The Art of Jewelry Creation: Transforming Line Designs into Extravagant Mesh Creations


I have shown this technique previously but I thought you would like to learn the importance of lines in jewelry design. This also applies to many other designs you might want to create for opensim.  This article highlights the designing that is important in creating your objects.


The world of jewelry design is a mesmerizing blend of artistry and craftsmanship. One unique approach that has gained prominence in recent times involves using line designs to create exquisite mesh jewelry pieces. This technique, which combines the precision of silhouette lines and the dimensionality of extrusion, has revolutionized the jewelry-making process, resulting in captivating and intricate designs that stand out in the world of adornments.


Figure 1 Red lines are the curves to extract




The Genesis of Line Designs


The foundation of this innovative technique lies in the concept of line designs. Artists and jewelry designers often begin by sketching or creating digital designs using lines that outline the desired shape and form of the jewelry piece. These lines serve as the blueprint for the final creation, determining the curves, angles, and overall aesthetic of the design.


From Silhouette Lines to Extrusion


Once the line design is established, the magic truly begins. The next step involves extracting the curves and contours from the initial design. This is where silhouette lines come into play. Silhouette lines are carefully chosen lines that define the most prominent curves and edges of the design. These lines encapsulate the essence of the piece, capturing its elegance and uniqueness.

Figure 2 Lines extracted



Extrusion is the transformative process that takes these silhouette lines to a whole new level. In the realm of 3D modeling and computer-aided design (CAD), extrusion refers to the technique of extending a 2D shape into the third dimension, creating a 3D object. In the context of jewelry design, extrusion brings depth, volume, and texture to the once-flat silhouette lines. The curves and contours that were initially confined to a 2D space now come alive, embodying a new dimension of artistic expression.


 

Figure 3 Lines extruded



Crafting Mesh Jewelry Masterpieces


As the silhouette lines are extruded, they evolve into intricate mesh structures. These meshes are like intricate webs, intricately woven together to form the foundation of the jewelry piece. The depth and volume achieved through extrusion enable the creation of pieces with stunning complexity and visual appeal.

Figure 3 Lines extruded and capped then Boolean differenced



Designers have the freedom to experiment with various extrusion techniques, manipulating the thickness, height, and direction of the extruded lines. This versatility allows for the creation of jewelry that ranges from delicate and understated to bold and avant-garde. The interplay between the original line design and the subsequent extrusion gives rise to a dynamic and captivating finished product.

Figure 4 Bending the design



The Fusion of Tradition and Innovation


The marriage of traditional jewelry design with modern technology is at the heart of this technique. Silhouette lines pay homage to the timeless artistry of jewelry creation, while extrusion adds a contemporary twist that captures the imagination of the modern world. The combination of hand-drawn or digitally crafted line designs with cutting-edge 3D modeling tools exemplifies the symbiosis of tradition and innovation in the jewelry-making process.

Figure 5 Adding chains and findings



Conclusion


In the realm of jewelry design, every piece tells a story, embodying the artist's vision, skill, and passion. The use of line designs and silhouette lines, coupled with the transformative power of extrusion, has breathed new life into this age-old craft. The resulting mesh jewelry pieces are more than mere adornments; they are wearable works of art that reflect the intricate dance between creativity and craftsmanship. As technology continues to advance and artistic boundaries expand, the technique of transforming line designs into mesh creations is poised to redefine the landscape of jewelry design for generations to come.

Blender Asset Browser

I have a new toy!  The Blender Asset Browser is hours of fun and exploration wow! With Blender 3.0 and higher you can now obtain assets and add to your asset browser. I have added great assets from the Blender Store:  https://blendermarket.com/categories/asset-libraries

Once added to your asset browser you have a library of assets much like the Blender Kit asset library only with this you are able to choose what assets you want to add the possibilities are endless.  It helps to quicken your workflow too.  See the image to the right? The selector on the far left of this panel click it then choose Asset Browser.  When you do the image below shows it open with all the assets.  Then you would simply drag and drop onto your Blender dashboard/desktop.

    https://docs.blender.org/manual/en/latest/files/asset_libraries/index.html

Monentes Love Locket

This Locket was created exclusively by Marianna Monentes using RhinoGold/MatrixGold software

Blender  is a powerful 3D modeling and animation software that is popular among artists and designers. One of the great features of Blender is its support for addons, which are small software tools that add extra functionality to the program. Addons can be used to streamline workflows, add new features, and automate tasks. One of my favorite addons is  Real Snow .

To add addons to Blender, you first need to download them from a reliable source. There are several websites where you can find addons, including the official Blender addon repository, GitHub, and Blender Market. Once you have downloaded an addon, follow these steps to install it in Blender:

  • Open Blender and go to the "Edit" menu at the top left of the screen.
  • Click on "Preferences" to open the Blender preferences window.
  • In the preferences window, click on the "Add-ons" tab.
  • Click on the "Install" button at the top right of the window.
  • Navigate to the location where you downloaded the addon and select the ZIP file.
  • Click on "Install Add-on" to install the addon.
  • Once the addon is installed, make sure the checkbox next to it is checked to enable it.

Now that you have added an addon to Blender, you can start using its features. There are many addons available for Blender, including:

  • BoolTools - a powerful boolean modeling tool that allows you to combine, subtract, and intersect meshes.
  • Hard Ops  - a toolset for hard surface modeling that includes a range of tools for cutting, beveling, and creating complex shapes.
  • Retopoflow  - a retopology tool that allows you to quickly and easily create clean, low-poly meshes from high-poly meshes.
  • Animation Nodes  - a visual programming addon that allows you to create complex animations and procedural effects using a node-based system.
  • Graswald  - a collection of tools and assets for creating realistic grass, plants, and ecosystems in Blender.
  • TextFX  - a text manipulation addon that allows you to create 3D text, apply advanced text effects, and import fonts.
  • MESHmachine  - a modeling addon that adds a range of tools for creating and manipulating meshes, including bevels, loops, and insets.

These are just a few examples of the many addons available for Blender. With the right addons, you can greatly improve your workflow and create more complex and detailed models and animations.

Clothing Addons




Here are two addon ideas that can enhance the functionality of Blender in the context of clothing design:


Cloth Simulation Addon: This addon would add advanced cloth simulation capabilities to Blender. It would allow users to create realistic simulations of fabrics, including wrinkles, folds, and draping. The addon would offer a wide range of customization options, such as control over fabric weight, stiffness, and gravity. Additionally, it would enable the user to create interactive simulations, where the cloth can be affected by external forces such as wind or collisions with other objects.


Virtual Clothing Addon: This addon would enable users to design and visualize virtual clothing in Blender. It would offer a library of pre-made garment patterns, including shirts, pants, dresses, and skirts, which can be customized to fit specific body types. The addon would also offer a set of tools for adjusting the clothing to different poses and animations. Additionally, it would allow users to apply different textures and materials to the clothing, such as denim, leather, or silk.


Both addons would be useful for fashion designers, game developers, and animators looking to create realistic and compelling clothing designs in Blender.


Here are a few Blender Clothing Addons that you might find useful:


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Blender Cloth Weaver: Blender Cloth Weaver is a Blender addon that allows users to create complex cloth patterns and simulate them in Blender. It offers a wide range of customization options, including the ability to adjust thread density, yarn thickness, and weave patterns. The addon also supports collision detection and wind simulation. You can find more information about Blender Cloth Weaver at the Blender Market:   https://blendermarket.com/products/cloth-weaver .


Garment Tool: Garment Tool is a Blender addon that offers a set of tools for creating and modifying virtual clothing in Blender. It comes with a library of pre-made garment patterns and a set of tools for adjusting the clothing to different body types and poses. The addon also supports simulation and animation of the clothing. You can learn more about Garment Tool at their website:  https://garmenttool.com/ .


Sewing Tools: Sewing Tools is a Blender addon that allows users to create and modify virtual clothing in Blender. It offers a range of tools for adding seams, stitches, and hems to clothing patterns. The addon also supports cloth simulation and animation. You can find more information about Sewing Tools at the Blender Market:  https://blendermarket.com/products/sewing-tools .


CG Cookie Flex Rig: CG Cookie Flex Rig is a Blender addon that offers a set of tools for creating and animating virtual clothing in Blender. It comes with a library of pre-made garment patterns and a set of tools for adjusting the clothing to different body types and poses. The addon also supports simulation and animation of the clothing. You can learn more about CG Cookie Flex Rig at their website:  https://cgcookie.com/downloads/flex-rig .

 

I have several different clothing addons that I love to use.   Garment Tool is one that I use often because of the Asset Library

Install Garment Tool: First, install Garment Tool addon in Blender. You can do this by downloading the addon from their website, installing it via the preferences window, and activating it.


Create a Base Mesh: Create a base mesh for the dress. This can be done using the basic shapes in Blender, such as a cube or a sphere. Make sure to adjust the size and proportions of the mesh to fit the body type that you are designing for.


Add Seams: Use the Garment Tool's Seam Tool to add seams to the base mesh. Seams are important for creating realistic folds and drape in the dress. You can use the Seam Tool to draw seams on the mesh and adjust their position and length.


Create Patterns: Use the Garment Tool's Pattern Tool to create patterns for the dress. The Pattern Tool allows you to create various shapes for the dress, such as the bodice, skirt, and sleeves. You can adjust the patterns by dragging the vertices of the mesh or using the transform tools.


Edit Patterns: Use the Edit Pattern tool to refine the patterns of the dress. You can use this tool to adjust the position of vertices, add or remove edges, or smooth out the mesh. This is an important step for creating a more realistic and accurate dress.


Simulate Cloth: Use the Garment Tool's Cloth Simulate tool to simulate the dress. This tool allows you to simulate the cloth physics of the dress, such as gravity and wind. You can adjust the settings of the simulation, such as the cloth weight, stiffness, and wind force.


Export the Dress: Once you are happy with the dress, export it as an OBJ or FBX file for use in other software or to be 3D printed.


Here is why I love the Garment Tool Asset Library:

The Garment Tool Blender addon comes with an Asset Library that provides a collection of pre-made patterns, textures, and meshes that you can use to create clothing designs in Blender. The Asset Library can save you time and effort by providing you with a starting point for your clothing designs.  


The Asset Library in Garment Tool is organized into several categories, such as Tops, Bottoms, Dresses, and Accessories. Each category contains a variety of pre-made garment patterns that you can use as a base for your clothing designs. For example, the Tops category might contain patterns for t-shirts, blouses, and tank tops.


In addition to patterns, the Asset Library also includes pre-made meshes and textures. These can be used to add details and textures to your clothing designs. For example, the Accessories category might contain pre-made meshes for buttons, zippers, and pockets.


To use the Asset Library, simply open the Garment Tool panel in Blender and navigate to the Asset Library tab. From there, you can browse the categories and select the pattern, mesh, or texture that you want to use. Once you have selected an asset, you can apply it to your clothing design and customize it as needed.

The Asset Library in Garment Tool can be a useful resource for fashion designers, game developers, and animators who are looking to create realistic and compelling clothing designs in Blender. By using the pre-made assets provided in the library, you can save time and focus on the creative aspects of your design.

But how do you add the Assets to Blender you might be asking?

In Blender 3.0, you can add addon assets to the file path to add them to Blender's Asset Browser by following these steps:


Install the Addon: First, make sure that you have installed the addon that contains the assets you want to add in Blender. You can do this by downloading the addon from the website and installing it through Blender's preferences window.


Locate the Addon Assets: Find the folder where the addon assets are stored on your computer. For many addons, this will be in the addon installation folder, often located in the Blender addons folder.


Add the File Path to Blender's Asset Browser: In Blender, go to the Preferences window, then navigate to the File Paths tab. Under the File Paths tab, locate the "Asset Libraries" section and click on the plus icon to add a new path. In the path field, enter the full path to the folder containing the addon assets. Make sure to click on the checkbox next to the path to enable it.

Refresh the Asset Browser: After adding the file path to the Asset Browser, you may need to refresh the browser by clicking on the refresh button in the top-right corner.


Locate the Addon Assets: Navigate to the folder containing the addon assets in the Asset Browser. The assets should now be visible in the Asset Browser and ready to use in your projects.


That's it! By following these steps, you can add addon assets to the file path in Blender 3.0 and make them available in the Asset Browser for use in your projects.


For those who have never tried Blender Software or the Blender Software Addons, it is not as hard as it may seem.                                      When it comes to 3D apps, it's not so much "which one is better". It's more "how are they complementary".

Jeweled Wand by Fred Beckhusen

So many great particle effects you can add. 

Learn the Gif2SL Tool

The Gif2SL tool is an incredibly useful tool for those creating animations in Opensim. It allows users to easily and quickly convert GIFs into animations that can be used in Opensim. This is a great way to bring new and dynamic content to Opensim. The Gif2SL tool is incredibly user-friendly and can be used even by those who are new to animation. The tool allows you to take an existing GIF and quickly convert it into an animation that is compatible with Opensim. Additionally, you can use the tool to create your own custom animations, making it an incredibly powerful tool. 


You can download the Gif2SL tool from Fred Beckhusen's site  Outworldz 

When you save your Gif2SL to your PC keep note of the folder where it is saved as this is where all the created gifs will save.  The Gif2SL folder.  In chatting with people who have tried this tool the first question is always, where did my outputted file go?

Once you learn how to create the gifs for use in Opensim you will need the Gif Animation script which can be found on Fred's site too. 


Now your question might be, where do I find the gifs to use?  The website  Giphy  is one place you might find gif files.  I have been using an app for a few years now that I am totally impressed with it is called Canva You can have a free subscription or go pro, my suggestion is to go pro because the resources are endless here.  One of their resources that I love to use is the gif files and they also have a tab for Giphy too so that you can create the files right at Canva, it is superb!  I found this Gif to use for a sign  Gyazo  

 I love making animated fish, look for fish gifs!!  Gif Fish


When you want to create something google the idea to see what all comes up, think of what it is you are wanting to achieve the resources are all here if we just look.