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This is a slightly absurd little project that may appeal to gift wrappers with mild obsessive-compulsive tendencies. You know who you are.
I'm going to quickly talk through how to make your own exquisitely customized gift box for an unusually shaped gift, using the 3D modeling software Blender and a preview version* of 123D Make. No more tape. No more bulges. No more unsightly wrinkles in the wrapping paper. Ugh, just thinking about it makes me shudder.
Ahem. Let's get started, shall we?
*Please note that at the time of writing, the publicly available version of 123D Make does not include the paneling feature that will be used in this Instructable. However, it is scheduled to be included in an update within the next month or two.
I'm going to quickly talk through how to make your own exquisitely customized gift box for an unusually shaped gift, using the 3D modeling software Blender and a preview version* of 123D Make. No more tape. No more bulges. No more unsightly wrinkles in the wrapping paper. Ugh, just thinking about it makes me shudder.
Ahem. Let's get started, shall we?
*Please note that at the time of writing, the publicly available version of 123D Make does not include the paneling feature that will be used in this Instructable. However, it is scheduled to be included in an update within the next month or two.
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Signing UpStep 1Convert your gift into a 3D model
I'm not going to lie to you: this first step is probably going to be the hardest. You're going to have to make a 3D computer model of whatever gift you're planning to wrap.
If you're completely comfortable with using 3D modeling software and you're wrapping a relatively simple shape (a cube, for example), this will be very straightforward. If you've got something a little more complex in mind, you'll have to get out a tape measure and try to design a rough approximation of your gift in 3D. Sorry. I warned you it was going to be hard.
I'm not going to go into much detail for this step because (a) there are far better resources out there for learning how to model in 3D, (b) I don't know what you're planning to wrap and (c) I'm really not that experienced, so you'd probably be better off listening to someone who knows exactly what they're talking about.
However, I can offer two fantastic shortcuts for creating a 3D model of your gift...
If you're completely comfortable with using 3D modeling software and you're wrapping a relatively simple shape (a cube, for example), this will be very straightforward. If you've got something a little more complex in mind, you'll have to get out a tape measure and try to design a rough approximation of your gift in 3D. Sorry. I warned you it was going to be hard.
I'm not going to go into much detail for this step because (a) there are far better resources out there for learning how to model in 3D, (b) I don't know what you're planning to wrap and (c) I'm really not that experienced, so you'd probably be better off listening to someone who knows exactly what they're talking about.
However, I can offer two fantastic shortcuts for creating a 3D model of your gift...
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You are driving me crazy with envy! I want to use 123D make. I'm all set drawings ready to start the btest build iterations, but I can't use 123D Make on my PC and even if I could your pre-release version has features I couldn't access anyway. I only have access to the online version witch I don't want to downplay too much, it is stupendus, but I'm unable to load my STL files (may be a personal problem).
Your projects are beautiful, but your blog is frustrating as your methods are just out of my reach. But dont stop. I'll learn to live with the pain until 123 Make is PC ready with all the glorious functions you have used.
Looking forward to more great ibles from you!