Kathrine Clark Week 3 Mouse

Week 3 Project

The Mouse

I decided to take the challenge to create the “alternative to the basic mouse modeling” mouse for extra points. I found it very challenging and time consuming. Once completed I wanted to incorporate my original design idea, a mouse with a heel rest for your hand so it would not get dirty whilst sliding around the desk top. 

In order to make the mouse I had to use the loft and sweep commands to create surfaces I used the bend tool to shape the pads which were originally ellipse solids. The crescent shape was idea but ate a lot of memory. The pipe tool was easier because we had practiced in class and was an interesting addition. The “create solid” was is my new favorite tool.

The existing mouse design is perfect for the fingers to wrap around but I always feel the rest of my hand, mainly the heel, is in an uncomfortable position and gets dirty as it tracks across the surface of the desk. To remedy this I created a soft pad utilizing the silk Keyshot fabric. I kept the black so it would look sleek not bulky.

Kathrine Clark Week 3 Hammer

Week 3 Project

The Hammer

My hammer took many shapes and, in the end, became two different rendered objects. The functionality of the hammer as a tool was morphed into a child’s toy and as a decorative item. I wanted to make a girl’s toy tool that was colourful and inviting. 

The hammer was a bit too structured and “blocky” for a girls taste so I refined it with sphere solids. A sheath covers the handle for a smoothness and functionality.  Boolean union was utilized regularly but I found that to be a problem when preparing for rendering and had to explode a number of times.

I learned how to rework my layers in order to render with ease as I used a lot of different materials in Keyshot. Using opaque plastics gave the hammer and instant “toy” appearance. However, when glass and metals were selected the hammer became an atypical decorative item.