3D Printing from an artist’s point of view
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.
Tags: art, technologyRelated posts
By Julianna Yau
On November 10, 2007
At 8:29 am
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Re: “hopefully the visual arts community will be able to learn from the music industry and not make the same mistakes.”
I am curious: do you see a scenario where visual art becomes mass produced, and the manufacturers become dominant in that industry? Is this already happening, invisible to outsiders like myself?
I guess I don’t see the problems in the music industry as being between some unified “the industry” and music fans, but between musicians (composers and performers) vs the old-economy record labels. Now that the technology to record, edit and distribute recorded music is so cheap, the specialized bankers known as recording labels who paid the historically high capital costs are no longer necessary. These labels aren’t fighting against “piracy” as they claim to politicians, but fighting against progress.
If visual artists are able to ensure that they remain in control of any visual arts industry, and keep temporary middle-men as the “hired help”, then they will avoid the current problems in the music industry.
Re: “do you see a scenario where visual art becomes mass produced, and the manufacturers become dominant in that industry? Is this already happening, invisible to outsiders like myself?”
To my knowledge, there isn’t much visual art which is currently being mass produced, and I doubt many artists will go that route. For most artists (and collectors), the “one of a kind” nature of a piece of work adds to its value (both monetary and cultural). Some artists create limited editions to find a balance between the cost of creating the work, the price of the work and the value of it. 3D printers could potentially bring down the price of single works and limited edition works, and either lower art prices or (gasp!) provide sculptors with slightly more income. Currently, sculptors who work in bronze and similar materials need to create a clay model, then a mold, then the finished piece. A 3D printer, coupled with a 3D scanner, could make the mold unnecessary. If the sculptor designs the work on their computer, the physical model would not be necessary either.
Of course, I’m assuming it’ll be a while yet before 3D printers and scanners are able to handle the level of detail in some sculptors’ work.