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A
ashleym46191373
Participant
June 17, 2019
Question

Large Installation Image Warping (unbending circle to rectangle)

  • June 17, 2019
  • 4 replies
  • 307 views

Hi all (first time posting),

I've designed a large installation piece for a pendulum pit that has a 12' diameter floor and goes up the berm (pit wall) about 6". So, just to reiterate, the entire design I've made is filled with a background image that flows up the pit wall (6"). So essentially it's a cylinder. The vendor will need to print out two pieces: the circular base and the border around that. The base is not my issue. It is the border, which will need to be printed out as a rectangle. See my mock up for a visual (it's very hard to see that border "bleeding" up the pit wall but it's there).

Is there way to line up my "starry/cloud" background exactly with the border?

My issue is that my original design did not consider the walls of the cylinder, I only have a thin circle which I am struggling to unwrap into a rectangle for the vendor. I understand the complications of the geometry, specifically the top diameter having a greater length than the bottom diameter once I figure out how to unbend the image. My approach to that issue would be to cut out sections and blend portion of empty space together within the image. I don't know where to begin in Illustrator or Photoshop - any guidance to help me finding a solution would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you!

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4 replies

Jacob Bugge
Community Expert
Jacob BuggeCommunity Expert
Community Expert
October 7, 2019

Thank you for sharing, Ashley.

 

A
ashleym46191373Author
Participant
October 7, 2019

Hey all, I was able to complete the installation by sending our vendor a straight rectangle that was printed in pieces. I did not need to print it out as a conical shape. I redesigned the border so it didn't match up with th e base/pit design and added a gold line at the bottom of the border so it broke up the two designs. see attached.

Jacob Bugge
Community Expert
Jacob BuggeCommunity Expert
Community Expert
June 17, 2019

Ashley,

It is the border, which will need to be printed out as a rectangle

Actually, neither a rectangle nor a circle; rather than a cylder you seem to have a conical frustum (a cone with the top cut off, in this case reversed), more or less like a bit of a (very large) bottleneck.

With the reservation of fitting over a presumable less than completely sharp edge where the wall meets the bottom, along with possible inaccuracies in the wall shape, you will need to make the wall pieces (plural) as a number of rather flat arcs (warped rectangles).

The exact shape and size of each depends on the chosen number to reach all the way round which again depends on which size you wish to print at (the total length being close to 40') and the diameter at the 6" height (which can be calculated from the 12' at the bottom and the top diameter and the height to the top.

Given the measures I can give you the shape(s) and size(s) (for a few numbers to choose between); you can try it/(one of) them out without print,easier If you have a scale model.

So which are they?

    Eric Dumas
    Community Expert
    Eric DumasCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    June 17, 2019

    Hi,

    I would investigate using a grid on a 3D shape. Software like Photoshop could allow to unwrap the skin of the cylinder and use the pices as a guideline. I haven't done that in a while.

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