Pandora 3D Remeshing

[blackpixel]

This is my first post here and I'm not really used to forums anyway, so err...... hi all ?

*cough*

I've downloaded the STLs of the pandora a long time ago and finallly had a couple of hours to work on them.

So the STLs are pretty much the usual screwup you get when you go from nurbs / volumes to polygons.
No real topology, open edges, double faces etc. sudivision? forget it ^^
And you also need get rid of those perfect sharp edges to get some nice highlights.

Soooo I started to do a complete remesh / retopo to get a decent model for rendering.. MUAHAHAHA!!

Right now I'm done with the stylus and the back of the top part.
I try to get rid of unnecessary polys without sacrificing any detail aaaand maintain a subdividable topology.
It's not final yet and I know I can go lower with the polycount.
..especially the stylus - but this was the first test and I'll reduce it when Im done with the whole thingy ^^

so if anyone's interested I would gladly share the files when I'm done.

I'm working in 3dsmax 2k8, but I can spit our anything from obj to fbx

Here's the progress so far:

The top part:




And the stylus:




I think I'll be done some time next week, coz I'm not home this weekend.

cheers
pix

 

[lulzfish]

Actually, OpenPandora took down the STLs later, so it might be illegal for you to distribute meshes based on them.

 

[dflemstr]

I don't think it's illegal to distribute them, since:

• The models are a derived work based upon machine generated and artificially destroyed meshes, and they can therefore be seen as constructivistic collages (thus pieces of art) based upon trash
• The models were acquired under a license that basically said "You're free to use these for anything except making copies of the Pandora case", and since there wasn't some kind of EULA or binding contract when the work was downloaded that included a paragraph that said "We reserve the right to change the copyright conditions at any time", then the license holds that was used when the work was acquired.
• The models are probably changed so much by now that hey are completely unusable for making copies of the Pandora case, so there shouldn't be an ethical reason hindering this.

Disclaimer: IANAL, TINLA

Btw, I'd be very interested in gaining access to these models, especially if they now have bounding volumes and not just a shell, since that would allow me to make awesome LuxRender renders and stuff...

 

[akarolick]

Oh yeah! I understood all of that, who says I didn't!?


On a serious note Welcome! Amazing work btw they look great! Can't wait to see the finished project!

 

[MDave]

MWeston said he doesn't want any models of the cases distributed, because it's still possible for factories to clone them.

 

[dflemstr]

MWeston said he doesn't want any models of the cases distributed, because it's still possible for factories to clone them.

(read my post above and also

The above models are probably so changed by now that only the general shape is preserved. You could get equally good meshes via a depth gradient scan of a Pandora video or some work with some of the numerous Pandora photos. Not a big deal.

 

[socket]

MWeston said he doesn't want any models of the cases distributed, because it's still possible for factories to clone them.

(read my post above...)

Um that doesn't change the fact that MWeston doesn't want them distributed........

 

[droneb]

but i would be so interested on one with the least possible ammount of polys, the former one is so complex for me it went useless

EDIT:

FOR NON COMMERCIAL USE OF COURSE, actually the product i hope to provide would be for the comunity

 

[gruso]

MWeston said he doesn't want any models of the cases distributed, because it's still possible for factories to clone them.

(read my post above...)

Um that doesn't change the fact that MWeston doesn't want them distributed........

Exactly. The only thing your post doesn't cover dflemstr, is whether or not it's the right thing to do.

Anyway, hi and welcome BlackPixel. Those renders are cool. If you plan on sharing models later, I'd suggest getting the ok from MWeston and DaveC first. Feel free to show us more renders though, any Pandora porn is good.

 

[RoboShmup]

If it is legal, I wouldn't mind you sending a copy my way. I have the STLs, but I would love to have one of these (for non commercial use of course).

 

[Wolenber]

I would love to have the models for these too, for commercial use in the form of a parody, so as not to break US law.

Just kidding, but all the people saying non-commercial made it so I couldn't resist.

 

[quadomatic]

Out of respect for the Pandora team and MWeston, I would hope that you would not distribute the STLs...or at least ask MWeston if it's okay to distribute them (and were he to say no, please don't distribute them)

 

[blackpixel]

Guys, guuuuuuuys..... chill out ^^

I said "when I'm done" and "if anyone's interested" and not "I made a torrent and i'm gonna SHARE IT"

I'm used to sign NDAs for projects.
I certainly won't spread anything without permission

I could even wait till the pandoras are shipped before sharing the models.

Besides that I didn't know the files were taken down again, sry ^^


I totally agree that it's a bad idea to share 3D data of a product, that's not released yet.

On the other hand I think dflemstr is right.
There are so many pictures of the pandora and its parts published ( even hires ones ), that any modeler could mesh it.
99% of the modeling I usually do is done from reference pictures. And you can't use the STL files for production / prototyping anyway ( it's a triangular fckedup mesh, not a nurbs model )
What someone could do is to recreate the nurbs model on top of the STLs, which give a good surface representation as a basis.
It wouldn't be a perfect copy though, because this basis is too rough and ... oh well you get the point

But I really don't want to start a theoretical discussion on what's possible, right or wrong, coz that's something only the dev team can say.

I just think it would be great to let the community create some tasty renderings, hell maybe even a nice trailer / commercial thingy.
And I heard that a picture says more than a thousand words ..so with 25 frames / second that would be ....! *cough*

just my 2c ^^



So here's the deal:
I continue working on the model till it's done and wait for a permission for sharing.

It still depends on the free time I have + the complexity and the fckup-level of the STLs I haven't looked at yet
But I'll post WIPs throughout the process.

Maybe someone of the dev team could clear this situation up till then plz ^_^

So far I would be happy to be part of this whole thing and add something good
... if you let me

cheers
pix

 

[NLS]

I don't think you should stop doing what you like
The models in their finshed state shouldn't be much usable, and if someone were to copy it, it would almost be more efficient to do it through reference pictures from the ground up again isntead.
But still, best to ask for MWeston's approval first.
Also it would be nice, since those models that were released took my computer half an hour to import into 3DSMAX.

 

[blackpixel]

by the way, the polycount ratio for the top-back part right now:
STL: 20195 -> Remesh: 2895

@DroneB Dev
If you delete all the creasing-/corner-edgeloops, you can go even lower and have a nice mesh for e.g. realtime stuff.
What do you need it for by the way?

Hmmm we could have a realtime Pandora running on the real Pandora
But wouldn't that cause a paradox ?

@NLS
thx m8
yeah I thought about the ref pic way too, but having the STLs is much more convenient. ^^
If you disable all the weld, unify normals, double face and autosmooth options in the import dialog, it should just take a few secs
I dunno if it welds and smooths that stuff well anyway, since there are so many gaps.

 

[MWeston]

But still, best to ask for DaveC's approval first.

Fixed. It's his design to share or not share ultimately, within the courtesy of not giving it all away for someone to copy after all this hard work. I can't see him doing that though.

 

[Monk]

Very Nice, BP

 

[EvilDragon]

Yep, it's up to DaveC.
Back then, I ripped out most important innerworks of the model making it completely useless for moulding or CNCing.
I fucked up a lot of the mesh

So if you used that model and made a low-poly version, it's definately not usable for anything but nice renderings.
Taking the real device and doing a 3D Lasercopy would be much more accurate and useful.

But if you want to share it, ask DaveC

 

[peca]

...I ripped out most important innerworks of the model making it completely useless for moulding or CNCing...

Is there any chance (after 1st or 2nd batch will be out) get files usable for CNC? I thinking about hobby CNC machine (for RC model hobby) and I know that few guys already have some. So there is good chance get CNC nice case from wood or with some unusual modification or with mounting points for add-ons or for some hobby-made Pandora holder or so. Even against signing some NDA. // Now it is just my dreams, as I'm short of money. I just ask for possibility.

 

[torpor]

Is there any chance (after 1st or 2nd batch will be out) get files usable for CNC?

The truth is, this not necessary. Its so easy to clone a case these days, honestly if you have a CNC you can derive your own case for the Pandora in, oh I'd say .. 3 hours.

How to make your own case for CNC: 1. Get a Pandora.. 2. Open it up. 3. scan the PCB on a flatbed scanner, include a reference ruler in the scan (metric ruler or so on..). 4. scan all parts. (Scan means, btw, both sides.), 5. open up files in inkscape, build first paths to scale. 6. Note all hole positions, note all accessory layers. 7. Print (lasercut) first rough hole-layer case using 6mm acrylic or so.. 8. Take granted 3D model already existing in the public domain, merge with hole-layer case design, .. 9. print a few, tweak. 10. done.

EDIT: Okay, so its 10 steps and a lot of buggering around, but anyone with a CNC and laser cutter definitely has the wherewithal to pull off a new case design in .. about .. a weekend.