Topographical drawings of wild ant nests for formicaria

[Batspiderfish]

I've had this new idea for using computer design to help sculpt naturalistic tunnels for use in formicaria. I took this stock photo of a Lasius nest and traced simple topographical details over it. Then, after some computational wizardy, I projected these traces into 3-dimensional shapes. I hope to print this out, along with a mold box, so I can make plaster casts of wild ant nests.

I don't think I violated the rights of the photographer by drawing a picture of a photograph, but idk?

http://www.alamy.com/stock-photo-black-ant-common-black-ant-garden-ant-lasius-niger-opened-nest-9682772.html

[AntFarm]

A step by step tutorial would amazing, or a file share to the obj would be nice.

[Batspiderfish]

A step by step tutorial would amazing, or a file share to the obj would be nice.

Maybe someday, but I am already exhausted figuring this stuff out.

[Martialis]

cool! This would bring a whole new level to formicaria.

[Batspiderfish]

Inkscape has an unofficial extension which can adapt svg files into escad files. I think Blender can do this as well. I used Gimp 2 to generate the svg from a drawing.

[Martialis]

Do any of those programs cost money at all? I honestly see some potential in this.

[Batspiderfish]

Do any of those programs cost money at all? I honestly see some potential in this.

Nope! They are all free to use. I've tried some of the design programs that do cost money, and I find that they try to hold your hand and parent you, so it's very frustrating when there's something you need to do, but you don't know how to get the program to let you do it.

It takes a lot of work to learn how to use complicated and labor-intensive software, but there's usually way more you can do with it.

[Batspiderfish]

Inkscape has an unofficial extension which can adapt svg files into escad files. I think Blender can do this as well. I used Gimp 2 to generate the svg from a drawing.

.scad, not .escad

[Martialis]

Thank you! I've created a topographical map of an entire Camponotus picture. I just need to figure out how to move layers up and down, and then I'll create a "design".

[Batspiderfish]

Thank you! I've created a topographical map of an entire Camponotus picture. I just need to figure out how to move layers up and down, and then I'll create a "design".