3D models
As we were getting closer to reaching the final stage of our final major project, being able to retain the physicality of the artifacts created by the participants was an important stage. We began ideating on how this could be incorporated into our digital platform. This took us to look at using the photogrammetry technique and creating 3D scan renders. The thought behind having 3D scans on our website was to be able to experience the narratives through these models in a digital-physical space. The scans would allow the visitors to be able to get a 360-degree rotation view and zoom into the details of materials and elements of the artifacts.
With the help of the technician in the 3D Workshop of LCC we used a 3D hand scanner and started our renders.
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On opening up the rendered scans and viewing them on a 3D previewer, we realised the extremely poor resolution they had. The models were unrecognisable. Due to certain materials used, the scans fused those elements together creating big blotches with a random mixture of textures and colour. As Ana and I had never worked with 3D models before, we started looking at online tutorials on how we could edit and rectify these totally failed scans.
3D renders achieved from the hand scanner
SKETCHUP MODELLING
As the scans were very poor in resolution, editing them would not improve the quality. Therefore we decided to problem-solve and look at platforms which required very basic skills in 3D modelling, in order to recreate these narratives. We came across the application SketchUp that was at a beginner level for modelling. By looking at quick tutorials we were able to understand the basic functions and features and began building the models.
Models created via SketchUp
Our failures with the 3D hand scanning made us go through a series of quick strategising, coming up with alternatives and problem-solving. Although learning a new software within a few days was challenging, we felt a triumph on being able to create the 3D models. We tried to create these models including as many personal and intrinsic qualities of the actual representations, but there were limitations in being able to fully achieve that. There was a loss of the rawness and the textures that we were hoping to achieve through the scans but this was the closest we could get to. Our next and last stage was designing anf geting the digital website ready with all our elements.