{"id":478,"date":"2011-06-27T10:37:51","date_gmt":"2011-06-27T14:37:51","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/soulysolar.mudventions.com\/?p=478"},"modified":"2011-06-27T11:54:16","modified_gmt":"2011-06-27T15:54:16","slug":"zsurf","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/soulysolar.mudventions.com\/?p=478","title":{"rendered":"Zsurf"},"content":{"rendered":"

zSurf4\u00a0 is a utility that allows you to import a bitmap and export a surface.<\/p>\n

You can find a copy at http:\/\/mwt.net\/~sjedging\/ZSURF4.zip<\/strong><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

There is spotty info out there about this program, but its rather nice if you can figure out how to use it.\u00a0 The best tutorial<\/a> I found is unfortunately not in English, however google translate<\/a> helps with that.<\/p>\n

The tutorial will give you a working knowledge Zsurf, at least enough to get started.\u00a0 I would like to add a method to start with a photograph of an object like a gear and end in a 3D surface.\u00a0 Note that the original is a pretty poor quality black and white image.<\/p>\n

Zsurf likes very high contrast images.\u00a0 The image below if processed as is produces a very rough, jagged surface, raising all the dark spots and lowering all the white.<\/p>\n

Here is the starting image, its a clock escapement wheel, its a jpeg image, of an actual photograph of a real escapement wheel.<\/p>\n

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<\/p>\n

Here are the conversion steps to get it ready for zSurf<\/p>\n