Photo to 3D to AR : Free and Easy

Introducing photo shooting. Camera setup basics. Learn how to take photos. Things to do/not to do. Learning which object work better. Risks to avoid.

Install Regard3D, introduction to the interface. Getting help and tutorials.

Understand how to import photos and save under a project.

Understand how to match photos and steps of triangulation. Camera data base, error fixing etc.

Understing and executing the triangulation process.

Understanding the densification process, why it is necessary, algorithm behind. Export model to Meshlab. Export model to other software.

Install MeshLab, introduction to the interface. Open existing project, import the point cloud, and 1st step of cleaning.

Understand surface generation, cleaning 2nd time. Export the model for Sketchfab.

Account setting and upload the 3D content to Sketchfab. Setting user preference and meta data. Publish to general public. Share the content to social media. Visualise the model in Augmented Reality with Sketchfab app.

Congratulations and recap the workflow. Where to go from here, resources and future courses.

As you have already have a 3D object, you may like to take it to the next level, such as in 3D game or virtual environment – using it as a game asset or prop. In most cases 3D game or virtual environment requires low-poly mesh and baked texture. This bonus tutorial shows you how to optimize the 3D mesh and make textured model with MeshLab. It will show you how to  save the 3D in separate 3D file format and texture file, and later import it in Unity3D game engine.

We will be using MeshLab and Unity3D. Exercise materials are available to download and use.

In this tutorial we are going to explore how to optimize the mesh. So far, you may have your dense cloud and probably you have applied the surface on it, so you have a 3D model ! If you don’t have one, you can follow me with the same example. I have added the ‘ModelwithTexture’ folder in the exercise file. You will find all the relevant files here.

For many reasons you may need to optimise the model. Most cases, the main reason, is to make a smaller file size and prepare it to run smoothly in 3D game or interactive environment. Follow the instructions and you sill be able to optimise your mesh model in MeshLab.

There are various methods to transfer the color of the point cloud to the mesh, and finally generate the texture as a separate file (baked image). As we have developed our 3D models from photographs, the best method will work for us is using the ‘Parameterization + Texturing from registered rasters’. It is fast, easy and can produce fantastic textures. I will show you the process and how to save the texture file (.png) as a seperate file along the 3D file (.obj).

Once you have the textured model you can import it to a game engine like Unity3D for further use, such as using it as a prop, or in AR/VR. As we already have the 3D (*.obj) file with texture (*.png) it is easy to import as game assets. This tutorial will show you how to import the 3D model and re-apply the texture under Unity3D.

Welcome back. Hope you have enjoyed the other videos. As you may already have some experience on making 3D from photos. May be you would like to make 3D just using your phone; without using your PC. Yes, if you have a recent smart phone you can do it in a simple way. Let’s have some fun with your phone !

This video presents a mobile application 'Qlone', and shows how to use this app to capture small objects and make 3D model. Qlone is a free software but to convert/download the captured object; 'credit' needs to be purchased.

If you have access to a Structure Sensor and an iPad, you can scan and make a 3D model from objects, people or even a room interior. The process is very fast and easy! Have fun while making 3D models.