3D Pixel / Voxel

Tobias — Mon, 24 May 2010 13:24:03 +0000

I first got in contact with Voxel (volumetric pixel) or Pixelgraphic in 2008 by a briefing, for telling “the story of the pixel”. In early 2009 I did some scenes which are shown down below.

HISTORY:

The origin of Voxelart is´nt clearly defined. On the one Hand there is the technical Background. Like its straight grid is used by some game engine´s (most of them use high resulotion and doesn´t intend the voxels to be seen) or for medical approach (tomographic). On the other Hand there is the artistic background like Pixelart, which is often traced back to Mosaic or Cross-stitch.

Mosaic-art is the earliest examples for something, that is related to pixelart it´s roots are about 2500-3000 b.C. Mosaics consists of small pieces of stone, glass or other material that are composed to an overall picture. These pieces are often not arranged in a clear pattern but rather follow the form of the represented object. (I haven´t found examples of Mosaics in a straight grid even though I read that there are some modern Mocaics which are constructed by robots).

Cross-stitch is a second technique that is related to Pixelart. Cross-stitch was the amusement of rich ladies in the mediaeval times. Here the pieces or stitches are ordered to a straight grid (as it is given by the structure of the cloth). But didn´t look that rectangular like Mosaic.

In 1982 with Superpaint (the first Painting program for the pc – you may test it here: http://www.rgshoup.com/prof/SuperPaint/SPlives.html ) the term Pixelart emerged.

Nowadays Pixelart comply itself by giving itself limitations to keep the Look. Like there is only setting of individual pixels, reduced colors and no anti aliasing. The most famous group of Pixelartists nowadays are EBOY: hello.eboy.com/eboy/ .
Another artistical Background of Voxelart maybe Brick-art. These are not on an exact uniform grid. Because the Bricks vary in size. But they have a very similiar approach.

HOW TO MAKE:

For creating Voxels on a Computer I figured out 2 Main techniques

1.) Fill Up a Volume:

You create a 3D Object and then Fill its Volume (or much more memory saving: only its surface) with Voxels. The Pros are, that you can also build a Rig for your 3D Object, make some fluid simulations or something similar. You can convert every 3D Phanomenon into Voxels. Flowing forms like Waves or something similiar look most interesting in this technique.

Pixel Lizzard from Tobias Wüstefeld on Vimeo.

2.) Layermethod:

Here you paint every Layer of the Voxel Object in a paint program with alpha layer. This Layer you then convert into the Voxel.
Here you can use a 2D animation (most suitable low res) to convert it into voxels.

Pixel bird from Tobias Wüstefeld on Vimeo.

2D WAYS TO CREATE

If you create a twodimensional object, that works in an orthogonal perspective (no distortion to vanishing point) you may piece together a whole motive.

ANALOG:

These are some raw tests for analog creation of voxels with wooden cubes or with sugarcubes:

FORMS OF PRESENTATION:

A01 – A05 are examples for different resolutions of Voxels may appear

B01 – B04 are examples for different edges.

C01 and C02 filled with Color

C03 big gaps between the Voxels. This may create some nice moiré effects

C04 Spheres instead of Boxes

C05 Random Voxelsize

D01 Different Materials on accordant positions of the car

CONCLUSION:

Every approach of direction or curve in the form of an Object is disturbed by the direction or form of its own tiles.Through the straight grid you you always have some coherence and straight rythm in your compositions (in smaller resolutions it is more found to the similar materialistic approach). There is a consequent structure between the Elements eventhough they are never overlapping or flow through each other, every object can be docked at least on a few points exactly to an other.

Furthermore there are possibilitys to drive this Topic further. Like: How could a Voxelmotionblur look (maybe trails of shrinking voxels?) or How may a Antialiasing with Voxels look?

Visual Experiments Scripts 3D 2D Illustration » Script

3D Pixel / Voxel

HISTORY:

HOW TO MAKE:

1.) Fill Up a Volume:

2.) Layermethod:

2D WAYS TO CREATE

ANALOG:

FORMS OF PRESENTATION:

CONCLUSION:

LINKS:

Videos with Voxeloptic:

Programms:

Analog:

Tutorials: