Sculpty Molding & Casting System: An inworld Sculpted Texture map editor.

I am starting this thread because the last one was a bit off kilter due to the choice of words in the title.

I have a set of working tools to allow one to create 'molds' of objects in world. And then use these molds to create 'castings' as sculpted texture maps.

Molding is NOT an exact science. It does NOT make 100% exact copies of items. It requires understanding and patience to use, like ANY modeling system. But it is quite easy and very flexible to use. If you can use the normal SL building tools, you can use the SculptO'Matic.

I am currently alpha testing the tools with a select group of avatars. If you would like to play a bit, and understand that these are alpha tools... Feel free to contact me.

The system works by starting with a visualization of a mesh. If you have the primitives to spare, you can rez up a mesh as big as you want to start with. 8x8 requires 70 prims. A 16x16 mesh is 260. A 32x32 is pushing closer to 1100. Those are just round numbers folks! The mesh is drawn as a sphere, and the nodes can change color to reflect their final RGB values based on XYZ postion from center of sphere.

The mesh forms the outside surface of the finished casting. Consider it a mesh that forms a positive mold. You can aid this process by using an object made from normal, nonsculpted primitives. The system will attempt to fit a mesh for molding around the normal object. Molds should be cleaned up by manipulating the mesh nodes until you are happy. Once the mold is complete, it can be saved. The save process is variant depending on the size of the starting mesh and sim performance.

Anytime a new mold is saved, the backend system will generate a finished sculpty from it. This can then be downloaded to your computer, and then uploaded to Second Life.

A mold may be either imported from notecard, or read directly from a Targa or BMP file on the server side. No, you cannot read the texture from an object in world. You must own a texture map, and have a copy of it OFF grid to read directly from an image! Saved work may be exported as an ASCII file for saving into a notecard. This way, you can work on a project and pass the notecard along to others so they can help.

Some examples are shown here of use. The more effort that is put into cleaning up the mesh, the better the results will be. There are many options to affect the automated mesh fitting to aid in smoothing, distribution of sample points, and edge detection.

In the examples you will find distant shots to show the affects of LOD on the finished castings. There are a couple shots of the tool fitting a mesh to an object. And some examples of finished pieces. And of course, how could a tool be complete without someone volunteering to stand in the middle of it?

Cheers
Anjin Meili

This looks really cool, Anjin! I love it when people build neat in-world tools like this.

I can see using this as a creation/sculpting tool as well. The grid of spheres in-world seems like it would provide enough visual feedback to create sculpted shapes from thin 'air'.

Or how about using it for measuring shapes and proportions in an existing build. Use the tool to rough out the shape of the object oyu need, then import and refine it in a regular 3D editor

Astounding, I had run through building such a device in my head but when I realised the number of points (sphere prims in this case) you'd need I decided it would be far too complex for my experiments.

I certainly like the idea of changing the prims colour to match the pixels rgb, very clever indeed.

Sculpted prims are wonderful, but current I can only see them being largely applied to decorative or avatar items.

I tried making a one prim flight of stairs but my AV don't seem to be able to climb the flight, its like theres some invisible wall around it (even though upon selecting, it shows none).

What you see in a sculptie is not what the server sees. The server only sees a sphere of the size that you have specified. So when you have a 10 x 10 x 10 sculptie, it is taking up the same bounding box that a 10 x 10 x 10 sphere does.

Ahhh now I know!

hehe yea, mmm if not for that, I guess even single prim homes or spiral staircases will be a reality!

For a staircase made with a sculpted prim you could add a second invisible prim on top to act as a physical ramp. Some people add this extra prim over the prim-built steps to allow avatars to walk more smoothly and not bounce or collide.

OMG LOL . That's my dad's avatar in their!

Yes Scott... Must admit, Daddy Hirons was the crazy volunteer who wanted to stand in the middle... Do give him a word of thanks Hopefully you are having fun mapping the teen grid!

Cheers
Anjin

Please note that the cloning of avatars has not been fully tested. Particles may run astray, and the lab mice are dead.* Just a warning, folks!


*not really - no RL testing of animals has been done. We may have lost an SL hippo or two, however!

This looks on 1st glance like it could be just what we need I will certainly be contacting you inworld

keep up the good work

Although sculpties have only been with us for a short time, they are already beginning to change the face of Second life in a big way. We're not just talking fruit. Sculpty hair, sculpty shoes... these things were merely the beginning.

Join us Saturday, June 30 for Sculpty Day. Time and location TBA early next week. If you have something cool you'd like to present, send me a private message by Monday, June 23 so scheduling and space can be arranged. Comments and suggestions are welcome.

Until next time, happy sculpting!

-Elzbiet Meili, Skyhighatry Designs

A new release of the SculptO'Matic is availible.

Fixed some mesh issues, added additional modifiers for wrapping an object with a mold.

TODO: Dialogs boxes, more response to operator as its running, fix file open functions.

Contact me inworld for a copy. The tools require a backend to create the final textures. For the beta program, we are currently providing this service and its fully integrated into the tool. All you need todo is provide a filename to save your work under, and then pick up the finished texture from the provided URL.

NOTE: The beta version runs with a 32x32 mesh only... This requires 1100 free prims to utilize. For those serious about helping us test and develop this tool, we have enough of a sandbox to run 3 or 4 tools at a time.

Cheers
Anjin Meili

I flew over your land the other day and wasnt sure what i was looking at...lol now i know. Count me in i would like to help test this!