With Shadows?:



One of the first art forms I took up was origami. To fold an origami diagram, you were presented with a series of small thumbnail sized pictures that demonstrated how to fold a sheet of paper using a few symbols.

Here is a list of those standard symbols:

I have been thinking of a way to present the process of modeling a 3D model using symbols. I thought about using google sketchup to make the symbols, and I figure I should use an orthographic view, but when it comes to 3D, things get a little complex.

Anyone have any ideas on how I could present the instructions for modeling a 3D model using symbols?

I have to represent it in a 2D coordinate space though, because this way I would be able to make a book. I know Layout for Sketchup could be a good tool to do it with, but I still need symbols and various view points of the 3d mesh for each step.

Even with origami diagrams (the complex ones) it can be hard to figure out angles and directions and such.

Anyone seen any 3d modeling tutorials that demonstrate a way this might be done?

Notes:
- I could use a red to indicate which line, vertex or face is being modified.

Functions:
- Extrude
- Inset
- Scale
- Move
- Bevel
- Cut
- More soon..