Beaded Bag

Tactile version of bag with 2 bears. Bears are placed on top of the dead tree the scratched, on top of the snow, with sky and pine trees behind

tactile version of elk bag. 2-tone green background with raised heart, arrow, and elk head

Tracing

Just like when I make paper tactile graphics, I start by tracing the original image in Adobe Illustrator. This project was slightly different than normal because I started by tracing the paths of each line of beads, rather than tracing the outline of each bead.

Original beaded bag image with neon lines traced on top

Tracing progress showing just the neon lines following bead paths for 1 bear 2 trees

Tracing progress showing bead paths for 1 bear, 2 trees, and snow

Bear bag - Tracing progress showing all traced paths and outline of bag and key features

Elk bag - All traced paths and outline of bag and key features

Tracing progress for elk side of the bag. All bead paths completed except for small background section

Tracing progress for elk side of the bag. Bead-paths for elk, heat, and most of arrow are completed.

Tracing progress for elk side of the bag. The bead-paths for only the elk have been traced

3D Modeling and Prototyping

4, 3D printed bead-pattern swatches at varying sizes

Test prints to determine suitable bead size. Landed on 150% the original size so that details could be readily distinguished.

Photo of 8 printed tree prototypes in gold, red, and green

Tree test prints. Tweaked the design until the individual bead paths were discernible and the center of the tree could be easily located.

Screenshot of spreadsheet with several data tables for bead sizes

For each section of the piece, I measured multiple beads to find an average bead size for that feature. I then used that average size for all beads in that printed object.

I guess spreadsheets are an important part of my process now. Really helpful for tracking all the variations in height and other measurements.

Screenshot from Fusion showing bead placement on pre-drawn bead path

Screenshot from Fusion showing the same bead in a long line of other beads

Positioning and rotating each starter bead is tedious.

Once the starter beads are in place, I repeat the bead along a set path. The drawn paths follow each individual string of beads in the original piece.

Like so many of my processes, this step is also a little tedious. The software can't calculate how many beads will fit on a given, winding path, so I have to manual adjust each value to make sure the beads fall on the path correctly.

Screenshot from Fusion showing Pattern on Path feature used to multiply beads along pre-drawn path

Had to start a new file because Fusion starts to have issues after 5,000 bodies

Modeling progress screen shot with dead tree, pine tree, and sky beads. Fusion shows 8,963 bodies in current project.

Modeling screen shot showing half of the snow beads completed

So so so so so many beads

Screen shot reads "192 features. Snow bead pattern"

Apparently the snow beads are made up of 192 lines of beads.

Photo of beaded bag test prints assembled. 2 pine trees, one dead tree at center, pink sky, white snow. Empty space is left for bear pieces to be added

I'm practicing on simpler elements of the bag before I start modeling the bears. Coming along nicely!

Modeling screenshot showing an outline of beads along some paths of a sketch

The bears have a larger bead used as an outline. This was a part of the original design, and it will be great for the tactile version.

The outline-beads are a bit blockier than the other beads, so I made a 7-sided bead that should give a nice variety of blocky shapes when rotated.

Couldn't find a way to randomly rotate the beads along the path, so I manually rotated half of the 220 beads.

Close up screen shot of multi-colored 7-sided beads in 3D design software

screen shot of bear outline in multi-color beads

Screenshot of 2 bear sketches facing each other, with the left bear sketch covered in beads

Finished adding all beads to the left bear's main body (not outline), which turned out to be around 1,500 beads. Just need to add about 40 accent beads to the eye and claws.

Photo of assembled test prints with all major pieces in place except the right bear

Adding the bear prototype to the rest of the test prints

After a test print, I tweaked the height of the beads for the bear outline, accent, and body. I also made additional edits to the outline bead for a more varied texture.

Modeling screenshot of bear beads raised to different heights

Took a detour to reprint a couple old pieces. Did some minor redesigns for each.

Traced outline of Watermelon piece with "liberation" written below a watermelon

Reprint of Aks (swirling blue waves on wood background) on cutting mat

Disassembled Watermelon Portrait piece on cutting mat

Tons of small squares in various shades of gray and black sitting on black cutting mat

Got to break out all my grayscale swatches from the Paul McCartney piece while deciding what gray would work for the new Watermelon Portrait background

screen shot of heart shape with bead paths traced

Starting on the back side of the bag feels a little daunting after finishing the front. I think I have most of the challenges worked out at this point, so hopefully the back goes faster.

3D model of red heart shape made from beads with the outline of an elk cutout of the center

screen shot of arrow head and feather end 3D models

The green background of the back of the bag is my last beaded part. 10s of thousands of beads later...

screen shot of thousands of beads placed along lines with several blank lines left

all bear bag pieces assembled, sky, pines, dead tree, snow, two bears, outer bag trim

Dry fit of bear bag pieces. Really snug, and I need to trim the sky piece a bit to fit in the outer frame.

By the end of the project, my spreadsheet was pretty massive. These tables were mainly used to find average bead sizes for the various colored beads, but I also used these data tables to keep track of the height of different elements as they compared to one another.

Zoomed out view of spreadsheet with over 20 different data tables

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