With the shape and glass texture in place, the final layer of detail came from the logos that define the paperweight’s identity. While the triangle form gave the object its structure, these markings gave it meaning. The original includes logos from Rijksuniversiteit Limburg and Maastricht University, along with the name and date of the UM staff member it was gifted to, and a Royal Leerdam sticker.
UM's Logo on the Paperweight
The Recreated Logo in Photoshop
To recreate the staff member’s name, the date, and the Royal Leerdam sticker, I photographed the elements directly from the physical paperweight. These images were refined in Photoshop to improve clarity and reduce reflections for its use in Blender.
Engraved Name on the UM Paperweight
Engraved Date on the UM Paperweight
Creating the logos from real photographs allowed me to come as close as possible to the authentic appearance of the original paperweight. For example, the Royal Leerdam sticker includes subtle signs of wear that show its age and use.
The Royal Leerdam Sticker
on the UM Paperweight
After recreating the logos in Photoshop, the next step was to import them into Blender and apply them to the 3D model using transparent planes with the logo images.
Placing the Planes on the Paperweight in Blender
This process ensured that the logos seamlessly integrated into the model, preserving both the visual accuracy and the historical significance of the paperweight.