Our clients get links to a WebGL application which is rendering a modified 3D model and displaying some data in real time (domain irrelevant).

Today a client asked if there was a way to print that.

You know. Print "that". The 3D rendering of the model.

Printing a screenshot was not deemed sufficient, since it doesn't hold enough information. Also if you are thinking to just print a few key perspectives with the crucial information rendered in - they already get a PDF with exactly that.

What are they even looking for? A freaking hologram?..

PDF and can hold a complete 3D model incl controls for manipulation like rotation, zoom, etc.

Are they looking for integration with a 3d printer?

🤔

Sounds like a fun project at least.

I love these because I love to show them how stupid they are through large price tags.

I'll realistically ask for requirements, and come back with a pricetag that's absurd.

I once quoted someone who asked for software to use AI to find new chemical bonds through trial and error. The cost was around $5 million.

They said that was absurd, so I presented to them other companies that were trying to do the same thing at the time and what their annual venture capital investments tallied up to.

They shut the fuck up and stopped asking.

Nothing is impossible with enough money and time.

Oh if the model is a 3D model, so can we use a 3D printer,right?

#FacePalm

Print a sheet with all the vertex coordinates of the model :D
"Here, render this"

@sariel savage

@atheist No, they already get those models produced via 3D print by us and there is no way to print the additional rendered info in a meaningful fashion.

@lastNick How does that help with respect to printing said PDF? On a sheet of paper? In some standard Epson printer?

@sariel Yeah, that's usually my approach as well. With this one I am still hopeful it will die down all by itself, because the client will either forget their own idea or because they won't be able to formulate requirements.

Customer: We want you to print that 3D model.

Dev: But from what perspectives?

Customer: All of them.

@Maer AFAIK printing a pdf file with an embedded 3D model will result in a print out with the most recent view