A while back I wrote a blog article that featured how Candy Mechanics (or anyone else for that matter) can use Autodesk Forge to create 3D chocolate lollipops where each is a 3D model of a person's head.
Rather than let the story end there, I decided to put my money where my mouth is and order myself some chocolate creations.
Recall that Autodesk Forge is Autodesk's set of Application Program Interfaces (APIs) for our web services (along with supporting materials like sample code and documentation) and a community of developers who use those APIs.
So here's how the story unfolded:
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The process starts with a video. I had my colleague, visiting Secretary of Defense Fellow, Zachary Miller, film me:
It's important to stay still during the filming. This was a little more challenging than I thought. I kept wanting to follow the iPhone as it moved around my head. I did smirk at the end, but that last second can be ignored.
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I uploaded the video to the Candy Mechanics website. About 20 minutes later, I got an email when their server had used Autodesk ReMake to convert the video into a 3D model.
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The Candy Mechanics server used the Forge Model Derivative API to convert my 3D model into a Simple Vector Format (SVF) file that is sent to the Forge Viewer that converts it to WebGL that can be viewed natively by the browser without an additional plug-in. Using WebGL instead of just an image lets me pan, zoom, and orbit my head in a variety of flavors.
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Milk chocolate:
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White chocolate:
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Dark chocolate:
I zoomed in some. I could have zoomed in even more, but I wanted to still see the majority of my face rather than just my nose.
In addition, orbiting lets me check out the top, bottom, and both sides.
Try the Forge Viewer and see my chocolate head for yourself:
The Forge Viewer can easily handle this 3D model.
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Using a standard shopping cart process, I selected white chocolate (because the detail will probably come out better) and dark chocolate (because I like the taste the best). The process does inform me that although the view of my SVF includes shoulders and the neck, this geometry will be culled from the model when my lollipops are actually CNC'd.
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The chocolate lollipops are 12£ (convert pounds to dollars) for a box of 3. I got some for me, some to send to my children, and some to bring to work. I paid with my personal credit card (no way that an expense report for this would fly).
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A few days later I received an email that my order had been shipped.
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The other day, I was so excited to see a package on my front doorstep.
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I opened it with glee.
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I think they look great...
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...and they taste great too.
And there you have it. Thanks to Candy Mechanics and Autodesk Forge for making this possible. This demonstrates the power of APIs and what can be accomplished if you put your mind and tongue to it.
The modern form of an edible self-portrait is alive in the lab.
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