Graphics Reference
In-Depth Information
For a quick-and-dirty pedestal, open your
STL file in MeshMixer. Select the whole mesh
(Ctrl-A or Cmd-A), then select Edits→Plane
Cut to slice off the bottom. Select the bottom
face of the model and click Edits→Extrude. In
the Tool Properties bar on the right, set the
EndType to Flat. Then click and drag the Off-
set bar to extend your model, creating a sim-
ple pedestal that's perfectly flat. Click Accept
and save a new STL file.
To merge your head with a fancy pedestal,
start with a 123D mesh that's still open on
the bottom. Select the whole mesh, choose
Edit→Convert to Part, and click Accept. Look
at the Parts bar on the left: your head is now
a “part” you can merge with other parts. Now
import an STL file of a pedestal—I like the
pawn from Mark Durbin's
Column Chess
your head, then drag your head onto it to
merge the two. If it doesn't work the first
time, try Edit→Remesh. Save the result as a
new STL file.
You can do lots more with MeshMixer
(
Figure 7-7
). Put bunny ears on your head, or
stick octopus tentacles on it, or make your-
self a two-headed monster. Or put your head
on a Pez candy dispenser!
Figure 7-7.
Keithtopus
8. Share Your Model
(Optional)
When your model is done, click Publish to
Gallery. Now anyone can open it in a web
browser and play with it. (If you're using the
desktop version of 123D Catch, you can
make a video animation and send it straight
to YouTube.)
9. Save Your Final Model as
a Printable File (Optional)
To print your own head, you need a copy of
your 3D model in a format that 3D printers
can understand. Export your model from
123D Catch (or from MeshMixer) as an STL
file.
If you're sending your head out to be printed
by Autodesk, you can skip this step.
10. 3D Print Your Head!
We printed our heads on the Ultimaker in the
MAKE Labs, which we like because it's fast
and accurate—and because you can buy it
as a kit and build it yourself. We've also had
