Cre@teOnline - The Web Designer's Bible CH04 Page 47
(like eyes) and wispy objects (like what's left of my hair) cause problems for
the laser scanner, so these elements were cleaned up or removed in the 3D
program. Because the video scan was created in tiny vertical increments as
my head was being scanned, it created an interesting wrap-around texture
map. The map was then applied to the mesh head, adjusted for scale and
position (a time-consuming process), and the resulting 3D CyberMark was
rendered.
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3D scan example:
(a) Medium-density mesh
generated by the scan-
ner, after clean-up.
(b) The very flattering
video image capture
performed at the same
time. (c) Rendering of
the mesh head.
(d) Rendering of the
mesh head with the
image map applied.
Spooky.
Although 3D scanning is clearly a good way to go if you're trying to pro-
duce an accurate model of a human head and/or body, it's also advanta-
geous for any complex character. Maquettes (small sculptures made of plas-
ter or Super Sculpty) can be created of just about any sort of character, then
scanned or digitized. This method was used to create the termites in the
Orkin pest control commercials, for example.
Mesh Libraries
Finally, as I mentioned briefly in the last chapter, there may be times when
modeling an object doesn't make sense from a time or budget standpoint.
In these cases, the alternative may be to buy a model from one of the stock
mesh providers such as Viewpoint, Zygote, or Acuris. These companies
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
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