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Scanning Results Keep Getting Better

We have  steadily improved our scanning results over the last 6 weeks by modifying hardware, writing new software, and tuning over a dozen variables.  The video below demonstrates the effect of our enhanced noise reduction: Low noise in 3D models is important for two reasons: Low noise 3D looks better.   Low noise 3D models…

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9 Months of Software Enhancements Have Cut Errors in Half Again

This year’s enhancements to the image processing routines in our stereo scanning software has improved processing speed and 3D model accuracy. Comparisons between our current results and those from 9 months ago show that we have reduced the magnitude of one type of geometric error in our 3D scans by a factor of 2 to…

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Progress Report: Sub-Pixel Upgrade Cuts Errors in Half

This post compares our latest 3D results with results from November 2012 (3 months ago). Our 3D models are generated by processing pairs of 2D images, and the same 2D images that were processed in the November post have been processed again. The only difference between the two 3D models is that new version was…

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Making Good Photorealistic 3D Models from 2D Pictures

Making 3D models is time consuming. Recent programs like Google’s SketchUp (it’s free) have simplified the process of making digital 3D models, but SketchUp is definitely not automatic. To make a 3D model look photorealistic, real world pictures can be “projected” onto a SketchUp model. While this technique can add realism, SketchUp is still a…

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First Low Resolution 3D Point Cloud from Proto-4F

The cameras are finally calibrated, and the communications and power systems are installed and working. Now I can finally begin producing scans to test and fine tune the software. Today I scanned part of the lab, and the animated GIF illustrates the 3D nature of the scan. When producing a 3D model, multiple perspectives must…

Google Sketchup Basecamp

From June 11 to 13 Google hosted a 3-day training called SketchUp Basecamp. About 400 people from all over the world all gathered to learn about the 3D visualization techniques of SketchUp and how to integrate the 3D models into Google Earth. We spent most of our time on this patio and in the buildings…