Steps for Digitizing and Modeling

Photo4D uses multiple images to compute 3D information. After obtaining pictures of an object to be digitized, users process the pictures by using the Photo4D software. The following steps are generally involved in the processing:

1. Invoke Photo4D: Start up the program.
2. Load Images: Import image files into the Photo4D program.
3. Mark Image: Mark feature points in images. This provides essential information for Photo4D to compute the (x,y,z) coordinates of these points.
4. Setup the followings:
   • Reference Points: Specify coordinate values for two or more points as references. The reference points determine a world coordinate system in Photo4D.
   • Geometric Constraints (optional): The geometric constraints on points can be used to improve the accuracy of results.
   • Initial Camera Parameters: There is no need to know the exact locations and directions of cameras when taking pictures. Photo4D is able to compute these and other imaging parameters automatically. However, Photo4D needs some initial values in order to start computing.
5. Compute 3D Information: The (x,y,z) coordinates of points and the imaging parameters are computed at this step.
6. Take Measurement (optional): Photo4D can do some measurements, such as determining the distance between two points and finding the mid-point between two points. You may use this feature to obtain geometrical information to help construct 3D models.
7. Construct Model (optional): Users can construct models via point sets, polylines, and surface meshes directly in Photo4D. This feature is especially useful for modeling complex surfaces.
8. Export Result: Export point coordinates and models to a file. You may use any 3D graphics or CAD package to model the object based on the exported file.

The above steps need not to be done in the given order. Photo4D allows users to work on any step at anytime.