Reflecting on 3D Modeling (Again)

After starting the process of modeling and communicating an artifact, I don’t know how I feel about it. It is certainly a different perspective from walking through a museum, but not always in a good way. I would compare it to driving around a scenic location vs being driven through the same place. Driving requires one to pay attention to the details in front of them, but it is more of a means to an end rather than enjoying the scenery for its visual appeal. Sitting in the passenger seat is a much more passive experience, but it also allows one to appreciate things that the driver may not have the capacity to. At least at my current skill level, translating objects into 3D models can be fraught with tedium, confusion, and frustration, just like a long car trip. However, it also forces one to dedicate a greater amount of time and attention to a single item than I otherwise would. It also changes the details that I decide to focus on. After examining a number of artifacts online and focusing in on their shapes and features, I can remember patterns of cracks and holes, but not coloration. The potholes and blind intersections triumphed over the scenery.

Exploring the 3D artifact collections in class was very interesting, and I learned a lot about the capabilities of virtual models to tell stories. The Smithsonian‘s was especially impressive thanks to its use of text annotations and relatively high definition scanning in its models. Being able to effortlessly rotate and zoom in/out on the items to find bits of information was fun and engaging, and the wide array of items accessible through the service at the touch of a button kept me interested for much longer than I expected. This sense of discovery and fun is something I want to replicate in my own work, especially after looking at many underwhelming showings in the past.