the fumes to be properly ventilated.
You should never leave the machine unattended while it's cutting (in case there's a fire!)
Must know how to stop it in an emergency situation or if something is going wrong.
When you turn on the laser cutter, next thing to turn on is the ventilators to make sure the fumes are handled properly. The laser cutter in the Dilijan Fab Lab has two ventilators connected to it. Must switch on both.
Must make sure that you have aligned the laser beam. On the laser cutter I used, this is done manually. You need to turn on the beam light then adjust it by the up and down switch. It is important to align the beam to produce a clean cut and to use the laser cutter safely. If the beam is not aligned properly then the laser will not be able to hit the mirrors and lense where it should. This can result in both the laser cuts being distorted and inconsistent, but also it may hit the edge of a mirror or lense holder, permanently damaging the optics.


_{Make sure that the laser beam sits directly under the pen}	_{You have to press down the black switch to be able to see the laser beam}

Must place your sheet correctly. To make sure that the laser beam doesn't fall off from the edges on any of the four sides of your sheet, you can manually move the laser beam all around it.
Make sure you have set the correct settings before you start cutting to ensure that the laser cuts through where it should, and engraves where it should.

I used plywood, with dimensions of 380 mm x 570 mm, thickness 3.3mm

To engrave- Speed 200 / Pwr min 30 / Pwr max 35

To cut- Speed 7 / Pwr min 60 / Pwr max 65

_{Make sure that you do the engraving first, then, once the engraving is finished, change the settings for cutting and then proceed with cutting. If you do the cutting first, the pieces can tilt or become uneven and the depth/ quality of the engravings may suffer}

Final Result¶

As you can see, the laser cuts where far from perfect, as the correct assembly was impossible, due to the parts physically not being able to fit in the inner thighs. Also, there was so much sanding and dismanteling and reassembling. However, I actually enjoy how I have assembled it in a distorted way and I do hope that you do too!