The experience of navigating the Fusion 360 controls to make my 3D magic 8-ball was both a difficult and rewarding process. I find Fusion very difficult because of its tricky and unique controls, which I was new to before starting. For example, finding ways to implement text for me was very difficult when using Fusion because I didn’t want the text to be ingrained, but rather have a technological feel that you would get with a magic 8 ball. The color control was also fairly tricky for me because the A command would work for me perfectly in some instances, but then fail me when I flipped my 3D project around.
I was especially frustrated with the modifications I had to make to account for the unique build of my model. This required a blue number, which worked for the digital side, but when it came to the white side with the 8-ball black text, I found fusion to be very stubborn in allowing me to do so. I think Fusion made it unnecessarily difficult to operate and change the model for the user’s liking. If they made simpler control commands, it would make for a much more pleasurable experience for the user. However, the accuracy to which it replicates size and shape is very easy to use, which shows its many benefits regardless of its evident flaws.
Overall, it wasn’t easy, but I definitely learned a lot about my own habits when working through a foreign system like Fusion 360. I imagine future projects will be a lot easier to use this software because many aspects become much easier through trial and error. The one thing that I found very tricky that I couldn’t quite navigate was changing the shapes within the sphere, which would have helped, making it a perfect circle and giving it the most realistic feel, rather than the oval/rectangular feel that Fusion 360 gave me. I am happy with my choices and feel like the magic 8 ball gave me a good balance of simplicity while also working on developing key skills like color change and text implementation that the die wouldn’t have done as much. I really feel like the key is to master a couple of key tools, which will propel future growth and mastery through problem solving, because with a good foundation, it opens endless amounts of creative opportunity.
I like how you were able to combine the idea of a simple shape with a highly difficult design, I hope to include some of the skills you talk about in my future projects. Creating the number on your magic 8 ball seems like a really challenging thing to do with 3D modeling software.
I know what you mean when you say that Fusion 360 should have simpler control commands! I found myself saying similar things when trying to get the appearance of my model mine to my liking. I think you did a great job overcoming adversity, and I think the 8 printed on the ball looks pretty good considering the circumstances.
All the new tricks and tools in Fusion can certainly be frustrating when first using them. Simpler control commands would greatly assist the user. Even with all these issues, the magic eight ball looks great! I like how you were able to get both the white part and the number eight to be the right color. Brings the whole thing together really well!