Some thoughts I had the past weeks

[kaytermarram]

I am playing around since months with the idea to get me ZBrush and start sculpting digitally to enhance my figures even more and add details not possible to sculpt the usual way. After seeing this here

www.planetfigure.com/threads/schwabenland-army-for-maim.71825/

this thoughts became even more complex. OK, a 3D printer in the quality needed to print is a little bit expensive at the moment, but I guess, in 2 or 3 years they will be available under Euro 1000 and it would be possible to get one.

The quality of the shown stuff amazes me a lot and I think, sculpting the normal way will be an endangered species so to say. Imagine an Alien sculpted digitally and printed out, in 1:72 which should be no real problem. The detail will be even sharper and MORE than done the traditional way. Heck, just when I thought I have mastered sculpting the way I like there is so much news on the block...

It is a little bit sad, but I have seen figure prints done from scanned living peoples in 1:48 in a quality not possible achieving with sculpting.  This was the most unbelievable stuff I have ever seen in modeling... Ah, what is sad? The art factor will go away I feel. OK, mastering a program like ZBrush or similar stuff needs mastering, too, but somehow the "feel" gets lost.

I would like to read and see what you guys and gals (BJ, what is your opinion?) think about it. Do you think the traditional ways of modeling and sculpting will be going the coming years??

Frank

[afvfan]

Ah, the marvel's of advancing technology. Like comparing LPs to CDs, the newer, easier to use, tech will attract the majority of users, but you'll always have proponents on both sides of the fence.

[nicusi]

Hi Frank

I had to say that I have the same discussion with my friends. It's somehow the same problems with books. Digitization will make more rapid and cheap the acces to the information, but the edited book, the pleasure to touch it, to hold in your hands and read on your chair, armchair etc, can't be felt in a digital way.
What is making me a little reticentin case of figurines is a standardization of the process. It's like in case of katana, everybody wants a Japanese sword, but only masters make Swords. Is more there, in a such project, more heart, a personal touch, mark that a very technical release I'm not sure could offer. In the future I think the two ways of making figurines will live together. Those with enough imagination and good managers of their affair will have sucess with excellent quality figurines new series. But also the sculptors will be better and better: maybe not too many, but with an increase of the price for their products.
We'll gonna see!
Nicolae

[kaytermarram]

I have seen 1:72 figures from life scans of persons wearing the uniforms and they are unbeatable. But I remember the LiveResin figures. They explode from details but are in my eyes really unrealistic in pose and stance, they do not look natural. I really "hope" this will be with the printed figures too, on the other hand I think stuff is possible never seen before. And a Katana, hey, I have done Kendo in my past and would really love to hold such a masterpiece, but export from Japan is strictly forbidden and Katanas made here are not real Katanas, so simple it is. I have a full thang remake of a sword but I think, this is no comparison to a real made sword by a swordmaker.

I hope, all coming figures will have the heart and soul as many of my elder figures have and, combined with the new production values, are as good as they can be. As you said, we will gonna see!

Frank

[nicusi]

Well Frank, look a these 3D HD Print process fresh exemples:
www.planetfigure.com/threads/lord-lovat-master.72139/
It seems we are gonna to pass into another level of our hobby history.
Can't wait to get one and try it with my brushes to see the result!
Nicolae

[kaytermarram]

Yeah, Nic, thanks Planetfigure, such stuff gets the attention it deserves. It is sheer unbelievable what they can do and I am just wondering, if I would be able to sculpt Monsters with such incredible surface detail on the skin or so. Great beyond belief!

Frank