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Archive for April, 2010

Massive Challenge: How Do You Show 3D in a 2D Image? Samsung Knows…

30 Apr, 2010 by Josh Mings in TECH
3D Human CAD Models

I know, I know, I know, I know, I know… you’ve all got this down pat. 2D to 3D… 3D in 2D… no problem. But what about with video? and beyond that, within the environment of a 3D modeling program?

This is a look at a very well made ad from Samsung UK for their new super-thin 3D LED TV that displays their idea of 3D being that special part of our life. Imagine that. An LED TV is pretty impressive, but for the ad, they had to make the video on the TV’s look 3D. What’s even more impressive is the installation, which you’ll see in the second video.

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Friday Smackdown: Cross-Axe Callie

30 Apr, 2010 by Josh Mings in SMACKDOWN

So we wrapped it with tarps and a fair amount of steel cord. But, what we saw next peeled three sleepless nights off our eyes. The plastic tore, the cables snapped and these links started singing.

Jose Flores – Really, oil painting don’t get enough play. Jose mixes surreal and cool with just about anything you can imagine.
Lost explained – I don’t think the writers can even explain it, but they do a pretty good job keeping us entertained for 6 years. The answer is there is no answer.
Master Chief sings – Yes, he does, and the Halo star will teach you all the right tunes to woo your sweetheart too.
The Brainstormer – Andrew Bosley’s project to link objects, adjectives and conflict to aid your illustrative creations.
Lego Spider – A spider, a creepy looking tarantula made from all those antenna pieces. glowing eggs… in abdomen? YES.
Lego Click! – Lovely stop motion video that makes me teary-eyed thinking about shaving my mustache, oh and it’s got more Lego goodness.
the SUN – In these images, it looks a lot like those orbs you carry around.

BFB $3000 3D Printer Gives HP Designjet a Run for the Money

29 Apr, 2010 by Josh Mings in FAB

“Finally!” you think, “A cheap 3D printer I don’t have to build myself.” Yes, you’re probably already doing the calculations in your head. For a mere $3.5 million US dollars you can buy 1,000 of these suckers and build a tower of 3D printing power the likes no one hAS EVER SEEN!! muwwahhHAHA!!

All you need is $3.5 mil and a finger to hit the buy button at Bits From Bytes for their new fully-assembled, plastruding plastruder, the BFB 3000. It’s got a slick acrylic exterior and everything you need to get started importing .STL’s and printing your design or exact duplicate of yourself.

But little ol’ BFB is in a hot market that print powerhouse HP has recently entered with Stratasys to create the Designjet 3D printer. How do they compare? You might be surprised.
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How to Use a SpeedPak to Crank up Assembly Performance in SolidWorks

28 Apr, 2010 by Josh Mings in CAD

At the center of all that is possible within a SolidWorks assembly model sits the standard bearer of complicated surface geometry villainy… a component that won’t let the darn thing load.

Who knows what it is – CPU, OS, RAM, imported parts, geometry bunions or maybe a new user that patterned his name on every surface. Regardless, there are times when you need to load an assembly model, instead of watching it load and crash. There are a few things you can do. A SpeedPak is another.

SolidWorks SpeedPaks can alleviate the deep emotional abrasion of big-ass assembly modeling and make those assemblies perform more like you want them to. Here’s how to rock it.

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iPhone Freaks. Kick It Cool with Custom Laser-Etched Bamboo

28 Apr, 2010 by Josh Mings in DESIGN, ROCKIN'

You’re gonna kick yourself after you see this and think about the grove of bamboo and blood-thirsty, wild panda you just cleared out of your backyard. You so could have fashioned it into an iPhone case.

Not to worry, Ken Tomita and his wily gang of sustainable-minded makers have you covered. It’s Grove, an Oregon-based shop whippin’ out delectable design for iPhones with your favorite perennial grass. It slams a little bit o’ nature into an accessory market filled with plastic and flaking metal. What’s the coolest things about their product? You can customize the pulp out of it with your own super sweet graphic. Check it.

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SitePad. First 2D CAD on iPhone and iPad. Aiming at 3D.

27 Apr, 2010 by Josh Mings in NEWS

If you felt a rumble in the aether that ended up with a guy suddenly appearing in your face poking your eyeballs with a tablet computer, you’re probably not dreaming and you’re probably not holding back a good solid punch to his gut.

Neither is Timothy Barnard of Fresh Design Base, a Manchester, UK web design firm and creator of SitePAD. He created SitePAD (Pocket Aided Design) to “extend your office capabilities onsite” via your mobile device and provide a way to share the data through an online interface with your team members.

It’s not only the first CAD app on the iPhone and iPad, but is taking direct aim at developing a 3D version and defining what subscription-based CAD apps and touchscreen functionality will be like. We discussed the product with Tim and got the low-down on why he created it and how it helps in design.

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Friday Smackdown: Sliver Quiver

23 Apr, 2010 by Josh Mings in SMACKDOWN

We found out way, way too late… by  the time the splinters worked their way out, there were five more digging out of the ground, two at the door and seven disguised as… yes, as these links.

Alexander Preuss – You may think, oh some little art, but then you view his work and your face cramps up… massive.
1cup1coffee.com – Games. Free. Flash. Hundreds. I recommend Little Wheel.
Wrong – Wrong way infomercial montage… or this could possibly be the hour that follow after I wake up every morning.
The Raven – It would have been more believable it he was actually a raven… or if there were ravens at all.
Transparent Nissan 370Z – I tried making myself out of Perspex before. It was a horrible mess and it scared me when it started moving.
Rollercoaster Skates – I know what you’re thinking, but there’s a bit more than a torso left after Dirk is done risking his life with his idea.
8 year old on Ukulele – He puts all those 9 year old Ukulele players to shame… TO SHAME.

SolidWorks Subscription Service. Much to Be Desired…

20 Apr, 2010 by Josh Mings in CAD

So, the post about SolidWorks enforcing their long-standing policy of only granting service packs to the entitled on Subscription Service got some mild interest, boosted antacid sales and Devon’s Blog even interviewed the VP of Customer Services at SolidWorks, Rich Welch, about the matter.

I could pick apart the interview notes Devon took, but I’d bore myself to spasms. I could point at commercial seats sold and revenue numbers, lick my finger, point it and a raised eyebrow to the easterly winds of Concord and say confidently, if SolidWorks offered free service packs, we would sup at the dinner table and eat bon-bons off each others knuckles.

Instead, I’ll take a deep and serious look at the words Rich stated and reveal the gooey center of underlying truths deep within. He responded to a question about separating bug fixes, service packs, and enhancements. Here’s what he wanted to say, or at the very least should have said…

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Friday Smackdown: Baracuda Gouda

16 Apr, 2010 by Josh Mings in SMACKDOWN

I tell you now, it made my stomach churn. When we reversed the polarity, it’s face jiggled, and poof, a pile of suds. Then, we reversed it again and ya know what? Cheese… covered in these links.

Goro Fujita – The gallery of one of the best character animators ever. Plants, animals, robots… he does it all then smacks you with more.
Sprocket – I not only want to wear these electronic signs when biking, but also when I’m cooking or in a meeting. Thanks Nick!!
Alice for iPad – What is this? a book? Surely not! It is a book… the future of books, except with more distracting features.
Sleep is Death – It’s 8-bit, it’s two-player, the idea is phenomenal
Polynoid – Demo reel from Polynoid. This is not 3D CG, this is simply astounding 3D CG. Crank the volume.
Springclean your PC – This is pretty low-key, I use a high-pressure garden hose, a goat and fire to clean mine.
125 Maya and Studio Max Tutorials – This should keep you busy for a while. Lock the doors, put your favorite tune on repeat and enjoy.

More!
Skateboarding Animation – The safe way to skate? Wear a helmet… or cut out paper skateboarders for a video. Watch those scissors.
Master of all infographics – 100% of this infographic is 100% true.

Pod Babies! Run For You Life!… from the Worst Baby Design Ever. *Update*

15 Apr, 2010 by Josh Mings in DESIGN

You just know, when you see babies… in pods, nothing good can come of it. It either means baby alien mama’s are gonna hatch and eat your face or that someone had no idea what they were thinking for a design. This one happens to be the later.

Designed by Caterina Tiazzoldi, this structure of spherical sleeping containers would seem like a minimal shelving system for napping tikes. That is until the babies start removing themselves from the pods… unintentionally. Images of the ideal situation follow.

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