The idea to run all the processing only on the THREE device is great but also brings some limitations. E.g. storage space and GPU/CPU processing power.
It would be excellent to have MFStudio SW (Windows) for the THREE which fetches all the scanning images via API from the scanner. And all the processing (cleanup, pointcloud alignment, meshing, texturing, XYZ coordinate alignment, basic measurement tools, etc) can be done on more powerfull PC. Data storage and GPU/CPU processing power is almost unlimited. I really think this would boost the productivity and allow to add even more features like marker detection.
Maybe MF could cooperate with Polyga (also canadian company) who developed FlexScan3d SW which is excellent 3d scanning SW. The structured light scanning process is very similar to MAF3. For developer it should be possible to modify their SW to fetch the images via API from THREE device instead of getting the data from USB3 cameras. As far as i understand they are no longer producing scanning HW so there should be no competition. Just an idea because it's also canadian company and FlexScan3d is great peace of 3d scanning SW.
Another native MFStudio SW for THREE would be also fine. I am sure that user would be also willing to pay extra for such additional SW if it provides more feature (e.g. marker detection) and the processing in faster and more powerfull.
Thanks for the input Christian!
Not use what this answer means ... yes, no, maybe?
I finally decided not to buy the THREE because for me the scanner provides only very basic features. The potential of the device is great from my pov the options in the SW is very much limited. All other standalone 3d scanner on the market from what i know provide also the option to process the data on the PC.
Main reasons for me not to buy MAF3 is the following:
- No markers / global markers are supported
- No HDR capturing (capture images with different exposure settings optimized for white and black parts on the same model)
- No option for fast data processing on the PC without limitation on using highest mesh quality settings.
- No independent capturing process for pointcloud and texture to optimize lightning conditions for both procedures. Dark lightning for 3d scanning, bright lightning (lightbox) for texturing. By this also polarizing filter could be used and object with/without scanning spray could be seperated.
- Basic measurement tools to align scan on coordinate system and perform basic measurements like distance point-to-point, point-to-plane, circle, cylinder, spere. Basic deviation analysis.
Everything mentionend could be added by SW. The competition in the 3D scanning market is simply too strong to rely only on very basic features from my pov.
@Christian Gassner certainly it's your choice what you buy, but your post has inaccuracies, so I'll respond:
- No markers / global markers are supported
- No HDR capturing (capture images with different exposure settings optimized for white and black parts on the same model)
- - NOT CORRECT - You can scan several times at different exposures, which is what HDR does. That said, most 3D scanners will be better using scan spray in this case.
- No option for fast data processing on the PC without limitation on using highest mesh quality settings.
- - CORRECT and by design. Some people don't like this, some people do.
- No independent capturing process for pointcloud and texture to optimize lightning conditions for both procedures. Dark lightning for 3d scanning, bright lightning (lightbox) for texturing. By this also polarizing filter could be used and object with/without scanning spray could be seperated.
- - NOT CORRECT. You can absolutely do two separate scans with different settings, one to get geometry, one to get texture.
- Basic measurement tools to align scan on coordinate system and perform basic measurements like distance point-to-point, point-to-plane, circle, cylinder, spere. Basic deviation analysis.
- - NOT CORRECT - there have been measurement tools and heat mapping in the software for at least the past six months.
HDR is not to capture several scans with different exposure settings. HDR is to combine several scans with different exposure settings into one picture considering only the best exposed area from series of images. All good structured light scanner i know (e.g. Shining3d, FlexScan3d, Rangevision, etc.) have this option, for good reason. Very often you have only very small area (black eye/nose/writing) on object which require other exposure setting and you do not want to have this very litle part in different scan.
Measurement tools. I haven't found and info about measurement tools in any youtube video or release note information. If you have this now, it's great but you somehow should publish new features to make everybody aware.
Ironically we had full HDR in MFStudio but no one ever used it, so it wasn't a priority for THREE.
We talked extensively about the measurement tool and heatmapping in this blog post from January 25:
https://www.matterandform.net/blogs/news/v-10-software-update-this-is-the-big-one
