Meshroom: 3D models from photos using free photogrammetry software

[@969typO]

Im glad the elephant in the meshroom was finally addressed.

[@ExplainingComputers]

:)

[@johnphilippatos]

The plethora of professional tools that are free on the web is insane. You just have to have a guide to advice you and to point out some of them, and you can easily make a living creating stuff, without breaking any law and without having to pay a cent if you don't want to, or can't afford to do so. Thanks for the knowledge you share Chris.

[@elixier33]

"advice you"?

[@johnphilippatos]

@@elixier33 I meant to guide you. Excuse my mistakes, English is not my mother tongue.

[@Hook0403]

​@@elixier33 don't you have enough brain cells to understand what he meant to say?

[@xtremeincproductions]

@@elixier33 , how many languages do you speak? You always have two choices: be helpful or be a d1ck. Choose better. I'm pretty sure that everyone knew what @johnphilippatos meant. But still, if in the future you feel the need to call someone out on spelling or grammar, at least help them improve their multilingual skills by explaining what a better word choice may be. Only 20% of Americans can speak more than 1 language (and that number is likely to be high due to immigrants who have learned English in addition to their native language), whereas, over 50% of Europeans have the ability to speak more than one language. ☮

[@xtremeincproductions]

@@johnphilippatos FYI, the main difference between advice vs advise is that “advise” (with an S) is a verb, which means to recommend, or to give information to someone. On the other hand, “advice” (with a C) is a noun: an opinion or recommendation offered as a guide to action. No need to ever apologize for such mistakes. Live, learn, share & be kind. ☮

[@aytviewer2421]

That was one of the most incredible explanations of creating a 3D model I have ever seen. You succinctly explained and articulately demonstrated the entire process from taking the photographs, importing photos, generating the model, to finally producing a final printed object. I love the lion example best and how the final object was printed and made golden. Hard to believe you created that object simply from a series of photographs. Wow. Many thanks!

[@daveseddon5227]

Almost Star Trek-like!

[@olipito]

I agree, that is an amazing video!

[@ExplainingComputers]

Thanks. :)

[@user-te1le7ck6b]

As a cs teacher this video is gold subbed

[@S-I-T]

I'm surprised how well it handled specular highlights. These used to be the bane of any photogrammetry project. I've found a good overcast day helped in these situations. Great video .

[@paulg3336]

You can also dust smaller objects with talc to provide a matt surface

[@S-I-T]

@@paulg3336 I would have got shouted at doing that to statues in the park 😀

[@perrymcclusky4695]

Fascinating software. The final scene where you are standing in front of the statue and holding the printed version was nicely done.

[@ExplainingComputers]

Thanks Perry. :)

[@KTHKUHNKK]

@@ExplainingComputers Hello my friend. I would like to try this software. I am currently using Corel 3D Motion. Have you ever tried it or used it ? Keith Kuhn

[@perrymcclusky4695]

@@SatanenPerkele …and a nice special effect it was.

[@markdonnelly1913]

Another great episode. As a former Army cartographer, and photogrammetry instructor, this absolutely fascinates me. You didn't mention the file sizes of the models, but looking at the spacing of the nodes on the TIN, they must be quite large.

[@calinguga]

i would assume the original scene, with all the scraggly environment bits around it, could take up around 1GB (or less as the things look rather low-poly), and just the lion shouldn't be more than say 200MB. for 3d printing small items (even in resin but especially fdm) you don't really need all that detail, so you could simplify it, remeshing while keeping sharp edges perhaps, down to maybe 50MB (doing a minimal fill on the flat bottom is a nice trick as well). that's pretty much where most of my projects with similar subjects end up. edit: when he clicks on mesh.obj, explorer says 52MB, i don't know why.

[@Arkajyoti]

I am imagining Chris roaming the streets of London with a camera looking for statues. This was an an extremely well made video. I cannot imagine the planning that went behind showing a complete end to end project that required not just dealing with new and complex software but activating the neurons responsible for artistic senses. One of the best videos from the channel.

[@ExplainingComputers]

Thanks greatly for this kind feedback. This video was in production for a very long time! :)

[@Reziac]

@@ExplainingComputers Well worth it. I'm beyond impressed. I did initially misread the title as "Mushroom" and wondered what the heck? :D

[@TheSockMonkeyGuy]

@Angus MacFrankenstein Maggie.

[@johnd6487]

I may be mistaken, but from the buildings in the background, I’m pretty sure that park isn’t in London 🙂

[@nathancharnas]

"Lets go and take a closer look". My favourite words to hear every Sunday.

[@ChavdarIvanov4]

Fascinating. Reminds me of my old university master thesis, which was about "Recovering 3D shapes from perspective projections" (i.e. photographs); I dealt with only two at a time, the corresponding points were marked with a tablet, the implementation was on an HP 2647A intelligent terminal running Basic - I had to do all the necessary Linear Algebra subroutines myself... It was 1980-1981 after all...

[@sail4life]

Wow, 1981! That must have been a real Eureka moment when the point cloud all came together! How did you visualize that back in the day?

[@ChavdarIvanov4]

@@sail4life Not really; it was more like a proof of concept, following an article about a hardware-based solution using one of the high-end systems at the time; Evans & Sutherland as far as I remember, in which they had two tablets (planchets, as they were called by some), that had the two photos mounted, one had to select at the same time the same points from both and press a button for the 3D coordinates to be calculated; I had just one tablet, so the two photographs were placed next to each other, the points were selected consecutively after a screen prompt. The visualisation used the available HP Basic 2D graphics library, I did the projections myself. The 3D graphics model was point-rib-face type with the topology verified at every change. It worked only for very simple models, but was fun to do. The alternative to the HP 2647A I could have ued at the time was a PDP-XVM (PDP-18 multi-processor graphics system) which had to be programmed mostly in Macro, that was way above my then-knowledge and the timeframe.

[@razeel2000]

Very impressive what one can achieve with rather low spec hardware and patience... for free! Thanks for showing!

[@zooblestyx]

Two Minute Papers posted a video about recent strides in AI photogrammetry. Much recommended. What a time to be alive. :)

[@captainpumpkinhead1512]

This guy's videos remind me of those TV shows that aired on PBS (or similar channel) in the late 90s early 00s that my parents would watch. I kinda like it.

[@thebaldchick2857]

This is honestly one of the best tech videos I've ever watched

[@nickf3242]

Oh wow! I just finished the video since my last comment... what a beautifully edited and produced video. This had different locations and included many time consuming tasks condensed down with a finished product all for all our instant gratification Sunday morning KZbin enjoyment. Kudos sir.

[@berner]

Well it's good to see you finally addressing the elephant in the Meshroom.

[@ExplainingComputers]

Nice. :)

[@kyoudaiken]

Absolutely amazing show off, Chris! I also got into 3D stuff with Blender and it's really fun, bought an RTX 3090 for it and it just spits out rendered PNG images like there's no tomorrow. Scanning real life objects and doing retopology on it is really a learning curve I think.

[@LMacNeill]

That was incredible!! The end result was extremely impressive! And as the software matures, and computer hardware becomes more and more powerful, this process will only get easier.

[@willofirony]

A very impressive result. I suspect your video will be responsible for many purchases of 3D printers. Well done, you!

[@NicolasChapadosGirard]

What an interesting software. Also this is impressive work of art reproduction! I have to share this to a friend who got a 3d printer recently

[@waynestewart1919]

That was quite impressive. You spent an enormous amount of time on this. Thank you.

[@tejonBiker]

My father some times build artifacts for his tractor, some times he sell it a build again or build for another people, with this tools I can scan the final product without too much mess for future references. Thanks for the video.

[@nickf3242]

Thank you for sharing all these free open source tools over the years!

[@steveshadowphoto9346]

Wow! Thanks, as always, for presenting a computer process from start to finish in a clear and concise way.

[@strawberriebabieex3]

incredible the results of 3D reality you were able to record into the final product. thank you Chris for opening our eyes to this new technology.,

[@DJAYPAZ]

An excellent video explaining this technology. Chris sets a very high standard for clear explanations of complex technology.

[@jimlynch9390]

I worked for SGI (Silicon Graphic Inc) who invented 3d hardware solutions and who's hardware and software was responsible for generating 3D models of certain structures and terrains used by the US Air Force to fly missions in simulators before actually getting in the cockpit. This was back in the circa 1999 time frame. I understand the AF used high level aircraft (drones?) and satellite photos to develop the models. I saw some of the stuff they generated and was impressed that they could do that back when they were using hardware will less power than my laptop. I was impressed then and even more so now.

[@ExplainingComputers]

I remember those SGI workstations. :)

[@DancerVlt69]

Nice to have found 'meshroom' and show us what the software can do, for free! I use meshroom since 2018.

[@Justin-Case-2.0]

Wow, all over the years i was thinking, only mad professors would be capable of that ;-) In my humble opinion your most impressive video so far, thnx very much! :-)

[@ExplainingComputers]

Thanks! 😃

[@richardeadon6396]

Wow, that final product is amazing. Very cool. All these software companies moving to subscription-only plans is great for free and open-source software :D

[@jamesdinsmore9022]

Thanks!

[@ExplainingComputers]

Thanks James, most appreciated. :)

[@Colin_Ames]

Fascinating video. Until today I had never heard the word photogrammetry.

[@slimplynth]

Thanks

[@ExplainingComputers]

Thanks for your support, most appreciated. And good luck with Meshroom!

[@Bassotronics]

Great video and great software! 👍🏻 Makes me want to now take pictures of myself and make a statue to put on the corner of the room.

[@richardpalmanteer9798]

Well done Chris, enjoyed watching the video. And the fact it can be done without spending any money and the Lion looks great at the end of the video with you holding the lion and the actual statue. Kodo's my friend!!!

[@eurasia2941]

Too many videos are nothing more than cooking recipes. Yours is a scientific reasoning that explains the how and why. Therefore, it is a very interesting document. Thanks a lot.

[@lorderectus1849]

Been a 3d modeling fan for years! And teaching myself for just as long!

[@dankierson]

You are really on fire this year. Great video again. Gives me an idea about a bespoke design project.

[@ExplainingComputers]

If a video sparks a project idea, then it has done its job. :)

[@zebrasprite]

Fascinating stuff. Free, open source stuff always gives me a smile.

[@mr.techie8565]

Chris, you are wonderful! Your tutorials are the best I've ever seen!

[@ExplainingComputers]

Thanks!

[@shreekumar3d]

Another fantastic video, Chris! Putting the 3D printed object in the park - very effective. Time to try Meshroom !

[@horseradishpower9947]

This is a really good video. This technology is likely going to feature more in our lives in the future.

[@cliffterpher]

Wow - love your open-source tutorials Chris. Thank you

[@Reziac]

Here I am, back again, and now I understand more of what I'm seeing. Wonderful! I have that same wooden elephant (tho a bit larger) in my living room, and mine has also lost its tusks!

[@stevescinematicservices]

Fantastic video! Your succinct, ‘attention to detail’ approach with the added benefit of taking extra time to allow the viewer to process what you’re saying is genius - and frankly just downright entertaining. I am kissing my fingertips - this video is decedent. Subscribed!

[@ExplainingComputers]

Welcome aboard! :)

[@thomasgraf1986]

This is so cool Chris! I had no idea free software could be that powerful. Thank you for continuing the explain the power of computers!

[@jimlynch9390]

Fantastic! Thank you, Chris for another excellent video. You have again presented a complex operation in a manner that the average person can understand and perhaps duplicate.

[@aspectcarl]

Thank you for this excellent video! I have a 3d printer and I find this technology fascinating, hats off to all the people in background developing the software technology, just amazing 🙂❤️

[@greenftechn]

I've found the commercial photogrammetry programs expensive for my needs. This is cool. Thanks!

[@constantinknab]

I am 15 and have been using mushroom for a few months now,I'm trying to start a scanning service and I've gotten 1 order, this is the future!

[@joeg3950]

Fantastic! I’ll pass this video on to a few people I know that want to know how to do this. Thank you

[@tonysheerness2427]

Thank you for showing us more wonderful software that a lot of us did not know existed. The software is very interesting but also very time consuming in learning and being proficient in it. Now is it a Sprat to catch a Mackerel, tempted by the free software, you have to have a latish computer, lots of disk space to store all the formats of the output, a reasonable camera, I should imagine the higher the megapixel the better the output and a 3d printer. What you can achieve is mind blowing. Your Lion does you credit.

[@NUeB_net]

Thanks for showing *how* simple to use meshroom is. So I finally gave it a try and I'm amazed: the first simle model just took about 30 minutes to calculate (12 cores CPU, 64 GB RAM). Then I converted the *.obj* file to *.stl* in FreeCAD, I used PrusaSlicer 2.6 to cut and simplify the mesh. Back in FreeCAD I repaired holes in the mesh… and I'm quite happy w/ the result. Only downside (compared to 3D scanning devices) I see is that meshroom can not get the right dimensions, so I had to scale it back to original size.

[@DaGleese]

This looks great! I could make sculptures out of clay and use this software to create 3D Models to be 3D printed. I always thought sculpting software seems a little finnicky and loses the physical "artistic" element of sculpting. This is basically an answer around that. Thanks for sharing this Chris!

[@ExplainingComputers]

A great idea, I will cross my fingers that this works for you. And the results could always be cleaned up in a free sculpting package like ZBRush Core Mini: zbrushcore.com/mini/download.php

[@ExplainingComputers]

@tripplefives Oh yes, a mesh created via photogrammetry is very unlikely to work well for soft body animation -- although it can provide a useful guide for model more suitable for this purpose.

[@MyAnim_]

If you are looking for 3D models of Dinosaur , you can subscribe to my KZbin channel.

[@kevincaulkett9358]

As you said "Amazing"! Thanks so much for explaining the intricate walkthrough of the entire process which if wrtten down would require a textbook with many illustrations. Always appreciate the time and efforts that you put into your videos, plus the integration of your great modelling skills and artistic talent to provide us with a stunning end product. I can see that we are not far away from the time that robotic printers could be setup on the moon and we can send and tweak the data using techniques like this to create intricate structures. The beginnings of teleportation perhaps? keep up the good work Chris!

[@MyAnim_]

If you are looking for 3D models of Dinosaur , you can subscribe to my KZbin channel.

[@koikarppa]

This is incredible! I'm so happy the softwares are free. Going to try this out on models I've made in Dreams PS4 and hopefully I can 3D print them too

[@Reziac]

That was... riveting. Very impressed with the golden 3D model's solidity. You might do an extra to tour the node part that was beyond the present scope.

[@lesclemens3831]

I am an avid follower of your channel. This video is very informative. There is one thing that would help with further exploring and trying out this process. It would be very helpful if you would make available your photos used in this video. This way we could follow along with you in exploring the capacities of the process. It would be comforting knowing that we had good photos to work with. Thanks for your dedication.

[@michalrzmichalrz6656]

Very excited to try. Great vid, great subject. Thank you Christopher.

[@PhG1961]

I'm amazed what this software can do, especially when you look at it's price !

[@englishrupe01]

Wow....stunning! Many thanks, indeed, Chris, for all the time, effort and expense you put into your work. It is always amazing very professional and much appreciated! I have had a passing familiarity with laser templating whilst working in various nuclear plants a decade or two ago and am amazed how far this technology has come from those days, and been incorporated into today's home technology.

[@wolfiedgr8t]

Just amazing to have access to this type of software for free 👍

[@PaulPolmeer]

Excellent! Just what the doctor ordered Thank you!!!

[@davidsharma3147]

You sir just saved my life. This is astounding!!

[@ExplainingComputers]

You are welcome!

[@watsoft70]

WOW! Another amazing presentation. Oddly I was just reminiscing about a morphing program (as we called them back then) that took two images as input and hours of computing later produced a short video of the transformation from one image to the other. I was blown away at the time and wondered if the process would be almost instant now given the massive difference in computing power. Then comes a suite of app's that can be used to create a 3D object from 2D images...mind blown! I really should stop using explosives to express my amazement...it's damn dangerous. ;)

[@ExplainingComputers]

It would be a sad world where we stopped being amazed by really cool software. :)

[@thedroneguy2024]

Stunning! Well done and such patience. Love the video! keep them coming Chris!

[@icarossavvides2641]

Ive watched three other videos on this topic and this is the only one that mentions how long the processes take, flipping ages as it turns out! The other videos gave no indication of timescales. When I tried to run a test exercise, because the program doesn't have an activity indicator, I thought Meshroom had stalled! Thanks for the 'real world walk through demo.

[@pawel8365]

I used to run past that lion when I lived in Nottingham. Great video!

[@neilsimpson79]

Hi Chris. I've been messing about with meshroom since watching this. Having some teething problems here and there and thought I'd try a turntable. I never realised it needs the background to work. After realising this my phone camera was pinging errors about metadata. Decided to try pro mode on my phone and lock the iso and white ballance and when inside lock the shutter speed. Worked a charm.

[@ExplainingComputers]

Great to hear you have things working. The problem with a turntable is that it is very hard to keep the lighting consistent, so as you turn the object you are not photographing the same thing from a different angle. And the background can play a role in camera location, as you note. :)

[@Praxibetel-Ix]

Glad to see that the cat from last month's MP Select Mini video has a lion friend now!

[@josephkelly4893]

Wonderfully done Chris. Thanks for sharing.

[@R.-.]

6:59 In that booth the cameras will take pictures of each other, they really need a one-way light permitting surface infront of the camera. This reminds me of those camera rigs that were popular on TV about 20 years ago. They had a semi-ring of camers to photograph a subject from many angles, but the cameras could not see each other. They would take a photo at the same time to produce a time freozen animtion of a subject moving from one side to the opposite. I think this was used in The Matrix for bullet-time animations.

[@R.-.]

Here's a playlist of bullet-time camera rigs: kzbin.info/aero/PL4JMjOC5VwJZ5Urd-Io3HwLW23P4QhxKo

[@grmlab4510]

This is remarkable. I'm learning so much from this series. Your first 3D printing video actually inspired me to go out and get a 3D printer after years of being on the fence. I've had a great time and have even designed some replacement parts with Tinkercad and successfully printed them. Looking forward to what else you have in store!

[@dezmondwhitney1208]

Genuinely Impressive Technology. Well Done.

[@peetabix]

I know nothing about 3d modeling and my computer is nowhere near powerful enough to run the software. But this is really really cool and fascinating.

[@polarisworks]

Best video you have made! From idea to result.

[@ExplainingComputers]

Thanks!

[@nathaliefiset5734]

WOW! Beautiful result and great explanations! Thank you.

[@ExplainingComputers]

You are welcome! :)

[@paulg3336]

Autodesk: A free application - until the community has completed the free beta testing for the company and they decide to charge $300 for it

[@the_arcanum]

You got it the other way around. Autodesk is where great software go to die once they've been bought out for their patents and left as a shell of their former self never to be updated again.

[@Juan_lauda]

Awesome. Old school Open university / learning zone style presentation. Approved.

[@annfrank5959]

Im glad you still use audacity people say it's old but It's still good software

[@LockdownElectronics]

Excellent stuff Chris, I need to have a go at this!

[@alanthornton3530]

A fascinating video Chris, this is what Sundays are all about! If the elephant or the items you're photographing were set up on a slow rotating platform you could use a tripod to raise/lower the camera to take the photos needed, using a constant light source on one area. As the items aren't that tall you probably would get away without altering the camera angle, just a thought.

[@ExplainingComputers]

This is true to an extent, but a constant light source on one area would not work (well). The object needs to be consistently lit from the same angles whilst being photographed, so to use a turn table some kind of diffuse lighting arrangement would be needed. Meshroom will struggle if every part of the object is not lit in the same way in every image.

[@Reziac]

@@ExplainingComputers I'm thinkin' the tripod and turntable idea is a job for one of those Pi units...

[@ExplainingComputers]

@@Reziac Ah, now that is a cool project idea. Noted! :)

[@Reziac]

@@pedrocx486 It looks like from their video that you could make a ring turntable to move the camera, and let the object be stationary?

[@phillcrean2300]

This video is so helpful, as ever explained perfectly, I am so very grateful for this video, came up on the feed by chance which I’m happy with as right now I’m actually creating a 3D object via phones, but was doing it the manual way, 25 hours later not much to show, but this this I’m sure within a few hours I’ll have it done, thank you.

[@ExplainingComputers]

Good luck! :)

[@phillcrean2300]

@@ExplainingComputers downloaded, installed (as such) added the images, clicked start, worked upto halfway, told me my GPU not good enough, shame that.

[@ExplainingComputers]

Sorry to hear this.

[@DavinaTheWeena]

Fantastic. Stuff of wildest dreams not many years ago.

[@jls9225]

Between the picture and the model, the model is spot on with the picture, minus some flaws. Today's technology is awesome, before you know it, they'll be printing human organs next, then human beings. Fascinating video, this time next to your quantum computer episode. As Always, Be Smart and Stay Safe.

[@englishrupe01]

You may already know this but they are already able to 3D print human tissue and are exploring printing organs...i think some lab in maybe Kansas(?) is pursuing this. It was discussed in another of Chris's video's. You are probably referring to this, sorry, but i find it utterly amazing and also pretty scary, too.

[@jls9225]

@@englishrupe01 I feel the same way, all of the movies of past are starting to come true, one movie that comes to the mind is Repo Men. As Always, Be Smart and Stay Safe.

[@jerrymckee4332]

That was awesome, very impressive software considering it’s free!! Thank you for all your hard work on these videos!!!

[@ExplainingComputers]

Thanks for watching. :)

[@summerWTFE]

OMG finally a photogrammetry app that doesn't require uploading to cloud.

[@manuellongo4365]

The system to make a 3D scan was using a handheld laser 3D scanner or a mechanical system using a ruby-tipped stylus that is either automatic (a BIG machine) or the stylus is moved by hand and a system of levers can very accurately measure position. The handheld scanner often requires reflective and adhesive dots stuck on the object being scanned that the computer uses for reference. These systems are very expensive and even the handheld models cost thousands of dollars. When I saw the video I was amazed.....you can actually photograph a 3D object and, with some work, produce a very acceptable scan to print or import to a 3D CAD package and modify at will and all for FREE! Truly incredible.

[@JoseLopez-oz1xm]

That was a awesome video, Great work Chris.

[@susanderuiter5725]

Thanks mr Barnatt, great guidance again. Exactly what I needed!

[@ArneDeBrauwer]

I love you man! This is something i always wanted to do... but always thought it was impossible to do without expensive equipment. Thanks mate! 😊 👍

[@akeyrtainment8507]

10:15 pm, all the way from Malaysia. This sounds like a good 3d designing/rendering software.

[@ExplainingComputers]

Greeting from the UK. :) Meshrooom is indeed a lovely application.

[@heedmywarning2792]

I love this video. So many details and questions answered. Thank you.

[@MicrobyteAlan]

Excellent topic, I have fusion 360 and a 3D printer. This is my next step, great timing. I’m currently printing a 3D version of the JWST. Thanks

[@ExplainingComputers]

I thought this video may appeal to you! Let us know what you photograph and 3D print. :)

[@michaelburns8073]

In case you were not aware, you don't have to use photogrammetry to get the JWST 3D Model. NASA makes it available for free. You might have to do some object file conversions to get it to work in Fusion 360.

[@MicrobyteAlan]

@@michaelburns8073 - I’m using files from thingiverse. Scanning will come next.

[@michaelburns8073]

@@MicrobyteAlan I guess I am confused -- why would you need to scan if you already have 3d object files for the JWST? Are you trying to photoscan something else?

[@franks3811]

This is a great video. Very interesting and I definitely learned a lot about 3d imaging as well as 3d printing. Would like to see more. Thank you!

[@Muppet_Interfector]

You do a great job. I enjoy your videos, they are informative and easily understood.

[@AndreasLenze]

Brilliant! Made my Sunday - again! I may have found a new hobby...👍

[@danielkerryann]

Superb video!!! Very informative and entertaining - time to get me a 3d printer!

[@wrxs1781]

Well done Christopher, informative video. Also this type of software is also used today in dentistry. Now the Chrome o/s flex software for all are old windows machines that are now sitting in storage has great interest. To revive these aging devices for further use seems very forward thinking to myself..

[@srtcsb]

Software like this has made some marked improvements recently. I guess that's why Samsung kind of abandoned their software for 'depth of field' camera/sensors on their phones a few years ago. Thanks for another great video Chris. 😎

[@ExplainingComputers]

Thanks Steve. :)

[@prawnman]

So you could say there was an elephant in the room! Great video by the way.