Maker app turns 2D into 3D

MakerBot PrintShop app introduces new Shape Maker feature–turns 2D into 3D.

MakerBot’s free iPad app MakerBot® PrintShop® version 1.5 is now available for update in the iTunes App Store and offers a brand new feature called MakerBot Shape Maker that takes drawings and sketches and instantaneously turns them into 3D printable files.

MakerBot PrintShop Shape Maker aims to allow users to transform sketches, photos and screen captures into a 3D printable file, without any 3D design experience. Designed for beginners who want to get started quickly with 3D printing, MakerBot PrintShop with Shape Maker is what MakerBot believes to be an exiting new tool that will transform the way the industry moves from 2D to 3D.

“All it takes is a pen and a piece of white paper to create a drawing that can then be 3D printed using the new MakerBot Shape Maker feature,” explained Joey Neal, chief experience officer with MakerBot. “If you can draw a sketch, you can use MakerBot Shape Maker to transform your creations from the flat 2D world of pen and paper to the exciting 3D world of 3D printing.”

Joey Neal also noted that the Shape Maker feature in MakerBot PrintShop is a great tool for teachers and students to use within courses. The free app aims to remove the barriers for students to get started with 3D printing and can be a gateway into deepening STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) education. For art students, Shape Maker can bring creative projects to life in 3D and offer new perspectives on how to create objects.

(Next page: How the maker app works)