Marking Period 2 Progression
Intention, Definition, and Exploration of Ideas:
My intention this marking period was to pay attention to what went into creating a keyboard, try to make each component of a keyboard to the best of my ability. I tried to do this, so that it would create a realistic sense and feel like it was an actual object. I am in the process of trying to bring the ideas that I have in my head and try to bring them to more of a physical and visible blueprint. I chose to do the keyboard design, because it seemed easier and a little more practical than the other idea that involved the tablet. I want to create different types of keyboards that may bring more capability to how they are used, and possibly make them more efficient. As said in the previous marking period blog, I want to have some of the keys moved to different places, add new keys under the space bar, and some other thoughts. The first design, I plan to make the 60%-65% keyboard, where the number pad would be removed. This wasn't necessarily because it was easier to model, it was just that I happened to find a good reference image and it was overall less work to do. The topic that I chose what industrial design, which in this case, is where I take an existing object and try to improve upon it current state.
Planning:
I had some diagrams in place of what I wanted to do, however, I needed somewhere to start in blender. I tried looking through the internet to find some models that fit the conditions of how I wanted the keyboard to be structured. Unfortunately, there were no keyboards that were what I wanted and didn't cost any money. So, I decided to make I own model of the keyboard, something simplistic and something that had each component that I wanted. I wanted to make the base of the keyboard, the switches, and the key caps. These are the main components that are mostly visible when you see a keyboard, and it would be enough to make an animation out of. First I started on the key cap of the keyboard, which was the easiest and the least work of the three. Then I continued onto the base of the keyboard, which was the repetitive side part of making the keyboard. Finally, I moved onto the switch which was took the longest out of the three objects. The switch is made out of four components. With all of these models, they are simple models and do not have a lot of detail put into them. However, when put together, it is hard to tell. I made a simple keyboard, which does not have any of my ideas put into it yet. At that point, I just wanted to make a keyboard that looked relatively realistic and had all of the components that I wanted. Putting together the keyboard was just copying, pasting, and moving a lot of objects. I first took the keyboard's base, and then added a switch into each slot in the keyboard. Then copied the key caps and lowered down to the right height. I though that this would be the easiest way to go about things because I can take this base model and modify to look like the other designs that I have in mind.
Producing:
It was a slow process, but I managed to get most of the keyboard done.
This is the reference image that I used for creating the base and the keys of my keyboard.
I used arrays to create multiple keys and then sized them if need and placed them above the location that they should be at. I had to use a slightly different model for the space key, because it does not dip into the middle, it has a convex sort of shape.
In progress:
Finished key caps:
Moving onto the base of the keyboard, I had to manually insert the slot for each switch, because I didn't know how to do it any other way. This was a very repetitive process, because it was a lot guessing and trying to stay as consistent as I could for placing the location of the slots.
When in progress:
Finished base of the keyboard:
Now onto the switches of the keyboard, the hardest part of the project, main because the only images that I could find were isometrics views, or 3D models that were already created in another engine.
In progress:
Finished switches(put altogether):
Finally, putting the keyboard together:
These are 3 sample images that I rendered out to see how the keyboard turned out.
Evaluating:
I did not get as far as I wanted to, where I would get more involved with the materials and making more designs that I have planned. However, the process in making the switches was slightly annoying being that I couldn't make them as nicely as I could've had with a better reference image. I have gotten past the most time consuming step, now all I have to do is make do some revisions on the keyboard to make it look a little better. Change some of the materials on it and use it as a base model for my other designs. Once I have completed the other designs, I will then move onto the animation and lighting of the keyboard, to give the viewer of how all of the components come together. Everything else in the process was not difficult, it just took more time than I thought it would've.
Integrating:
I have learned some new things like arrays, bevel curves, and got more used to the layout of blender 2.8, which will help speed my progress through this project. I first plan to edit how my keyboard look, possibly making the keyboard switches transparent so that the light can reach more surface of the keyboard. Then I have to add on the lettering on top of the key caps, also making them transparent. After that, I will then move onto making my other designs of the keyboard, seeing how different designs look in 3D. I may possibly try 3D printing the designs to see how they may feel. However, I probably won't start that until I have completed enough animations to satisfy me. Speaking of animations, I will make an animation for each of the my designs, if I don't get carried away with making designs. Each animation will have their own unique lighting and animation of how the keyboard comes together.
