NewsBreak

Eos Systems Releases PhotoModeler Scanner

VANCOUVER, BC, Apr 22, 2008 - Eos Systems, maker of the award-winning PhotoModeler software, today announced the release of a new product, PhotoModeler Scanner. PhotoModeler Scanner contains the capabilities of Eos’ signature software product, PhotoModeler, plus a giant leap in capabilities from a new technology called Dense Surface Modeling (DSM).

PhotoModeler Scanner provides all the tools to derive accurate measurements from photographs and create high-quality 3D models. The software’s DSM technology scans photo pairs to generate a massive number of measurement points, automatically creating a point cloud much like the output of laser scanning equipment. Additional software tools built directly into PhotoModeler Scanner can easily translate the data into a mesh surface, which can be used in most any kind of 3D CAD or design application.

“PhotoModeler has long been the system of choice because of its adaptability to workflow,” says Richard Wolf, Senior Engineer at a leading video game development studio. “Dense surface modeling is one of the most exciting technologies to emerge from Eos Systems. It enables model composition and color registration in ways that again fit adaptively into our process. As a beta tester, I have logged more than 300 hours on this product, which in my opinion has surpassed the state of the art. I can now do what was impossible six months ago.”

The additional advantage PhotoModeler Scanner gives designers is precision color overlays. The DSM scan registers photographic color information pixel by pixel onto the resulting three-dimensional model surface. For quick viewing, colors display as a point cloud or can be fully rendered to create stunningly realistic solid models. Using a camera as the sole source of data collection yields a better registration match between the 3D data and photographic color data when compared to laser scanners, which must rely on a secondary device for acquiring color data.

The advanced development of DSM technology stands to replace laser scanning for customers who need a flexible solution that works both as a high accuracy 3D measurement platform and an efficient photo realistic scanner. PhotoModeler Scanner can quickly reproduce real-world objects as detailed 3D representations, for use in animation, reverse engineering, or the recording of scientific or legal evidence.

While laser-based 3D scans require bulky and fragile optical equipment, the capture of textured surfaces through photogrammetric DSM only requires two photographs taken from a regular camera. This far simpler hardware requirement makes the process more portable – capturing object indoors or outdoors, and more flexible – with no limitations on the size of photographic subject.

“PhotoModeler Scanner brings together both vector measurement and point cloud data in the same software package. This saves time by having both results already coordinated with each other. Typical scanning solutions that I have used retail for 10 to almost 100 times as much as PM Scanner, and also require the models to be coordinated in a separate process,” says Dan Mills, President of DCM Technical Services, a forensic evidence consultancy. “I can collect as much data as possible for my clients with minimal time in the field. I then have all the pieces to analyze a forensic scene with as much or little detail as required.”

For more details on PhotoModeler Scanner, click here.

Pricing & availability

Given the simplicity of hardware set-up, processing, and its color capabilities, DSM technology may soon make laser scanning solutions obsolete. The biggest advantage can be seen in terms of cost:  laser scanning hardware runs in the range of tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars, whereas the PhotoModeler Scanner software package is now available for only $2695 (North American price).