New product 3DSOM Pro creates 3D models easily from photos...
July 2005:
Creative Dimension Software Ltd have just released 3DSOM Pro, a
new software product for creating high quality 3D models from
photographs of a real object and presenting them interactively on the
web. The technology is based on 3DSOM v1.0 developed by Canon but has
been greatly enhanced in a number of key areas.
"With the new 3DSOM Pro release, image based modeling techniques can
now provide creative professionals with a real alternative to
time-taking hand-crafted modeling, or expensive digitisation of
objects." explains Adam Baumberg, Managing Director of CDSL. "We
believe 3DSOM Pro represents a real breakthrough in what can be
achieved using these kinds of techniques."
The system requires as input, a number of photographs of a real object
taken from different angles. The images are loaded into the software
and 3DSOM Pro then constructs a high quality texture mapped model with
very little user interaction.
The Pro release includes new tools for automating the extraction of
the object silhouette in each image - a painfully slow process in
competitor products. Mesh generation is fully automatic with new
powerful optimisation and subdivision surface fitting steps resulting
in much improved meshes suitable for relighting.
Compact texture maps are automatically generated by careful blending
of the input images. An innovative texture editing capability is
provided that allows the user to simply paint on an arbitrary view of
the model in their favourite 2D editor. In the new release this
capability has been extended further to register the virtual view with
an input photo for precise control of the final model appearance.
Other unique features include integration with conventional 3D
modelers via 3DS import and export. Multiple scans can now be combined
and a powerful interactive 3d viewer applet is supplied for
plugin-free web export. The viewer applet supports subdivision
surfaces for high performance data compression and additional streamed
"view-dependent" texture data for improved output quality. Other
export formats include 3DS, VRML and Shockwave3D.
The software is aimed at 3D graphics professionals, web designers and
photographers. Applications areas are varied and include museums and
heritage, designer clothing and jewellery, electronics, e-commerce,
marketing, games, animation and multimedia.
CDSL are making this software available as a complete package
including 1 years free support and 1 years free upgrades for the
recommended retail price of £1495 GBP (approximately $2700 USD). To
find a local reseller or for more information, visit the 3DSOM web
site at http://www.3dsom.com.
