Pattern Discovery in the Tile Print

Second Tile Print

The Matrix Revisited

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The Third Tile Attempt

In the previous model, I had achieved my goal of intersecting pieces creating a porous tile in which one may see different patterns at different angles as a result of the intersecting geometries. But ulitmately the model was too complex, I was having difficulty selecting different pieces and completely controlling the pattern.

As a result I decided to take a step back. Instead of layering my pattern on itself, I created a simple model that is just one layer of the original geometry. It still conveys the shape of the object and the intersections are apparent. Until I have the actual physical model, I am unsure whether it will achieve the same porous affect that I was initially intending for the piece.













These are some images of the new model/the piece that was printed, the patterns created within it as well as some different rendered views of the piece.




































This is an image of the bottom of the tile.

The Second Tile and the Patterns Within

Throughout this exploration I have tried to keep track of the different patterns created within the models themselves, whether this is in wireframe or by the overlap of shaded/rendered portions. Ultimately this model has become quite complex, and almost too difficult to work with. There are so many components that they are sometimes hard to select and specify, as well as the fact that the wireframe is becoming difficult to decipher. It is ultimately my intention to print this tile, but I may have to simplify the layers so it can still be understood.

The Second Tile: Process Images and Thoughts

These are process images of the final tile model, the pattern is currently twelve by six with four objects repeated below. This model does not quite fit the constraints for the 3d printed tile. Initially my intention with this model was a gradual progression downward so there would be a slight ripple and a decrease in the height of the tile, but to remain consistent with the pattern to surface transformation, I think I may keep a constant height.

The Second Tile: A new "building block"

Using the new object formed in Maya, I began the process of creating a piece that would be usable in the creation of a new tile piece. I brought the object into FormZ and attempted to add thickness. This time around, I scaled my object down to a size that would be appropriate for a 6" x 6" tile, then added the 1/8" thickness. In doing this I also simplified the model further, hoping to work with fewer lines but still having the same geometry. This image highlights the lines that I removed in FormZ. The lines contained within the gray area were completely deleted with the exception of the outer edge. By having fewer lines in the model I found it easier to create a paralleled surface and a solid object.













Although in the final model there was one piece that I had difficulty controlling resulting in a small triangulated portion on the bottom (highlighted in purple). This should not really effect the model as a whole, although it may weaken the corner in the printing process. Ultimately this model should be easier to work with an should allow the creation of a tile that remains true to the original pattern ideas .

The First Tile: what went right, what went wrong and how it can be improved...

Revisiting the tile model, I realized way in which I modeled the tile was actually the cause of my problems with the final product. The printed object was very flat, there was definition where the different pieces intersected, but the pattern itself was only conveyed in plan. This was ultimately due to the fact that instead of using my original model piece, I created a new building block like object. I differenced my panel piece from a block, resulting basically in a curved block with a flat back.













The red in the image highlights the original modeled piece. It is my intention to use just this piece to create my final tile. By scaling the original model prior to adding thickness to the surface, I hope to create as strong enough object. Ultimately I am hoping to create a tile that relates back to the silver/pink pattern image, where there is a slight wave across the top surface and the pattern intersects itself several times in the y direction, creating a piece that is porous where not one but several patterns can be seen.

Revisiting the Construction of the Original Object and Thoughts of a Second Tile

My first attempt at a tile, resulted in a successful printed piece, but it did not really convey my pattern or the original intention that I had behind the construction of my piece, pattern, or tile. The original object, the side panel of the car is a simple curved piece. I decided to revisit my original constructed piece in Maya to try and simplify the number of hulls/isoparms being used to create the object. I did this in hopes of having a similar object to my original, but a simplified object: one without as many isoparms/hulls, which appear to be what complicates the surface to object transformation. Unfortunately when I rebuilt the object, I ended up with basically the exact same object as my original.














From this point I decided to use this "new" object to create my tile. I am going to go about the tile creation in a different manner. The last tile was both a success and a failure. It did convey pattern from the top view, and if it was literally being used a tile the point was there. But my previous images, and explorations point to the necessity for a more 3 dimensional pattern, in that the tile should not be flat on the back, there should be a pattern seen from all sides of the tile. Different views of the original wireframe model result in different patterns, therefore there should be a way that this same visual experience could occur in a physical model.

The Tile Quest

This model took significantly longer then I expected. For anyone who is still trying to create the model, I found it easier to use the trim/split tool on you individual figure then create the tile through those pieces, allowing there to be a thickness to each piece of the pattern.

Final Patterns

These are the final pattern images of my FormZ model. The first image is from a side angle and by playing with transparency of the solid rendered image and wire frame overlays. This was an attempt to highlight the patterns created by the overlapping of shape in the wire frame, that created sharp, angular forms and the contrast of the wave pattern in the actual rendered surface.












This image is from the "plan" view of the model. The model itself steps down in a wave like pattern which is not seen in this image, but there is depth in the form that can be seen in the rendered model which is why I chose to include this view.















The model wave/step down is what is being highlighted in this final image, as well as the actual model piece in its triangulated form.

Pattern Exploration

These are some images I began to work with in the creation of the pattern/surface final. I worked with different colors attempting to highlight different pieces of the form. The model itself in wireframe has a regular pattern to it, yet when I rendered the object, it seems that some of the figures take on attributes of the original. I was not really sure how to fix this problem, but I decided to work with it and see if in the final the use of transparency would help to create a more defined compelling image.

The first two images relate back to the third image in the previous post, although I initially did not find this model to be the most compelling of the four, when I began to change the colors within the model this view allowed one to see the figure.

The first image is consistent with the colors of the original image, with the acception of the pink. This was an attempt to highlight the actual model piece, so that one could see what was actually being repeated in the model.























When I began to render the images I attempted to assign the same attributes to each piece of the model. For some reason some of the pieces took on other attributes, although this was not intentionally, ultimately the final image of silver "car hoods" with one highlighted in hot pink I believe actually created an image that explains the model quite well.

Patterns and Surfaces

I began my exploration of surface creation by modeling a pattern then looking at it from different angles. I found the first two images to be the most compelling of the four. Unfortunately these "patterns" are far more compelling in wireframe then in the actual rendered model versions. It was interesting to see that the same wireframe model could produce such drastically different patterns when viewed from different angles, but it was also disappointing to find that these images were not as compelling when seen as a solid object.