[Jewelry making - Article 00433] - Re: [Orchid] A paradigm shift: print on demand objects to sell

[JDK]

========[ Invite a Friend - http://www.ganoksin.com/invite.htm  ]========

    As Steve Adler rightly points out, production printing of jewelry
    designs is where the future is headed. The technology is constantly
    advancing and as patents on certain processes expire, costs will
    come down. In several years, perhaps even less, it won't be uncommon
    for custom design shops to have simple-to-use, 3D desktop printers. 

    Although the resolution is too grainy for jewelry, there's a printer
    going for $5K that is slated to go down in price to $1K in 5 yrs.
    http://www.engadget.com/tag/3dPrinter

    It's only a matter of time before we see affordable quality 3D
    jewelry printers. 

    By now, I'm used to gross misconceptions being promulgated about
    CAD/CAM, usually by those who's opinions are matched by their
    admitted lack of personal experience with the technology. 

    Those of us who do have some experience, don't all believe that CAD
    is "the answer" to every design question or that it can't be combined
    with traditional methods to create something that is greater than the
    sum of it's parts. If anything, I've gained a greater respect and
    appreciation for handmade jewelry, having worked with both methods. 

    The design options on the Pokono site (which was mentioned as the
    basis of this discussion) are limited to flat cookie cutter shapes,
    laser-cut and assembled. However, in the hands of the right artist,
    this general method; combined with forging, welding and applying
    patinas, is ANYTHING but limiting! 

    Case in point: Heath Satow, a frequent contributor to the Rhino
    Newsgroup. http://www.publicsculpture.com/portfolio01.html Although
    he's not a jeweler, I've learned a great deal about Rhino from
    Heath. 

    It's been said many times, but CAD is just a tool, albeit; a
    powerful tool that must be explored and mastered to produce anything
    of beauty and worth. And, it's easy to say that a lot of CAD jewelry
    is predictably commercial looking and uninspiring, but the method is
    truly only limited by one's experience and imagination. 

    Every once in a while I stumble upon a new technique that just blows
    me away, even though I'm using much of the same software I've used
    for years.. It's not hard to imagine that the next "wave" in CAD
    jewelry creation will feature very organic textures and treatments
    that completely break free from what has been heretofore commonly
    typified by the technology. 

Regards,
Jesse Kaufman
JDK Jewelry Design
www.jdkjewelry.com
http://jdkjewelry3d.blogspot.com
____________________________________________________________________
T h e   O r c h i d   L i s t
Open Electronic Forum for Jewelry Manufacturing Methods and Procedures
____________________________________________________________________
Orchid FAQ:
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/orchid/faq.htm
Orchid Archives:
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/orchid/archive
Orchid Galleries:
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/orchid/gallery.htm
Invite a Friend:
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/invite.htm
____________________________________________________________________
Tips From The Jeweler's Bench - Article Archive
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/borisat/tip_sear.htm
The Jeweler's Selected Bibliography List
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/jewelry-books
Buy Orchid Jewelry:
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/shop
____________________________________________________________________
-Unsubscribe:
-Email: orchid-request AT ganoksin.com Body=unsubscribe subject=blank
____________________________________________________________________