"Martin Eastburn" wrote in message
...

We are coming :-) - that is there is a machine and software that
takes pictures and converts them into objects.

Slices are what are used in 3-D printers - print a slice at a time.

Simply get the scraper to take level down, photo it many times,
scrape and replete.

Then into the software all of the pictures and it makes a 3-D model
in CAD - allowing a Plastic or Metal or ... material to reproduce
the real thing for a show. Painting and texture makes it look real.

Martin

http://www.livescience.com/17222-str...reated-ct.html

I first heard of this being used to make durable replicas of fragile
fossil bone fragments.
http://www.sciencenewsdaily.org/arch...ster470646366/

-jsw