Julianna Yau’s blog

I finally found some time to listen to the Spark Interview with Adrian Bowyer on 3D printers, and am glad I did. Professor Bowyer was able to explain in simple terms the simple concept behind 3D printers.

I’m actually quite surprised that anyone would consider 3D printing to be science fiction. The mechanics of it are very basic, and with what industrial and commercial technologies is capable of doing, there’s little reason why a personal 3D printer can’t sit alongside a printer for 2D media.

While others may be concerned about the possibility of piracy due to the sudden affordability of this technology (explained by Professor Bowyer as being a result of the patent for this technology expiring), I’m much more taken by the positive possibilities which are available because of this technology.

I don’t see myself using this technology for my sculpture because my creativity works best when I’m working with my materials physically. However, I know there are many sculptors who design their sculptures digitally, and find ways to make those sculptures physical. With 3D printers (particularly when they are able to produce larger objects), these sculptors could make exact creations very easily. The creation of maquettes would also be made easier with a 3d printer. Aside from the concerns of the space necessary to store and operate a 3D printer (and sculptors already have issues with properly-sized studio space), a 3D printer could, as Professor Bowyer suggested, allow the artist to bypass the middleman.

Naturally, with the possibility of 3D printers and 3D scanners becoming regular consumer products, piracy will also be a possibility. Sculpture piracy is nothing new to the art world, and hopefully the visual arts community will be able to learn from the music industry and not make the same mistakes.