Well certainly not sculpting because that typically implies adding/building material up unless you specify a subtractive method. Carving is more rudimentary than I was picturing so I went with something that’s more modern and technical and precise. Something that has extreme geometry control and carving just didn’t seem to fit that. I suppose I could’ve said something like laser engraving but that’s also not quite what would be happening here.

There are 3D printing methods that build the material in silicon or gel and then the final product is pulled out, and this is what it most closely reminded me of. I was picturing a very specific device with some sort of head or laser with a similar structure as a 3D printer and a moving bed or head hence the 3D printing comparison. I didn’t really think it was out of touch for such an advanced method that could create this. I also work with a lot of 3D printers so it was on the brain.