Task 7 - Written Notes on the physical properties of the materials sampled

Task 7 - Written Notes on the physical properties of the materials sampled

Below I have discussed the positives and negatives between each of the materials used in my 3D samples, I have also compared each of them to each other to decide which one is better and why.

Papier Mache

Pros

-Easy to work with and a simple process when applying it

-It can create solid and strong shapes when successfully finished, It also leaves small room for gaps if done correctly.
-Can be changed easily when still wet.
-Very stable if applied correctly and can add attention to detail when done right.

Cons

-Can sometimes require other materials to be succesful (for instance in my papier mache sample I used wire).
-Sometimes can be hard to add detail to a structure.
-It can sometimes peel away if not applied correctly. Diluted glue also won't support the overall strength of the papier mache.
-Can take a long time to use. For example adding multiple layers to make it stronger.

Wire

Pros

-Very easy to shape and manipulate with the use of hands/pliers.
-Can support it's own weight and a little more with added support.
-Good to create a base/structure from (for instance in my 3D design I create a 2 dimensional body and then built up from that.)
-Quickly and effectively creates shapes and structures.

Cons

-Weak when not support by more wire or other materials.
-Can't feasibly create a solid object, It creates more of a 'skeleton' for the shape.
-When working with wire it can simultaneously change shape.
-Needs a vast attention to detail in order to make effective shapes.

Clay

Pros

-Malleable and very easy to alter/shape

-Can work well with other materials

-Easy to add detail too with different tools and will remain that way until it dries

-Clay can create a very solid shape once it is dried.

Cons

-Messy and needs water to sometimes work effectively.

-Dries very quickly meaning it must be constantly worked in to.

-Needs support when trying to hold itself off the floor.

-Can sometimes require other materials for it to even be effective (wire/cocktail sticks).

Comparison

In comparison to wire, clay also does not really need any other materials to actually make a solid sculpting structure out of (essentially you only need clay or wire to creating something). However with papier mache there are certain techniques using a base structure then applying layers of papier mache over it. This means that whilst clay and wire are similar in this respect, Papier mache is alot different.

Despite wire being similar to clay, It can also have it's differences. For instance wire generally creates a 'skeleton' type structure similar to a skeleton, it is light and can be seen through and looks similar to one. However. clay and papier mache tend to cover the whole sculpture or atleast can do. Whilst it is possible for wire to cover a vast majority of a surface area of a design, it is not very feasible and it would otherwise be better to use other types of graphical media. Wire also doesn't need water like papier mache and clay sometimes do to make it soft, it can simply be shaped and applied where as clay and papier mache need preparation.

Clay is a lot different to papier mache and wire, it's physical properties make it malleable, soft and easy to detail. The other forms of 3D media mentioned have nothing like this, clay is very different to wire in the sense that it can be shaped then harden to become a solid structure. Papier mache can actually be similar to clay as it can be applied with water to give it some advantages when sculpting. Clay can also show quite a lot of detail in a design, I believe that this is a similarity between the wire and clay but not so much the papier mache, as that needs a "layering" effect to make it work.

All 3 designs can all sculpt in 3D and they are all fairly easy to work with, the physical properties of them all can be similar, for example. Wire.Clay and papier mache are all soft at some part during making, the paper is soft, fragile and can even be torn quite easily. Wire is very manipulative and can be curved, bent, and twisted in various ways, furthermore, clay is also very easy to shape and manipulate using different tools. Whilst I believe that they are all extremely similar in this regard, I also think that their structural properties and physical components make them each unique and very good for specific tasks when modelling.