Think Artistically; Think Photographically

The final topic in this document does not deal with the specific technologies of the I-DEAS display model, but suggests that more artistic or photographic thought processes should be employed when creating a display with I-DEAS. All of the above are technological considerations in using I-DEAS to create a pleasing picture. The one thing that is often overlooked and can have dramatic impact on the display is the background of the display. There is available from I-DEAS the ability to set a background color other than black, however, that still creates a flat, nondescript background. Consider again, the sphere with the blocks

Is this the way any self-respecting photographer would photograph it if it represented a product to be presented in an advertisement? Look at the photographs in advertisements in magazines and notice that the background is often as important as the product in making the product standout and appear dramatic.

There are several simple things that can be done to create backgrounds which add drama to the presentation of the shaded image of a product. The nice thing about these "simple things" is that they can be captured in a picture file and used as "standard" backdrops for any image that you choose to create. Consider the following geometry of a cylinder:

Now play with it. In the following it was made a shade of blue that is 5% blue, 0% red and 0% green. It was modified to have Radiant Light = 0%, Diffuse Light = 50%, Brightness = 50%, Glossiness = 10%. It was positioned so that it was zoomed in tight with the center axis of the cylinder either across the top of the viewport, across the bottom of the viewport or diagonally through the viewport. It was lighted with a blue light positioned at the eye of the observer. The following "back drops" were created and placed in picture files:

Display any one of these picture files, turn the display erase switch off (type in "ER OF"; turn it back on with "ER ON") and then display the picture of your choice as follows:

Even "a product" as simple as this is enhanced by this easy-to-make background. And once created, it can be employed as often as desired. Change the color of the light source for another dramatic background.

Or put "stars" in the "sky":

Or create a sphere and position it a couple of different places in the viewport and shade it.

Use these as a backdrop.

These are not intended to be all-encompassing examples of creativity. They are just intended to make you think and to stimulate your own creativity. Again, look at magazine ads and see how the products are presented; their lighting, their environment, their position in the environment. Sometimes "small things" make "big statements". Duplicating them in I-DEAS is sometimes very simple. And creating picture files of "standard backdrops" can be very useful for that quick "punch" to a shaded image display.

Happy Display Making!