High Quality Reliefs from 3D Models

Reliefs are a form of sculpture in which objects or figures are elevated from a background but remain attached to it. They have been used by artists throughout history to decorate buildings, embellish art objects, or make coins and cameos. Low or "bas" reliefs are those in which there are no "undercuts"—areas behind the items in the foreground which would be in shadow if light was directed at them straight on. This makes it possible to reproduce them easily using molds or dies, since there's nothing to impede a rigid casting or impression from releasing cleanly and lifting out.

Relief Maker is an exciting new program from the makers of Alibre, the popular independently-owned parametric modeling application. It’s dedicated to a single function—turning 3D models into low reliefs that can be carved on CNC machines or 3D-printed for use in signage, jewelry, furniture, architecture, sculptural plaques, foundry patterns, embossing dies, or anything else that would benefit from textural ornamentation. It allows users to freely scale, position and overlap multiple models with high polygon counts to produce compositions of great complexity without sacrificing detail or bogging down their computers with data. Since it’s so easy to learn, they can avoid having to contend with a steep learning curve, and start using it right away. While there are many programs that can make reliefs from flat gray-scale images using a heightfield algorithm to send light pixels high and dark ones low (like DeskProto, for example), this is the first to utilize 3D models instead, avoiding many of the artifacts and other shortcomings of the 2D-to-3D approach and achieving superior results.

This program is simple to use, but extremely powerful and robust in its functionality. With Relief Maker, one can utilize models constructed in CAD or mesh modeling programs, produced by 3D scanners [see Miraco page], or downloaded from online data repositories, combining them into a seamless whole. The reliefs it produces have no undercuts, and by default have 5% draft on all edges, making them easy to remove from molds. The amount of elevation from the surface is easily controlled, and can even be reversed, allowing users to create molds or seals directly. For people who have just purchased a 3D printer or CNC machine, it’s the missing link that allows them to create their own unique content and utilize their new tools to generate products without having to master a lot of complicated software. For experienced users of digital tools, it makes short work of what can be an arduous and expensive process, allowing them to concentrate on their creativity instead of their technology. We believe Relief Maker has a lot to offer those seeking to add sculptural interest to the things they make, so we’re offering it at a discount, just to make the purchase decision a little easier. Buy it at the Relief Maker website or download the free trial.

Manufacturer: Relief Maker