Save wasted time, effort and material by improving your ability to accurately visualize the size of the finished piece from CAD to reality. When we use digital design for jewelry, the image on the screen looks really big—while the actual jewelry we make from this digital image is so much smaller. If we can't make this mental digital-to-physical transition accurately, we end up with pieces that are too heavy, too light, or out of proportion. This often means numerous revisions. Sure, experience helps, as do knowledge from the bench and keeping a micrometer by your side, but is there something else that could help with these challenging transitions? In this paper, I explore using a palette of 3D reference shapes printed to scale (wall thicknesses, prongs, holes, etc.) to hold up next to their larger counterparts on screen. This acts as a reality check to help visualize the actual-sized finished piece of jewelry. Understand this transition of scale and you will know if a detail is big enough to show up and if a wall is thick enough to cast, and most important, if a design can be successfully made.

Author: Annie Koenig