Dynamic 3D-Sketching

Abstract

Sketching by hand is without doubt – alongside building models – the most common tool that architects employ when designing. A disadvantage of the sketch is, even if it is a perspective drawing, that it is a purely two-dimensional planar representation of a three-dimensional product: the three-dimensional impression that the sketch communicates is a product of the viewer’s imagination. Digital modelling tools on the other hand support the creation of three-dimensional content but fall short in their ease of handling: their complexity and potentially unintuitive operation hinder rather than support the design process. Taking this discrepancy as a starting point, the presented system details the development and prototypical implementation of a dynamic 3D-sketching tool. The underlying core idea is to create a seamless connection between a perspective hand-sketch and the corresponding digital 3D-model in order to benefit from the advantages of hand sketching as a design tool and computer maintained 3D models. The system allows the designer to work as usual, visualizing his or her thoughts using perspective sketches. The user sketches on a touchscreen surface. The 2D drawing is automatically interpreted and converted into a system of 3D lines, surfaces and volumes in real-time.