#3dprinting, #cad, maybe a #scicomm question - how do you, personally, describe 3d modelling to a layperson? If you're showing off a 3d printer and someone asks "but how did you make the file?" - not slicing, I mean the actual modelling process - geometry, curves, fillets, subtractions.

Doing anything "in software" never seems to land. My partner's suggested "3d photoshop", but that doesn't quite imply the from-scratch effort I'm thinking of. So far I'm working on "virtual carpentry". Thoughts? 

 @bdade073 Constructive Solid Geometry. Imagine all you have is squares and circles. You can make boxes or spheres or cones. You can add a shape, wrap two shapes in a solid sheet, and you can take a shape out like a slice out of a cake. Repeat that until you have the final shape you want. That's the sort of modelling a practical print like a plumbing part probably needs to be made with. My aircon service guy also 3D models and prints his own components.