This is part of the decoration on an old picture frame that I want to repair.
As the subject line says, how could I model it in Moi ?
Gaston

Hi Gaston, MoI is not really the best choice to model something like that.

Something like ArtCAM which is focused more exclusively on modeling relief type shapes would likely be a better tool for that job.

Also one other tool which can be good for this is called ZSurf, there are some previous threads on it here:
http://moi3d.com/forum/index.php?webtag=MOI&msg=602.7
http://moi3d.com/forum/index.php?webtag=MOI&msg=863.2
http://moi3d.com/forum/index.php?webtag=MOI&msg=636.1

ZSurf takes in a bitmap that has different shades of gray in it, and will produce a kind of "height field" from that where the resulting surface has different levels in it depending on the brightness of the dot in the bitmap at that location.

ZSurf will generate an .igs file which you can then read into MoI, and it is available as a free download.



The other possibility is to try and construct different individual features within that shape, for example to make a kind of raised scroll you could model it with a sweep as described in this post:
http://moi3d.com/forum/index.php?webtag=MOI&msg=768.2

However, it tends to be rather difficult to get the kind of fully melted together shape with that method.


You also may have better luck with this kind of thing in a sub-d modeling program (for example Silo or Modo) which has a pretty good method for making things that are kind of melted together in all directions.


MoI's toolset is rather more focused on a more kind of "distinct" shape rather than these kinds of things.


- Michael

Hello Gaston,

If your goal is to restore the original appearance of the frame, it would be more accurate to use traditional molding techniques instead of trying to model it in 3D.
Here is a link (it's in French) that describes the basic operations and needed materials :

http://www.pascalrosier.com/conseil/exemples/cadre/cadre.htm

Like Michael said, it's kind of hard to model these things with MoI, specially when they are altered by time or aging processes.

There may be an interesting link demonstrating how to achieve a Corinthian column with Form-Z.
Some of the techniques shown are quite similar to what you would do in MoI (ex. using sweep to draw a leave ).
And it's not to far from some types of ornaments found on frames.

http://formz.com/downloads/video/video.php?action=small&id=37

Good luck with your project,

-Michel

Thanks Michael and Vinc. Great hints
Gaston

I have restore several old photo frames using Plaster of Paris and a knitting needle as my sculpting tool.
Tom