Measurements and Their Relationship to CG - An Introduction to Computer Graphics for Artists - page 59

information when you see it. This will help regulate your appreciation for real-world
dimensions and improve the accuracy of any estimates you make.

4.3.1 Imported

If your reference drawing is made in a vector-based drawing program, there are
various ways to import the data into your application as curves. Be aware that curves
from a drawing program may not look as you expect them to. Depending on how
they were made, there may be a large number of overlapping curves, or an excessively
high level of curve resolution. The benefi t to working from vector-based curves is
that they are selectable, can be snapped to, can be used as-is for polygon generation,
and will always match your design drawing perfectly. The downside is that the
curves can be quite messy. Usually it is worth the effort to create new curves based
on the imported curves. An exception is curves used to defi ne text.
For text, imported vector curves are fairly economical, and can be very diffi cult
to accurately trace in a reasonable amount of time. For this reason, it is usually best
to use them as they are when imported.

4.4 Likeness

Any measurement error reduces the exactitude of a likeness, but not all errors are so
severe that they are noticed. The key to achieving a likeness is to retain all of the
salient dimensions without drawing attention to less important features. If the goal
is to exaggerate a subject without losing the likeness, as in a caricature, then the
exaggeration should consistently follow shape deformation rules so that viewers
can recognize the target through the fi lter of the exaggeration. In the example of a
caricature, the artist may not create formal rules to do this, but will adopt a working
method that results in a style that is the equivalent of a formal set of rules. Whether
formal or intuitive, if the exaggerations are consistent, the likeness will not be lost.
If inconsistent, it will be (Fig. 4.12 ).

4.5 Conclusion

When you build a 3D model, remember the importance of accurate dimensions
because they will to a large extent determine whether your object is credible to your
audience. Even if you want to exaggerate a dimension, you are starting from a real
dimension. If you are inventing a new object, you do so relative to known objects
with known dimensions. No matter how you decide to do it, when you make a
model, you are entering dimensions into your fi le. Most artists like to have control
of this, and all of the best artists can control it.