The Blow

2020 impacted people in many ways, but it impacted me literally with a blow to the head. This unfortunate incident left me with a concussion, necessitating a medical scan to assess the extent of the injury. I'm not sure if it was the bonk on the head, but during the days that followed, an idea began to grow amidst the throbbing headaches and the routine medical follow-ups. What if I could turn this adverse event into a creative venture? I started envisioning the possibilities even before I had the medical scans in my hand.

The day I went to pick up my scan discs from the hospital turned out to be an adventure in itself. The eerie atmosphere of the mostly shut down hospital, with its dim, deserted hallways and the flickering lights, added a surreal, almost cinematic touch to the experience. As I tread cautiously down a dark corridor, the flickering light at the far end seemed like a beacon in a dark abyss.

Upon reaching the tiny window with a light shining out of it, I was handed a disc containing the scans. It was a throwback to an era where CDs were the norm, yet here I was, in a modern day where my own computer lacked a CD drive. The evolution of technology had phased out the need for such drives, yet the medical field still relied on this form of data transfer. As I held the old CD, standing in the modern yet empty hospital corridor, I could feel the start of an unusual adventure waiting for me.

Data to Art

The data on the dics was a series of DICOM files, a format used for medical imaging. I managed to convert the files into a format that could be uploaded to a cloud-based segmentation system. This system allowed me to isolate different anatomical structures, effectively separating the face, skull, and brain from the rest of the scanned data.

Cleaning Up

Once I had the data, I used 3DCoat to clean up the raw models and address various issues, enhancing their realism. The resolution of the scans led to gaps and anomalies in the models, often caused by patient movement during the scan. (Oops.)

I also decided to paint the skull model for a more realistic look. I used a combination of 3DCoat and Substance Designer for this task. I started by creating a base material in Substance Designer, then exported it to 3DCoat for further painting. My goal was to make the skull look as realistic as possible, using the model's geometry to guide the painting process, especially for detailing the sutures and other features.

It lives!

I now had clean models of my brain, skull, and face. This is where the fun kicked into high gear! Holding a 3D print of my own brain in my hands was a surreal episode. It's not every day you get to hold your own brain and not be a zombie. It's a bizarre feeling, knowing that the lump of plastic in your hand is a stand-in for the command center that is running the very thoughts that you are thinking.

Next Steps

How about a Halloween punch bowl, perhaps with some brain shaped ice cubes? Stay tuned for more updates on this project! (Might be a multi-year ordeal).