3D Scanning

[TacticallyWacked]

Many of you sculpt your characters and creations with various physical mediums but do any of you use 3D laser scanners to bring them into your 3D software?

I have been using a 3D laser scanner for the better part of the last year for various projects and found it to be a useful tool.

I have some 3d laser scan meshes you can download if anyone would like to see the data. While I don't include the textures the scanner creates I'd be willing to post some if any of you are truely interested.

You can find the scans here: http://www.pangea3d.com

I'd love to hear your thoughts!

Thanks!

-Alex Genovese
Rochester, NY

[TacticallyWacked]

Anyone out there?

[D-Holme]

I work with a much larger scale scans (boats/buildings etc.) so I've got some experience with that sort of thing. Meshing isn't as helpful with large scale applications as you loose to much detail or the opposite and end up with unusable quantities for data.

Your small meshes look quite tidy, the red Buddha at least, there seems to be issues with point lose toward the top - is that just because the scanner works on a fixed axis so it can have problems taking in the height of an object. The little figures don’t look as good are these lower res scans or do you get issues with surface finish?

I'm not sure whether there is that much purpose to scanning modelled objects over just modelling straight within a computer. I've read articles of some modelling companies working that way but to me it seemed as a result of a desire to keep with traditional techniques and move forward at the same than any actual usefulness. It would seem easier to do one or the other depending on what your final product was intended to be. I can see some applications for it but it would need to be in an environment able to support the various skill sets.

What kind of file sizes are you looking at for a small mesh like the examples you've posted? What kind of working accuracy are you looking at too?

You say you’ve found this method useful do you have any example for end results you’ve delivered from these methods?

[TacticallyWacked]

Great to hear your thoughts D-Holme! I'd love ot see some of your large scale scans if possible???

The size of the files obviously range depending on the accuracy and output. The scanner I'm using has two different modes, macro and wide. Macro mode is accurate to 0.005 inches with a max of 400 points per inch. Wide mode is accurate to 0.015 at 150 points per inch.

When I scan an object I can make many passes and later stich each pass together to make a completed mesh (textures included). It isn't on a fixed axis. I can move the object OR move the scanner aorund the object as it is not large. The RAW data from those scans can add up to gigs but depending on the final output I can keep the file size below 100megs and often below 10. The small figures you see for example are generally under 10 megs as an OBJ file. The scanning software has many tools for tweaking and clenaing the mesh.

I get varying levels sucess as there are many factors such as color, specularity and reflectiveness of the surface of an object. If you look here:

http://www.pangea3d.com/view_video.php?viewkey=4a10e0db5e4b97fc2af3

you will see that the Storm Trooper model is missing his hands. When I scanned this I set the software to expect a light colored surface with a high level of shine. As a result the majority of the object scanned but there was trouble get the hands and other BLACK colored areas.

I can play with the software settings and also do things such as apply a white powder to parts of the model such as this to get it to scan properly. However it can be hard to reach surfaces which are concealed or behind other surfaces. The red buddha figure here:

http://www.pangea3d.com/view_video.php?viewkey=8161a8cdf4ad2299f6d2

is a very good example of an object that lends itself to scanning. It is round and has no parts of it which are overlapping or behind others. This model worked so well infact that I didn't even have to do any post work on the 8 scans it was created from. The scan aoftware was able to autmatically aline each pass to create the solid mesh.

I find the scanner usefull in a number of ways but it certianly doesNOT replace traditional modeling in most scenerios. As far seeing my end results I have posted many on http://www.pangea3d.com and will continue to post more on a regular basis.

Here is what I am using the scanner for thus far:

1. Using scanned meshes as 3D reference for creating traditionally modeled objects. By using 3D refernece verse 2d photos or images you have an accurate shape in your 3D app to use as guidelines.

2. Scanning objects such as fossils and artifacts for historical and scientif research and value. I have one client who owns a NAtive America museum full of artifacts and wants to create a digital museum using scans.

3. Scanning art and sculpture for artists who have no digital 3d modeling skills yet have need to get thier traditioal work into a 3d model.

4. I have been experimenting using 3d scans and converting them into Scuplted Prims for the online world Second life.

5. Scan objects then drop their polys down to create props for realtime development...games and simulation. Keep the polys high and you have great resolution but film or higher end rendering.


There are draw backs to the scanner sure....but there are also advantages as well. I have talked ot many about this and everyone has various opinions. You have to look at it as a TOOL for creating digital content, what your needs and final output are and not something to replace a Digital artist or CAD engineer.