Sculptor highlights laser scanners' applications in art world

28/01/2012

A stone sculptor in New Mexico has illustrated how 3D laser scanning equipment has helped revolutionise his creative process, particularly regarding works that need to be replicated multiple times.

Somers Randolph, who works from his studio in Santa Fe, is one of the region’s most highly regarded master stone sculptors. He has said that, using laser scanners to capture his works of art, he is able to create millimetre-precise 3D virtual models of his works – which he can then even reproduce on a highly-specialised 3D printer.

Using a laser scanner, Randolph is able to project a line of laserlight onto the surfaces of works that he needs to measure. Every detail picked up by the laser is then conveyed to the computer – sometimes at a rate of tens of thousands of points every second – to create a perfect profile of the work.

He said that even the most complicated of scanning and digitising jobs can now be accomplished in just an hour or two.

"I look forward to scanning all of my best sculptures," Randolph said, explaining that it is now “easy to reproduce the shapes either in plastic with a 3D printer or as a bronze casting."