I have some updates from Topoprint, my hobby project that creates a real, physical 3D model of your neighborhood in just three minutes or less - and "three minutes or less" includes ordering a print from an external service provider. Not included is the waiting time for the postal package to arrive at your home, or the hour or so if you use your own 3D printer.
But here’s what’s new:
- You can now create a relief with a rectangular shape instead of just discs.
- The processing of printable 3D models is now faster.
- The web app for creating the Topodisc has improved and is now mobile friendly.
Update #1: RoundRects 🔗
If you're passionate about computing history and the early days of Apple, you might have heard of folklore.org, "[...] a site containing over 100 stories about the development of the original Macintosh and the people who made it." The stories are very entertaining, but I'm especially fond of one featuring Bill Atkinson, who sadly passed away in June of this year. If you have five minutes to spare, I highly recommend reading "Round Rects Are Everywhere!". It explains how the graphical calculation for the so-called RoundRects - rectangles with rounded corners - was invented. These shapes appear in the real world more often than you might think.
When I initially introduced Topoprint last December, I was captivated by the unique shape of a disc used in relief maps, which I believe adds a charming touch, reminiscent of those small snow globes. However, I understand that a disc might be too limited for some users. While I still find rectangular relief maps with sharp corners a bit dull, I thought RoundRects could offer an appealing alternative for Topoprint. Now, when you launch the "Topodisc Designer", you'll have the option to choose between a disc and a "RoundRect"! Here's how a Topodisc as a RoundRect looks for the Nydeg bridge in Bern and for the castle ruin in the municipality of Meilen.
Update #2: It's (a bit) faster 🔗
In my last update, I briefly mentioned that the backend processing to create the 3D printing models were running on a small Kubernetes cluster at my home. The machines are not really fast, though and until recently, calculations could have taken up to 10 minutes for a model of size 150mm. With recent improvements (mostly streamlining calculations and optimizing resolutions), the calculation is 3 to 4 times faster, now it takes a minute or so for a 100mm model and three minutes for a 150 mm model.
Still, a minute or more of waiting time can be frustrating without any feedback, so I added a progress bar which also explains the steps a bit.
Update #3: It's mobile friendly 🔗
A couple of weeks ago, Simon from teil3.ch shared a link to the Topodisc Designer on Instagram, which significantly increased the traffic on my server. However, there was one issue: at that time, the web app wasn't very mobile-friendly. Although it worked to some extent, the map was too small to interact with and many UI elements were either hidden or unclear. Even though I’m not a professional web or mobile designer, I gave it a try - resulting in some improvements:
- The mapping area is now larger, and dragging and zooming work intuitively. A simple tap creates the Topodisc.
- You can reposition the Topodisc by dragging it (long-press on the circle) and you can even rotate it (rotate the small RoundRect symbol).
- You can switch between a topographic map and aerial view (not just on mobile).
While it's not perfect, as on some screens you might need to scroll down a bit to see the actual buttons, it is still a significant improvement over the previous version. Below is a real-time demonstration of creating a Topodisc in Bern (with fast-forwarding during the processing time mentioned above):
Wrapping up 🔗
That's it for today's update! With faster processing times, a mobile-friendly interface, and the new RoundRect option, I hope Topoprint becomes even more fun and accessible for you. Don't hesitate to share your feedback and creations with me. Stay tuned for more news, and happy printing - with your own printer or directly with one of our printing partners.