Introduction: White House Ornament
An ornament for the White House 3D printed ornament contest. Using some basic shapes and texturing, you could have a 3D printed ornament of the Commander in Chief watching over you on your tree, and hopefully in his tree as well!
Step 1: Basic Shapes.
I used KeyCreator to make my basic shapes, but you could use almost any software. The main components are a sphere for the bulb, and a torus for the loop at the top so you can add an ornament hook. Now you have all you need to make your ornament. I did a few extra steps to mine. Like cut the ball in half, shelled it to 3mm, added a small hole to the front, and added a security camera in the back.
Step 2: Texture
Now you just need to texture your bulb. You can do this with many different software, but I used Blender. You can use complex texturing techniques, but when it's on the tree you can only see one half the bulb, so I'll tell you how to texture half of it. So open your file in Blender. Right click the bulb and switch to edit mode. View the bulb from the front (not necessarily front view, which ever view shows your bulb from what you see as the front). Type U and click Project from view (bounds). Switch your view to UV Image editor. You'll see a wireframe circle of your bulb. Click Image>Open Image. Select the image you want for your bulb. Switch back to 3D view, and switch back to object mode. Now export your bulb and loop as an x3D file. Zip your x3D file, and the texture file together. Upload your file to a 3D printing service like Shapeways, and you'll be ready to print your full color bulb in Full Color Sandstone, or any other full color material!
Step 3: Order Mine!
If you'd like to order my ornament today, here's the link http://shpws.me/wEU5
Participated in the
3D Printed Ornament Design Challenge
30 Comments
8 years ago on Introduction
A 3D printer will not be able to put the image on the sphere.
Reply 8 years ago on Introduction
If you go to the last step, I tell you where you can print it. Zcorp makes full color printers. I believe eos does, and hp should have there's available in the next few years.
Reply 8 years ago on Introduction
No, color 3D printers will only print solid geometry in color. For example, you can print different pieces of an assembly in different colors. It will NOT print a photograph on the surface of an object.
Reply 8 years ago on Introduction
For most printers, you are correct. There is full color plastic by EOS https://www.shapeways.com/materials/full-color-plastic Full color sandstone by zcorp https://www.shapeways.com/materials/full-color-sandstone, and soon to be another full color plastic by HP https://www.shapeways.com/blog/archives/18541-shapeways-is-an-early-customer-of-the-new-hp-3d-printer.html. As they are printing they use ink jet heads to color the material. I have several of these full color pieces myself. Like this piece I created as a tribute for a fallen soldier https://www.shapeways.com/blog/archives/2567-a-3d-printed-tribute-to-one-soldiers-bravery.html
Reply 8 years ago on Introduction
Sorry, but the rules of the 3D Printed Ornament Design Challenge specifically state that the entry must include the .stl file to create the ornament. While you have included two different .stl files, neither one of them includes the graphic, as graphics are simply not supported by this file type. Your x3D file might produce the desired results, but it is not within the scope of the challenge, and therefore needs to be withdrawn or disqualified. What you are making is effectively a photo ornament, which are available through Walmart.
Reply 8 years ago on Introduction
You are wrong about STL file format not being able to support graphics. See this post of mine in a forum where I explain it and provide proof in the form of an actual color STL, which can be downloaded and observed in Meshlab or other software that can import color STL file format.
https://www.shapeways.com/forum/index.php?t=msg&go...
Look into the history of the first color 3D printers and the file formats that were being used for that.
Reply 8 years ago on Introduction
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/STL_(file_format)
"STL files describe only the surface geometry of a three-dimensional object without any representation of color, texture or other common CAD model attributes."
Reply 8 years ago on Introduction
Did you not download my color STL file and take a look at it? :) The Wiki entery needs to be corrected.
Reply 8 years ago on Introduction
Not only did I download it, but I tried opening it up in Catia, Pro/ENGINEER, Creo, Solidworks and Preform. They ALL said that it was an invalid file, and would not open. Thanks for wasting everyone's time.
Reply 8 years ago on Introduction
Sorry for your lost time, but I did provide instructions on how to view the file. :)
Reply 8 years ago on Introduction
James, your own post states, "Regardless, it's a moot point since I double checked and Shapeways no longer handles color STL format."
Besides that, the author still has not met the conditions of the challenge: "All entrants must create an Instructable project for their ornament, include the .stl file, documentation provided in association with the submission pertaining to assembly, instructions, etc. and use the 3D object viewer to show a 360-degree mock-up of their design (hereinafter, the “Submission”)."
You can continue to argue with me about photographic images in .stl files all you want, but it will not change the fact that the author's submission is incomplete, and impossible for viewers to print as illustrated.
Reply 8 years ago on Introduction
Then don't vote for it :-)
I've already told the mod that it would not hurt my feelings if it was removed from the contest if it didn't match up to what they want.
Reply 8 years ago on Introduction
Its not a matter of me voting for it or not. It is impossible to use your .stl file to create the ornament you have illustrated, and are submitting to the challenge. Here is what your .stl file will produce:
Reply 8 years ago
That's what I get to. I thought the ornament contest was set up so that we could download the stl files to print them. I have a printrbot and don't see any way of making this ornament. Hopefully, no one votes for it.
Reply 8 years ago
I thought instructibles was to show you how to make your own. It's a sphere and a torus. You won't be able to print a texture on your printrbot. You could download the zip and convert the x3d to stl to print a textureless version of my ornament.
Reply 8 years ago on Introduction
Overall, yes, instructables is supposed to teach people how to make the projects. However, the 3D Printed Ornament Challenge is supposed to include the STL file needed to create the ornament you are submitting to the challenge. Hopefully the judges are familiar with Bait and Switch.
Reply 8 years ago on Introduction
I was simply pointing to the correct data about color STL format. I didn't mention anything else. :)
8 years ago on Introduction
C'mon dude. UR embarrassing yourself. Just withdraw from the contest, and maybe they'll shut up.
8 years ago on Introduction
I'm confused. I downloaded the .stl file, but it isn't a ball like you show in Step 1.
Reply 8 years ago on Introduction
The stl file should be my half hollow sphere with a whole in the center.