Module 3 Formstorming

Subjects as Data

Hannah Sancho

Project 3

Module 3

This module saw the class expirimenting with different ways to create and edit models. The first activity had us expiriment with face tracking and P5JS, using data portraits that would interact with face movements. The second Activity had us scan real objects using Scaniverse, which used videos we took of our objects to reconstuct them into meshes. These meshes were brought into Meshmixer to clean them up and to convert them into models. I chose to 3D print my final design, so I expirimented with printing my models and familiarized myself with the process of 3D printing.

Activity 1

I started this activity by following the data portrait guide provided in the activity. I found the concept of representing a person through data is fascinating since it can tell more about a person's expiriences over regular photographs.

The style choices for the data was interesting since most of them were quite abstract. I feel like without prior knowledge of what each form represented it might be difficult to take in what it represents, but this could work in favor of very abstracted portraits

I created my design in Figma, and there are options to add texture to strokes. The original portrait was made traditionally. I like to expiriment with the quality of textures to see how it can effect how it's percieved.

This is a close up of the other half of my data portrait. I Found it interesting that the data visuals were represented with shapes rather than graphs, and gave me a new understanding about designing these portraits

This was the full, finished design of my data portrait. I found it fun to see the difference between the sample portrait and mine since each shape is very distinct.

Before I added my data portrait files, I tested replacing one of the images in the template with one of my own works. It was a large size, and that reflected by being blown up in the preview. This reinforced that I had to pay attention to the sizes of my images

This is how my data portrait looked after pasting the files into the code. I didn't consider before this momment that making it in a square composition would transfer, but seeing how the face tracking worked in real time was helpful

I took a couple images of different angles of the face tracking. I put myself far away from the camera from this one and image shrank like it was in 3d space.

When I looked at my portrait closely, I noticed how the preview layered my files, and there were some problems as certain layers were not in the proper order. While this was what I expected, it encouraged me to explore with different layer combinations.

This was a screenshot of the code for the following image. I scrambleld the layer order to see how my images would react.

Alongside adjusting the layers, I wanted to also expiriment with setting up a scene for my portrait, so I played around with adjusting the CSS for the background, frame counter font, and the font color.

This is another variation of the background, with a screenshot of the code. I chose my colors based on the colors I made for my data portrait.

This is when I adjusted some of the P5JS code for the liveliness of the portrait. I only adjusted it slightly but the sensitivity of the portrait already had a notable different from the basic settings.

Using the same assets, I played around with the design of my portrait, this time arranging them in a circle so it would look more like a target.

I didn't notice it until I put these images in, but the code kept centering my images, which altered the composition. I'm not sure if this was outlined in the code, but since everything is arranged in a circle it didn't ruin the design

Using the same portrait, I played around the background and color for this design. The black doesn't work for this design since there's a lot of dark gary obejcts, but the yellow and blue ones stand out a lot.

Full composition of a third design. I used the other half of the design elements from the previous design.

These are all the variations of the portraits I created for this activity. I didn't see myself sticking to this design for the entirety of this project, but this excercise reminded me that there =can be many possibilities for one idea.

To quickly compare each of my portraits while I was working I kept every portrait's layers grouped together, and just slashed out the ones I didn't want to see at the time.

The centering of my image layers was very noticable here, but I actually think it worked in it's favor since the composition was very balanced. While testing it with the face tracking did look a bit odd when I turned to side.

This was more expirimentation with ordering my image layers with the code. For this design I found the layering a lot more important since a lot of the smaller or thinier details were being blocked by other layers.

This is the same portrait but at a different angle. I could potentially see how someone could use their layers to hide meanings behind their portratis if they stuck to 2D images. The ring of cirlces on the outside was a off center, but it didn't break the portrait.

This was another expiriment with the livelness of the portrait. I set the index of this to 10, and the effect was very noticable. Even slight movements would roatate the portrait multiple times. I liked the less sensitive effect more but I could see someeone making a crazy portrait by adjusting this.

After expirimenting with code, I ended up making a couple portraits by combining different layers from other portraits. This puts a lot of emphasis on the composition of the portraits since some combos did not work out well.

This portrait worked slightly better since each element could be seen through because they were smalller or skinnier. I think adding the two lines from the original portrait felt out of place since everything else was aligned to the radial composition.

Activity 2

This was the mesh from my very first scan. I was surprised how much detail Scaniverse was able to pick up on, and at a glance it came out good at certain angles.

One of the issues I encountered with this specific objet was that because it was so small I couldn't get close to small gaps, making overall form looking inconsistant and melty.

This is a scan of my headphone case, and where I realised why shiney objects were hard to scan. It doesn't show from this angle, but the area with the bright glare had a weird hole once I processed the scan into a mesh.

This is a scan of a small card holder that I scanned to see how Scaniverse would interpret the texture of the leather. It had the same issue as the previous models with it looking all melty

Before processing the scans into meshes, Scaniverse shows a preview of the data from the recording. I just find it interesting to see what is being processed and its cool to see it become a full mesh.

When I was starting to get an understanding of what theme I was going to pursue, this drawing figure is something I thought I could print. I didn't end up doing so due to it's thin, detailed segments, which were bound to cause some issues.

When I moved to a location with better lighting, I scanned this cup noodles containter to make sure Scaniverse worked. I was once again surprised at the amount of detail that was picked up, but also a bit frustrated since the edges of the cup were very rough.

Scanning, while tedious, was fun at times. This was a scan I did unrelated to the project, but it helped me figure a strategy of how I should move while scanning. The detail was picked up surprisingly well despite the busy backdrop.

Like the cup noodles, some objects with smooth edges didn't really pick up well, such as the edge of this lotion bottle. While the detail in the texture is there, I knew this would be a model that would be annoying to fix.

I wanted to scan this rabbit statue due to its unique shape. It has a lot of distinct segments, so identifying if my scan was successful would be a lot easier compared to a simple shaped object. I also tend to use this statue to deliberate ideas for myself while I create art.

This is a view of the rabbit's mesh in one enviornment I tried doing my scans in. One of it's sides completely merges with the side of the rabbit, which was due to me moving in an awkward position and reaching my phone to scan it.

I didn't edit any of my materials since I was 3D printing, but this scan would have been terrible to edit since the green base I did the scan on was reflecting onto the object.

This was one of the cleanest meshes that I scanned of this lotion bottle and the one I chose to edit since the edges were relativly smooth.

This scan was not perfect however, since from the side there were noticable holes on the surface.

This mesh was one of the rabbit statue I ended up editing for my final project. Compared to other variations, it interpreted the form of the rabbit the best and had the least amount of melting.

This was my first time using Meshmixer, but I mostly jsut used it to fix my models. If I had more time, I'd like to learn more about actually editing with models in this software, as I used C4D for a majority of the edits.

I have an Android phone, and apparently cropping models isn't available yet. I resorted to bringing the entire mesh into C4D first, cutting the planes, and then bring them back to Meshmixer to clean.

Seeing how many polygons a cropped version of my model had was honestly terrifying. I had trouble figuring out where to start even after reducing its polygons, but after playing around with the settings I got it to a managable form.

This is just a comparison of the differnt polygon reduction settings, with the left one at 95 and the right on at 97. I had to find a good compromise in order to maintain the model's form for before editng.

Most of the edits I made to this were focused on fixing the holes and gaps that you could see on the side. I tried to get as striaght as possible. One thing I had trouble with was making sure the base was still defined due to the reduced polygons

This was a model I ended up printing out, so I had to put it through Cura. Cura is really helpful since it can point out errors with models to helpe me fix them if there are any issues. Since this model was so small I didn't have any problems slicing it.

After cropping the model of the rabbit, I fixed it in Meshmixer. For some reason the textures did not export with my model, but this was useful since I got to see the actual model without getting distracted by the shadows from the texture.

While I thought this model was fine from afar it was clear there were a couple of minor problems I had. The ears were not symmetrical, and the neck was scewed to the right.

From the left is the unedited model, the reduced polygon version, and the my final model. I edited the ears to be as even as possible, and the neck was adjusted. I also straightened the tail and thickened the neck so the head would have more support when printing.

I wanted to test if I could add other parts to my base since I intended to incorperate my base into the theme. This model is one I eneded up test printing. I really like how this one turned out since it has a very distinct shape.

Reflexive Workshop 1 and 2

For the workshop me and my group looked into reflexive interactive design. It's a multi layered process that that focuses on looking into back onto oneself. In the article we got, it focused on it's application to reesearchers and analysing their beliefs.

Interpreting the article was a bit challenging for us, so we created a general simplified version after comparing our gatherings. There were a lack of reasources on the topic, which made understanding our topic difficult, but we were able to understand the importance of reflexivity in the context of design processes in the end.

I didn't create a Selfie for myself for this workshop, but seeing how different my group members' portraits came out inspired me to think about the things I would add if I made one. Overall this activity got my brain reflecting about things that have shaped me as a person.

Final Design

3D Printed Selfie

My final design is a 3D composition made out of models I scanned and new models created for this project. This design represents my connection to the arts and the process of being creative, as art has shaped me into the person I am today, both in a positive and negative light. Ech totemtic object is connected either an art form I engage in or represents a major part in my creative ideation. The composition shows arts in a positive light, but the way I've organised them can be interpreted as chaotic. There are times where I find my passion for art turns into obssession as I set my expectations higher and harder to reach. When this happens, I start to stuggle with finding motivation and effecting my self image. Overall the creation of this print helped me reflect on how I interact with the arts and how complex my relationship with them has been.

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