Virtual Fashion Technology

The OptiTex multi-dimensional integrated product development application has developed a feature to enable the user to digitize styles directly onto the 3D virtual avatar/mannequin form. It is currently being tested in V10 and will be available to the public very soon.

Do you know what a digitizing table is? A digitizing table is a big flat table that you use to input your large pattern pieces into the computer. It’s kind of like a glorified scanner. In fact I have seen big drum scanners that people insert large pattern pieces or  images into to input them into the computer. 
 

Students carefully tape their basic pattern pieces onto the digitizing table then they use a mouse type tool to click the grain line, the notches, the darts and all around the perimeter of the pattern piece to input the points into to the computer. You click a specific code when you are done and voila – your pattern piece has been transfered into the patternmaking program on the computer. You are now ready to input grading/sizing rules and/or make styling modifications to your basic pattern.
Once the 2D flat pattern is in the computer patternmaking program the user is not really able to make freeform intuitive styling lines easily onto the 2D flat pattern.

As a computer  flat pattern designer did you ever wish you make some changes to your 2D flat pattern by drawing/digitizing directly on to the 3D avatar/mannequin form – say maybe to visually add a graceful styling line to the neckline in real time and at the same time actually “see: where and how the line will appear on the  sample size 3D avatar/mannequin form? Well now you can. This new 3D Digitizing OptiTex feature will empower the user to digitize lines directly on to the 3D virtual avatar/mannequin form and the pattern modifications on the 2D flat pattern will instantly be generated for you in real time. This is an amazing feature for creative pattern development.

Many computer pattern design programs have a function that will allow the user to  ”digitize” directly onto the 2D flat pattern piece, but up until now you were not able to digitize directly onto the 3D avatar/mannequin form and see the results in “real time” on the 2D flat pattern on a split screen.

Watch the video below to see how the user can simultaneously work in 2D and then 3D and back again to 2D. All pattern modifications are taking place in real time.

This 3D digitizing is currently in beta testing and will be available in V10 in 2008.