Getting started
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      Quick Start Guide - PIX4Dmatic

      This guide offers a step-by-step walkthrough for first-time users of PIX4Dmatic, detailing the process of converting image datasets from drones or PIX4Dcatch RTK into precise 2D and 3D maps and models.

      IN THIS ARTICLE

      Video tutorials

      Setting up a project

      LogIn Log in
      Create_new_projectCreate new project
      tie_pointsImport Tie points
      coordinate_systemcoordinate_systemCoordinate Reference System
      image-outlineimage-outlineImage Coordinate Reference system
      tie_pointsGCPs Coordinate Reference System
      projectProject coordinate system

      Processing options

      calibrationCalibration
      point_cloudDense point cloud
      meshMesh
      dsmDSM
      orthomosaicOrthomosaic

      Outputs

      folder-outlineLocate the export folder

      Video tutorials

      Introduction to the PIX4Dmatic interface

      How to process aerial imagery with PIX4Dmatic

      How to process PIX4Dcatch data with PIX4Dmatic

       

       

      Setting up a project

      The first step in PIX4Dmatic is setting up the project, defining the required parameters, and adding the necessary data before moving on to processing.

      Log in

      Sign-up for a Pix4D account or use the existing Pix4D account to log in to the software.

      1. Click Pix4D_user_icon.png icon or Log in on the top right side of the screen.
      2. Enter the Email and click Continue.
      3. Enter the Password and click Log in.
      Important: Without a trial or a commercial license, the functionalities of the software are limited. For example, without a license, it is not possible to export results and save projects.
      Note: Customers of organizations with a single sign-on (SSO) active subscription will be redirected to their organization webpage for SSO login after inserting their email address. If you are interested in activating the SSO login for your organization, please contact us.

      Create new project

      New projects in PIX4Dmatic can be created by dragging and dropping images or image folders on the home screen, using the menu bar, or the Ctrl + N (⌘ + N) shortcut.

      Drag and drop input files

      1. Drag and drop images or image folders on the home screen.
      2. Specify the Project name, the Path of the project and the project Coordinate reference system (CRS). 
      3. Click Start.

      PIX4Dmatic home screen

      A new project has been created and is ready for processing. To import additional input files use the File menu on the top left or drag and drop them on the screen.

      For more information: Create a project - PIX4Dmatic

      Import Tie points (GCPs and CPs)

      Adding and marking Tie points (Ground control points (GCPs) and Checkpoints (CPs)) in a project is optional but recommended for maintaining and validating the absolute accuracy of a project.

      There are three methods to import a tie point .csv or .txt file into PIX4Dmatic. One is accessible through the File tab in the main header, and the others are accessible from the Tie Points panel.

      Adding tie points in PIX4Dmatic

      • [1] Go to the Menu bar and select File > Import > GCPs... to select the GCP file.
      • Click the tie_points.jpg Tie points (0) tab on the lower right of the screen to expand the tab.
      • [2] Drag and drop the GCP file, or Select from disk to specify the GCP file.
      • [3]Click the dropdown menu Pix4D_more_icon.png and select Pix4D_import_icon.png Import GCPs...
      • Select the tie point file.

      Tie points can be imported and marked at different stages:

      • Before the Calibration step: This requires more manual work as the position of Tie Points on images is not precise as it is determined only based on the initial image geolocation and orientation. However, marking the Tie Points before processing can eliminate the need for reprocessing or reoptimizing the Calibrate step.
      • After the Calibration step: The position of Tie Points on images is more precise as external and internal camera parameters are calculated. However, you will need to reprocess or reoptimize the Calibration step.

      For more information on Tie points: Tie points - PIX4Dmatic

      For more information on how to mark Tie points: Mark Tie points - PIX4Dmatic

      Coordinate Reference System

      After importing the images and the Tie points, the Coordinate Reference System (CRS) must be set. PIX4Dmatic allows setting the CRS of the Images, the GCPs, and the Project.

      Image coordinate reference system

      PIX4Dmatic allows the image coordinate system to be manually set or edited.

      To edit the image horizontal or vertical coordinate systems, click on the edit icon editin the lower right corner of the screen where the Cameras tab is.  

      Cameras tab in PIX4Dmatic

      After clicking on the edit icon, the Set image coordinate reference system (CRS) dialog box will open.

      Image CRS picker in PIX4Dmatic

      Unless a camera is in the PIX4Dmatic camera database or the images have the correct XMP tags, the default image coordinate system is WGS84 (EPSG: 4326) for the horizontal and EGM96 (EPSG: 5773) for the vertical.

      Warning: For PPK or RTK-enabled drones, it is advised to understand what coordinate reference system the images were acquired in. NTRIP networks or base stations may broadcast corrections on something other than PIX4Dmatic's default CRS, and this coordinate system should be set accordingly. Otherwise, an incorrect transformation will occur, and a shift in the outputs may result.

      GCPs coordinate reference system

      Both the horizontal coordinate system and the vertical coordinate system can be defined in the Tie Points table: 

      PIX44Dmatic set coordinate system

      The GCP coordinate reference system (CRS) window will pop up.

      Selecting coordinate reference system in PIX4Dmatic

      To select the horizontal coordinate reference system:

      • In the Horizontal coordinate reference system dialog, search or copy-paste for either:
        • The name of the coordinate reference system.
        • The EPSG code of the coordinate system.

      To select the vertical coordinate reference system:

      • In the Vertical coordinate reference system dialog, search or copy-paste for either:
        • The name of the coordinate reference system.
        • The EPSG code of the coordinate system.
      • (Optional) Geoid: If the selected vertical coordinate system supports geoids and the geoid model is available in the PIX4Dmatic database, select the geoid model in the drop-down list.
      • (Optional) Geoid height: If the selected vertical coordinate system supports geoids but the geoid model is not available in the PIX4Dmatic database, enter the value of the geoid height at that location.

      For more information and the list of supported geoids, please see How to use Geoids in PIX4Dmatic.

      Project coordinate reference system

      The horizontal and vertical coordinate reference systems for the project are determined by either the geolocation data of the imported images or the selected GCP coordinate reference system:

      • If the GCPs coordinate system is not defined, PIX4Dmatic will automatically set the project’s coordinate system to the WGS84/UTM zone corresponding to the image's geolocation. The vertical coordinate system will use ellipsoidal heights.
      • If the GCP coordinate system is defined, the project will adopt the same coordinate system as the GCPs. However, if the GCPs are in geographic coordinates, the output coordinate system will default to the corresponding WGS84/UTM zone.
      The project coordinate system is visible on the bottom bar:
      Coordinate reference system of the Project.

        Processing options

        Once the project setup is complete, the next step is processing. PIX4Dmatic offers a range of configurable options for each processing stage, from image calibration to the generation of Digital Surface Models (DSM) and orthomosaics, tailored to meet various project requirements. PIX4Dmatic includes three default processing templates:

        • Nadir
        • Oblique
        • PIX4Dcatch

        Users can also create custom processing templates to save, reuse, and share predefined settings for consistent workflows. For more information: Custom Processing templates - PIX4Dmatic.

        Calibration

        Calibration settings in PIX4Dmatic

        Calibration is the first step in processing a dataset and establishes the foundation for subsequent steps. The default settings are typically the best starting point.

        For more information: Calibration - PIX4Dmatic

        For PIX4Dcatch projects: How to process PIX4Dcatch datasets - PIX4Dmatic

        Dense point cloud

        Dense point cloud settings in PIX4Dmatic

        A dense point cloud consists of a collection of points distributed throughout a 3D space, representing the area of interest. The Dense Point Cloud step provides a 3D representation of reality, serving as the foundation for generating other 2D and 3D outputs in PIX4Dmatic.

        For more information: Dense point cloud - PIX4Dmatic

        Image pre-processing

        Image pre-processing: This step computes the necessary data to enable the object selection tool and is required only once.

        Image preprocessing selection

        For more information: Object selection tool - PIX4Dmatic.

        Mesh

        Mesh processing settings in PIX4Dmatic

        The Mesh step is created directly from the dense point cloud and is not mandatory for every project. Furthermore, generating a mesh is not required to produce the Digital Surface Model or Orthomosaic.

        For more information: Mesh - PIX4Dmatic

        DSM

        DSM processing settings in PIX4Dmatic

        A Digital Surface Model (DSM) is a 2D representation of elevation, capturing both natural and artificial features within the area of interest. The DSM step is essential for generating the orthomosaic, thus any adjustments to DSM processing settings will affect the orthomosaic. This step defines the resolution, enables surface smoothing, and allows interpolation for DSM creation.

        For more information: DSM - PIX4Dmatic

        Orthomosaic

        Orthomosaic processing settings

        An Orthomosaic is a highly detailed and realistic 2D representation of reality generated by combining individual images. The Orthomosaic step is generated directly from the Digital Surface Model (DSM), thus any errors or gaps in the DSM will also be present in the orthomosaic.

        For more information: Orthomosaic - PIX4Dmatic

        Outputs

        Once processing is complete, the Exports window in PIX4Dmatic provides the selection of the following outputs:

        • Quality Report
        • Dense point cloud
        • Point cloud from mesh
        • Mesh
        • Digital Surface Model (DSM)
        • Orthomosaic

        Locate the export folder

        To access the outputs, click on File and select Open project folder. The exported files can be found in the Exports folder.

        For more information: Outputs - PIX4Dmatic