Jupiter
Jupiter

Planet 3D prints were produced by using current NASA data when available. In some cases (rocky planets and the Moon) the topographic data was enhanced in altitude and then tested for usability to ensure that the texture was discernable but not too rough for finger touch. For Jupiter, in particular, the HST imagery was mapped to a sphere and enhanced with custom textures that would allow the most prominent features of the planet would be enhance with patterns that were easily discerned and understandable. For Earth, the elevated areas (mountainous terrain) were replaced with a custom texture. The topography of the mountain ridges produces spiked unpleasant textures, so the major ridgelines are delineated with a cross lined texture. This allows the user to more appreciate the continuity of the mountain ranges across continents.