A Portfolio of Digital Illustrations

3D Modeling, Animation, and Illustrations by Kolin Pope

Kolin Pope

Written by Dan Winter

I have long held the conviction that judge and jury alike respond strongly to pictures. And, that they respond even more strongly to very good pictures.

As someone who does a lot of illustration, it is humbling to see what a skilled artist can do with the current tools of 3D modeling and animation in their hands. Kolin is just such an artist, and the results he achieves are astounding. Please scroll down to take a look at some of the contributions he has made to cases we’ve been working on. I think you’ll agree that they are very good pictures indeed: most relevant, shrewdly drawn and very effective.

  • ▲Orientation to Computer Game Technology

    This is a computer animation to show how a computer animation is done. The challenge here is to create simple, interesting images to help explain how a very complicated process works. Kolin uses light and shadow effects (the very effects in dispute in this case) to draw viewers into the story. An analogy, done to appear more technical than cartoonish, again, makes a complicated process simple to understand.

  • ▲Valve Game Controller Lawsuit

    In this case, we make heavy use of 3D modeling and animations, inserted and running in PowerPoint. 3D modeling was important here, as the most critical—and alleged infringing—structures were on the reverse side of the controller and inside it. The ability to spin, open and spin again makes obvious what would be very difficult to describe with words or even with still pictures.

  • ▲Orientation to a Self-Adjusting Wrench

    In this digital age, you can’t get much more nuts ‘n bolts than an adjustable wrench. With these graphics, Kolin brings the virtual together with the material to show that the wrench disclosed in the patent looks and works just like the commercial embodiment. Note that this animated model, which was effectively used in court, was done very quickly — and inexpensively.

  • ▲Orientation to Dishwasher Heating Elements

    In this tutorial, Kolin modeled a dishwasher, inside and out. This animated model supported testimony on how a typical dishwasher heater is constructed, and how it works. I particularly like the clean and simple — yet realistic — look of these graphics

  • ▲Environmental Contamination: Fox River, WI

    This simplified model was used to support testimony on the topology of the Fox River valley in Wisconsin. By scaling the elevation by 15:1, Kolin was able to show the locks and dams with the greatest drop-off. These areas saw the most significant turbulation of sediments with high flow conditions.

  • ▲Trailer Suspension Member

    This animated model shows the parts making up an accused trailer suspension component. Importantly, it demonstrates that the beam travels only up and down and cannot rotate. Kolin was able to build this sequence very efficiently, and it was used in court to get a great result.

  • ▲High Value Tenant-Landlord Dispute

    Kolin’s architectural model is the focal point of a number of graphics. This sequence uses photographs over the animated model to demonstrate the impracticability of moving our client’s data center. The model gives context, and the photos furnish a detailed view of the vast complexity of the build-out. Other sequences open other floors for inspection and similar context for photos.

  • ▲Cutaway Jet Engine Model

    This jet engine model is one of the many thousands such models available for sale online. When we are able to locate a commercially-available model, our job is a lot easier and way less expensive. Here, Kolin cut away parts to find the view we wanted, applied lighting, color and textures, and created a novel “drafted” look, not typical of 3D animations.