Software Converts 2D Images To 3D 152
eldavojohn writes "Dr. David McKinnon from Queensland University of Technology, has recently launched a site that turns your sets of 2D images into 3D bump maps by way of 8 years of his research. The catch is that you need to have between five and fifteen photos of your object and they must overlap at least 80 to 90 percent. So with a video of an object, one might be able to extract every nth frame and use this site to generate a 3D model. Doctor McKinnon said, 'The full version of this software would be great for realistic learning simulators and training software, where you want everything to look like the real thing. This technology could also be great for museums wishing to turn their display objects into 3D images that can be viewed online. We are even looking into making 3D models of cows to save farmers spending thousands of dollars transporting their cattle vast distances to auction sites, allowing for an eBay style auction website for cattle. Films, animations and computer games could also benefit, since 3D film making is taking over from the traditional 2D method of filmmaking. Another application is allowing people to create 3D models of their own face to use on their avatar in computer games or 3D social networking sites such as Second Life or Sony's Home.' Physorg has more details."
How much of the image is real? (Score:3, Interesting)
between five and fifteen photos of your object and they must overlap at least 80 to 90 percent.
So the 3D object in question will only have a front side? That's nowhere near enough for all sides.
Re:How much of the image is real? (Score:3, Interesting)
If you can generate this sort of bump map for each of the 6 sides (think a cube) you should be able to generate an actual mesh. At least you'll have the precise 3D location for each pixel, shouldn't be too difficult to create a mesh from that.
Re:VERY, VERY (Score:1, Interesting)
You know what, AC, you're right.
This guy has wasted his life. EMC2, an Ubuntu-based CNC milling program, has a JPG to G-code generator. A company I've worked for did this with some commercial success turning baby handprints and footprints into custom milled embossed plaques.
You take your picture, finesse it, and turn it into a 3D-object. Several CAD programs, such as Rhino and Solidworks, have plugins that do the same thing. There are dozens of programs that do this for various prices.
Even better, they only require ONE image.
Anyone care to explain (Score:1, Interesting)
Okay, so I'm not as dumb as this post will seem to make me by asking, but for the sake of the uninitiated...
What is a bump map? and how is it significant in relation to photos and 3D?
Misleading title (Score:4, Interesting)
Photosynth [photosynth.net] is far more interesting if you're excited by this concept.
Cows are fractal . . . (Score:5, Interesting)
. . . http://www.mndl.hu/works/fractalcow [www.mndl.hu]
This is Crazybump (Score:2, Interesting)
What about videos? (Score:2, Interesting)
What happens if we use this for videos (which are just sequences of generally overlapping images)?
If any progress could be made in this department, we could make video game maps by simply recording a factory with a video camera.
dating websites (Score:1, Interesting)
This would be very useful on dating websites where you need to know if the girl has a big ass. They often provide a very vague 2D image of their frontside.
Re:VERY, VERY (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:MER does it [Re:VERY, VERY] (Score:1, Interesting)
The mars rovers know how far apart their cameras area and their relative positioning. Also, it's not really a 3D terrain model as it doesn't really know what's on the other side of that dune or rock.
Having a program that will automatically determine relative positioning of photos, and construct a map from them without other input is a bit of a step for this tech, but I will have to say that bump mapping is a bit old school. When this allows multiple photos to combine to a full 3D object it'll be even better.
I also seem to remember being able to do just that with a webcam and a proejctor a few years ago. but the details excape me at the moment.
Go to Angkor Wat (Score:3, Interesting)
I'm posting this really late in the thread so maybe nobody will read it (or care) but...
If there is one place on earth that is crying out to see this technology used it is the KILOMETERS (really!) worth of intricate stone carvings at Angkor Wat (Cambodia). I've thought about borrowing (stealing?) a friend's $500,000 laser scanner to capture them but the 1) he (his institute really) probably wouldn't let me 2) the thugs who run Cambodia would probably not let me use it without me paying some extortionate amount. There really is no-where else on earth where you can see the results of thousands of man-years of skilled stone carvers. This priceless cultural heritage should be captured before pollutants like acid rain slowly erodes it or thieves literally dynamite it to pieces.
Now perhaps anyone with a good video camera, a steady hand, and a LOT of patience can get this done! Perhaps if this job is too large for any one individual to complete it could be done in sections and the individual video sequences shared over the internet. Anyway, I hope this software is modified to handle video (subject to certain restrictions such as shooting in progressive mode).