The Digital Sculptural Enlargement Process used by Blue Genie Art Industries

The Digital Sculptural Enlargement Process

This series of photographs takes you through a job we did for a local city library. We digitally enlarged an ordinary book to 2.5' x 4'. It also explains the steps we take during our digital sculptural enlargement process.

Digital Sculptural Enlargement Process — Scanning

Digital Sculptural Enlargement Process — the Scan

Step 1. An object or maquette (in this case a book) is placed in the digital scanner. The object's contours are captured by the laser and translated into digital data. Scanning can be done rotationally (4 axis) or in relief (3 axis). In this case the scanning was done in relief.

Step 2. The scanned data is translated into a 3D image file which allows it to be scaled and manipulated by sophisticated 3D modeling software. For larger scale-ups the object is cut into smaller slices for milling.

Digital Sculptural Enlargement Process — the EPS Block

Digital Sculptural Enlargement Process — Milling

Step 3. The finished data file is toolpathed and milling parameters are set. The resulting data file is sent to the CNC mill for cutting. The amount of detail desired is determined by the bit size and millpath.

Step 4. The CNC mill goes to work removing material from a solid block of foam, wood or plastic. What is left behind is an accurate three dimensional reproduction of the scanned object ready for finishing.

Step 5. Once the milling is done, the resulting form is ready for assembly and finishing. (In this case we then sprayed the book with our Polyurea hard-coat, painted the illustrations with sign enamel and added LED light "neon" around the edges.)