Interview of Cathy Lewis at CES on Purple Paper Paradise Blog

Denise has added a video of Cathy Lewis, of 3D Systems, being interviewed at the Cubify booth.  Ms. Lewis does a great job of quickly introducing the Cubify.com concept and the Cube printer in a very short time.  There are some nice shots of the Cube 3D printer making an object.

http://purplepaperparadise.blogspot.com/2012/01/dawn-of-new-era.html

It's heartening to see that people for whom I have a great deal of respect in the paper crafting community also see the potential for other ways to enhance what they are really all about, which is making things that demonstrate a real appreciation for family and friends.

Thanks, Denise!!!

In the meantime, I have created a new blog in which is dedicated to Cubify.com and the Cube 3D printing community.  That may seem odd, since there IS no community as yet, as far as I can tell, since noone that I know about has a Cube printer and the Cubify site is just days old.

But, I expect that to change very, very quickly and I want to be there for that creative community just as I wanted to be there for early eCraft owners.  Here is the link for the new site.  I hope you will become followers if only to keep up with what's happening.

Cubify Fans Blog

I hope to see you there!  In fact, given the level of creativity I have come to admire among the readers of this blog, I would be very disappointed if I didn't see you there so that all of us can benefit by your observations and creative contributions.

More Images of Objects Printed by the Cube 3D Printer

As the days go by at CES more and more images of 3D objects printed using the Cube 3D printer are beginning to show up.

Here, for instance, are a number of images on Flickr.  Some are official images from 3D Systems and others appear to be images taken by attendees at CES.  Flickr's rules prevent me from linking to individual images.

Flickr Search for Cubify

I stumbled onto another site having some great images that are very useful.  Again, until I have sought permission to show an image here, I will simply link to their site.  The images of the shoes by posted by ZPrinting are especially nice.

The Verge's Cubify Gallery

The Verge images are especially useful.  As I look at these images, the following observations come to mind.

Image #1:  Chess Pieces

We can see that we are probably not going to be able to print perfectly smooth objects with the Cube.  But, what is really important about this image is to observe how the design of the Rook masks some of the uneveness as compared with the design of the Knight.  This means that we can actually design objects with the moderately low resolution in mind.   The brick patterns on the Rook work WITH the limitations and minimize them.

Images #2 & 3:  iPhone Skin

The material seems to be strong enough to allow for designs that minimize material use.

Image #4:  Cube 3D Printer

So far, this is the first image that allows us to get at least a glimpse of the LCD display screen.   We need more! 

Image #5:  iPod Holder(?)

Again, we can get some idea of the effective resolution of the printing stratification.  I also notice that from time to time a stray strand, like a spider's web is dragged along.  I have no idea if these are production models.  But, the strays seem minor and easy to deal with.  It's interesting that the holes in the side of the object don't appear to need support materials.  That's good news!

Image #6:  Frog Printing

This last photo needs a LOT more study than I can give it right now.  It demonstrates the support materials that most 3D printers, and certainly personal 3D printers, require.  Note the loose fit at the places where the actual body and the supports join.  And, look inside at the top of the frog to see how the supports are built up as the frog is printed.  We will pay a lot of attention to supports and removing supports.  But, I like what I see so far.

I'll keep you posted as I find new things and get permission to link directly to photos.

Same Community - New Direction!

Well, it's not really a new direction for me.  But, it will seem so to you.

You know that my heart has a passion for creative people like you.  And, I hope that you know that I REALLY want to do those things that will be a positive force in your ability to show your love through your creative skills.

I was first drawn to electronic paper cutters because of my desire to support my daughter in her art.  But, along the way, I learned a lot about a wonderful community of people that go out of their way to personalize their expressions of caring for family and friends.

Frankly, I've felt a bit guilty about essentially abandoning eCraft users.   The first impediment to continuing to explore the eCraft was an unfortunate and exhausting court battle into which my wife and I were forced to protect her elderly parents.   Then, by the time the court case was over, my daughter's artistic interests had returned to sculpture. 

But, to be honest, the real reason for my not picking up where I left off was that my real passion, when it comes to creative tools, is in 3D, not 2D.   It is something that has long fascinated me.

For many years I have dreamed of personal 3D printers becoming a reality.  In fact, I started several blogs on 3D software and 3D printing long before the eCraft was introduced.  And, now, what I have longed for so many years is finally a reality.  In the last few days, 3D Systems as announced Cubify, the first 3D printer for the home.  Over time I think it is going to of very great interest to many of you.

So, I am going to devote some serious time and energy to introduce the arts and crafts communities to the vast potential of 3D printing to permit you not only to make 3D objects for use in your projects; but, also customized tools that will free you to design, make and use your dies to emboss and cut.

For now, however, let me just point you to the only videos that I have found so far related to a product for which I am VERY excited! 

So, yes, I'm back.  I hope all of you that expressed so much appreciation for my eCraft videos and observations will tag along as I go in a little bit different direction.  If you do, I can promise that it going to be a fantastically interesting ride!

NEWS FLASH!

After initially posting this entry, I came across a brand new video from the Consumer Electronics Show that shows the Cube 3D printer at work!  I think this will clearly demonstrate why I am so excited about this new product and web site.

Here's a New Camera Concept Craftperson's Should Love

From the late 1960's to the 1980's I was a video producer.  The term "videographer" hadn't even been coined back then.  In fact, we saw the video camera and the still camera as tools in two different realms requiring relatively different sets of skills.  That all changed with the advent of the digital still camera.

Today my still camera produces HD video images and most video cameras include still image capabilities.

Now I am going to show you something that promises to take us in a whole new direction.  It's a camera that the developers claim will make taking photos out of focus a thing of the past.  It's from Lytro and they call their new concept "Living Pictures".  One doesn't focus when taking the picture. One focuses when viewing or printing the picture.   Here's a sample.



A "Living Picture" allows YOU to determine the focus of the image. This particular picture demonstrates a situation that many of us have faced when having to shoot through a chain link fence. The fence is in focus but we really wanted the players to be in focus. With your current camera this picture would be a total loss. But, that is not true of a Lytro image.

Try it. Simply click on one of the players you want to be in focus and see what happens. Then click on the chain link fence. Notice that YOU are in control of what is in focus. Pretty neat, isn't it?

Let's try another...



In this image we can selectly bring into focus the flowers in the foreground, the seeds right behind the flowers or the foliage in the background. In fact, there are quite a few potential focus selections that you can find by clicking various objects.

You can find out more by going to Lytro's Home Page.

OK. So, it's all very cool. But, how does this help a craftsperson?

It both simplifies and enhances the way we communicate our work to others.  It simplifies by taking away the need to worry about focus and depth of field issues that all of us face when trying to take pictures of our work.  And, this is particularly true of 3D pieces.

But, it also enhances our ability to communicate our work in that the viewer can explore the objects in our image in a highly interactive way.  Ultimately, there are some hints that at least some limited 3D perspective might be possible,  Those of you that make pop-up cards should be very intrigued by what this camera might be able to do for you.

No price or delivery date has been set as yet.  So, I'll keep you posted as things progress.  Sounds like fun!

Happy to see the eCraft progressing

All of the court cases have been resolved and, for now, are behind us.  But, we'll still need a bit of decompressing before things are completely back to normal and I can, once again, turn a lot of attention to cutter issues.

The first step was purchasing a stand for the huge 24" printer that I'd purchased for court exhibits.  It's no longer sitting on the table that was occupied by the eCraft.  But, for at least a little while, a high speed scanner to be used to make sure that the mounds of paper generated in the case are captured electronically will have to continue to displace the eCraft. 

Believe it or not, I already have scanned and/or created 8,046 files related to the court cases. Going to court to protect an elderly parent or parents is NOT for the faint of heart.

Unfortunately, the problem of financial elder abuse is all too common given the emails that I've received from people in similar situations.  While I'm not a lawyer, I certainly am in a position to at least understand the plight of those who find that a brother or sister is intent on depleting or stealing an estate from their siblings.

But, the good news is that the worst is behind us and the eCraft seems to be maturing from where it was when I had to put it aside.  I am REALLY looking forward to being able to be an active part of this crafting great community once again.  As my granddaughters would say, as their excuse for picking on me, "It's fun AND Special!"

Crafting is STILL a lot more fun than Lawyers

Tonight, I removed the eCraft from the table beside me to make way for a 24" printer that I need to make exhibits for what should be the final hearings in the epic battle we've been waging regarding my in-laws guardianship and, now, estate.

My father-in-law passed away in January.  While it changes the nature of the battle to protect my in-laws, it didn't change the need to keep going for at least a bit longer.

I didn't remove the eCraft from its accustomed place because I plan to permanently abandon it.  But, right now it's a victim of the need to set priorities.

If we win the next two court cases, we expect it to all be over for a while.

If we lose, then we expect my sister-in-law to keep fighting until the estate is eaten up by lawyer's fees.  And, the odd thing is that I don't think she will ever see any of the money she craves because her lawyers will get it first.  Greed, it appears, kills the area of the brain that thinks logically.  And, bitterness stuffs rationality down into the deepest hold imaginable.

So, until we see the end of the saga, cutters, cutting and crafting lie beyond the limits we have in a 24 hour day. 

But, it not all been in vain.  I have learned to appreciate the value of planning for those days when we lose the ability to plan.  And, I've got an even greater appreciation of the wonderful gift of my own parents and siblings in the context of my parent's aging and deaths.  I've probably already written this somewhere.  But, my parents were gracious in life and equally gracious in death.  That may seem an odd thing to one that has not watched a parent decline to the point of death.  But, sooner or later all of my readers will know exactly what I mean by that sentence.

I WILL be back.  You are a great group of people and I could NOT stay away forever.

You probably will not hear from me again until after the March hearings.  Hopefully, I will be a happy camper on my return.  :)

Crafting is More Fun than Lawyers

I've developed a new appreciation for lawyers.  Well... MY lawyer, in particular.  But, they are time consuming and expensive.  The expensive part is what my former sargeant in the Army would call a "Personal Problem".

But, the TIME-CONSUMING part has not only affected me; but, affected those of you that were hoping for more help than I've been able to provide in the last few months.  So, I thought I'd at least provide you with an explanation and my intentions going forward.

No, I have NOT abandoned the eCraft.  The new patch is exactly what I expected it to be.  It's certainly not what I hope it will become.  But, it met my level of expectations for now.

My father-in-law has had dementia for at least three years.  He was tested in 2008 and 2009 by his neurologist and a geriatric psychiatrist three different times.  And, each time the dementia had progressed.  The last Mini Mental Exam (MME) score in 2009 was 17/30.  He was institutionalized for about a year until on a visit home he absolutely refused to be moved.  My 87 year old mother-in-law tried to care for him; but, as you can imagine it was exhausting.

He fell in January of this year.  And, thinking that we'd give her some respite for a few days before deciding whether or not to place him back in the nursing home, we agreed that he should go to my sister-in-law's for a few days.

In five days, she took him to her long-time physician at a walk-in clinic and had her doctor sign a certificate that declared that my father-in-law was capable of signing a Power of Attorney document and a will.  She effectively took over his life in just five days.  She then sent a letter of demand to her mother to fork over half of everything her father and mother owned to her.

Thus began a protracted legal battle that, in total, among all the parties, has already cost well over $100,000.  When you are involved in something this complex, there is little time left for cutting shapes.

My sister-in-law's attorneys are with a law firm having a reputation for being a "predatory" law firm.  They not only prey on those they are fighting in court.  They also prey on their own clients, generating many, many times the number of pages to generate excessive costs.  There are six lawyers involved in the cases that have come about because of my sister-in-law's actions.  My sister-in-law, for instance, is paying $400 per hour to TWO lawyers.  So, she is definitely VERY serious about grabbing 1/2 of the estate even before her parents are dead.  If she wins, she will, no doubt, sell her parent's home, forcing her mom into a facility.

Why?  The economy.  My sister-in-law and her husband took out a $960,000 mortgage and an $80,000 line of credit on a $1.2 million dollar home.  They could afford that if they were both working.  But, that is not the case.  And, in fact, neither are working right now.

So, we have to stop what she is doing to her parents.  And, because of the excessive filings and paperwork keeping up is quite a chore.  But, we WILL prevail.  We will NOT give up.  As part of our action, the courts asked that my father-in-law be tested again, and the outcome was no surprise.  He tested 15/30 on the MME tests.  Clearly, he did NOT have a miraculous recovery back in January.

The final court date was to be in the last part of December, 2010.  But, it's been moved back to March 2011.  Hopefully, after the holidays I will have a little respite to check out the new software more completely before having to pick up my research for the final trial.

So, that is my explanation for my absence at the very time you needed me to be on top of my game.  But, it looks to me that the eCraft is going to be one of those products that developes slowly, over time.  So, hopefully, by the time that they bring out the next phase of software, I'll be here for you.

But, by THAT time, I might only be able to test 15/30 on the MME!!!