Pin art - how to

[soutradesign]

Hi everyone. I hope someone out there can help. I have to do a quick mock-up for a project based on the attached image of a pin art frame. Basically I need to illustrate a piece of furniture constructed so that when someone sits on it the surface deforms to precisely follow sitters contours. How can I quickly achieve this effect without having to draw each individual pin? Is it possible? Using extrude maybe?

Any help appreciated.

Steven

[J. Stuart Johnson · Accepted solution]

Perhaps you could fake it with shadows and highlights. Draw the pins and then overlay the pins with a semitransparent/multiplied shape darkening the pins in the area of the body impression or better yet.

How about creating two patterns, one with pins in one position, the other with pins pushed in. Or several patterns if the pin need to appear in different prospective. Otherwise 3D software would be your best bet.