Interactive Simulation of Plaster Model Turning for Porcelain Slip-Casting Mould-Master Design

This paper presents the design and evaluation of an interactive simulator for plaster turning in porcelain slip-casting. Whereas most virtual pottery systems model clay deformation, our tool simulates the subtractive shaping of rigid plaster blanks, an essential intermediate step in mould-master production. Co-designed with expert practitioners through a user-centred process, the simulator follows workshop practice from blank preparation to the geometric constraints of the turning wheel. We report five iterative prototypes and show how expert feedback replaced generic sculpting metaphors with task-faithful interactions, including correct hand positioning, rotation-dependent turning, and authentic preparatory routines. Our evaluation suggests that the system supports the acquisition of tacit procedural knowledge while also producing geometric data compatible with physically based rendering workflows. This research contributes to the digital preservation of intangible cultural heritage by making the material reasoning of porcelain manufacture accessible in a virtual environment.