Thread: Making Scale Designs On The Computer

Now you should make those scales in 3D and send me the files so I can print them out.

That would be fun to try, but the only 3D program that I currently have access to (Blender) does not support export in either of the formats you listed in your thread.

WOW that's really cool. I tried to download the vector program however it will only work with Mac Leopard not OSX. I will try doing this on Illustrator.
I would love to be able to create scales and have repeatable format for them as well as saving them in the computer.

Great thread! I use pretty much the same method, but I've been too lazy to make a thread.

If you don't mind I'd like to add an optional step.

Once I have the shape that I like, I like to see how different materials would look on a particular blade before I get started on the actual scales.
If you look around online it's easy to find stock photos of nearly every type of wood. Then select outline of the shape layer of the scales, then copy/paste. Then go into blending options and add bevel/emboss and contour.

Here are a few quick and dirty examples using your blade and shape. Usually I would play with pinning options as well at this point, but this is just a quickie :|
Amboyna burl, Bocote and bloodwood;

I use a similar method. I first photograph the razor with a ruler, then I'll work on a design with illustrator and print the outline in the right scale.

Here's an example:

Big Bubba;

That is a good idea for visualization! I skip that 'visualization' step since I usually already have my chosen scale material in hand, but, yeah, great idea!

Commiecat;

My god, you are right... and I've always been lookin' right past it. Oh stupid me. If I find some time I can start playing around with some simple forms in Blender and see if I end up with something good enough for a try-out.

Piet;

Yes, that is also a very useful approach.

Very nice walkthrough! I have thought about using the a program (specifically the Gimp) to experiment with different scale designs, but have not had any time to get to it. I really like the amount of detail that you have given and the step by step images. Also, the idea of using images of different scale materials is great and really helps to visualize what the final product would look like.


Thanks so much for posing this!

Zac

Originally Posted by ignatz

That would be fun to try, but the only 3D program that I currently have access to (Blender) does not support export in either of the formats you listed in your thread.

Quite the contrary! Blender's features page lists STL support and there's a screenshot of the export options (fourth export option down):



I say this because I desperately want to try it but no pressure if you're not interested.