#3D EXPRESS
8 messages in this thread
Is anyone familiar with 3D Express or Wireframe Express, by Synthonics? If so,
can you please tell me how to get a render ready mesh from their software into
3D Studio? I can get the meshes in as a DXF, but with no mapping and no texture
applied. The concept is to make a mesh from a photo and wrap the photo around
it. Great concept, but how does it work? What am I missing? I have the
software, but all it can export is a DXF. Is the rest of the job a function of
cropping parts of the photo and applying to faces? Or, is there another
software package that does this job automatically based on the original points
that created the mesh from the photo? Any answers would be greatly appreciated!
>> The concept is to make a mesh from a photo and wrap the photo around it.
Great concept, but how does it work? <<
As far as I know it doesn't work that way. I've got an early version of 3DE
and nowhere does it imply that the photos can be used directly as maps. Perhaps
it is different now, but…
The dxf model that you create is 3D but the photos are 2D flat images that
were taken at an angle, w/ a camera, and therefore distorted. I don't believe
that there is any way to map those photos to the image. They simply don't have
the 3D information in them.
The closest that you'll get is to use other photos, taken straight on to each
side, and use them as flat maps. But they will be distorted by natural photo
perspective (plus the colors just won't be "right") and you'll be unhappy w/
the results. Best to just map map surfaces manually.
– ej
3D Express is now called WireFrame Express. Its is put out by a company called
Synthonics.
We have been beta testing this product and have found it to be extremely
useful.
There have been a few changes in the program which you should know about:
Wireframe express will import 2 BMP images and allow you corelate points to
first determine the world axis (You need to know the focal length of the lens
that took the photos) and second to build a 3D wire frame object from the
images. The technical term for this type of modeling is called "Photogrametry"
**The newest version of WE will allow you to place the images directly onto
your mesh object!
***Synthonics has also devised a converter to allow you to export the mesh
w/maps DIRECTLY TO 3DS format!
I must say that it (can be) a very tedious and time consuming proceedure to
create these models but after the learning curve, its not that bad – and you
will get photorealism like you have never seen before!
Hope this helps.
Regards.
Ian Coony
3DS/Softimage Animator – RGA/LA
>> Synthonics has also devised a converter to allow you to export the mesh
w/maps DIRECTLY TO 3DS format! <<
Wow! That's quite a change. Thanks for the update.
What kind of mapping (on the mesh object) does this use?
What do the maps look like? Are they perspective adjusted or what? Don't they
look weird because of the environmental influences (clouds, angle of the sun,
etc.) at the time of the photos?
BTW: Do you know if they ever got their IPAS version of 3D Maker out the door?
I keep meaning to cal Alba and ask, but…
– ej
The generated mesh for 3DS has texture vertices and the map, from left or right
photo, is mapped accordingly. Welding destroys the texture vertices
information (as with any 3DS mesh). At the moment, the converter is separately
available but with the next release will be built. Common face edges are
welded and smoothing can be applied. The map looks like the photo, so, if you
have extreme lighting with high shadows and contrat (sorry, contrast) that will
be part of the map. Best photorealistic mapping to which you can apply 3DS
lighting and shadow is best done with no shadows cast on the image and even
lighting. Just like you would think.
As far as I know 3DMaker is available from Synthonics (818)-707-6000. That is
3DMaker as an IPAS.
BDLynn
>> The generated mesh for 3DS has texture vertices and the map, from left or
right photo, is mapped accordingly. <<
Are those maps the same photos used in 3DE? If so then, since they are taken
on a diagonal (towards the corner of the building so that both the left and
right sides are visible in both shots) and are a sort of exaggerated
perspective (w/ vanishing points and all), then how do they map on the object?
Are the maps perspective corrected by 3DE so that they appear flat and planar?
Or what?
– ej
The map is from the photo in 3DE but the mapping does not use planar or any
other projection. The vertices carry texture map information and the map is
stretched like rubber around the mesh. It is difficult to describe verbally.
Check out the 3DS manual on mesh mapping with texture vertices information.
The only way I know of to generate such a mesh inside 3DS is to loft with
mapping on and optimization off.
If you planar mapped the mesh, as per your question, yes, it would look odd
which is why Synthonics went the other route.
Brandie
Converter for current version of 3DE is available from Synthonics, Inc. at
(818)-707-6000. Generates a texture mapped 3DS file. BDLynn