How to generate the 3D Textured Mesh - PIX4Dmapper

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Access: It is possible to generate the 3D Textured Mesh while processing step 2. Point Cloud and Mesh or once it has been completed.
 
Important: 
  • The Point Cloud is used to generate the 3D Textured Mesh, which is a surface composed by triangles. During the process of the 3D Textured Mesh generation, the vertices of the triangles are defined so as to minimize the distance between some points of the Point Cloud and the surface. 
  • If any Processing Area and/or Image Annotation are defined, they will also be used in the generation of the 3D Textured Mesh.
 
Note: It is possible to select more than one format to save the 3D Textured Mesh. When no output format is selected, only a .p4b file is generated. A .p4b file is always generated and can only be opened in the rayCloud of Pix4Dmapper. 
 
Warning: 
  • For .ply and .obj format, the texture is generated in a .jpg file, which contains a 2D planar RGB image with the values for each pixel of the triangles that form the 3D Textured Mesh.
  • In order to use the 3D Textured Mesh in other software, both the .ply/.obj and the .jpg files should be in the same folder and should have the same name.
  • The .jpg texture file is associated to the .ply / .obj / .p4b files generated while generating the .jpg file.
  • If new .ply / .obj / .p4b files are generated, they cannot use a .jpg file generated previously even if it corresponds to the same project and same parameter values.
  • If having problems visualizing the 3D Textured Mesh in the rayCloud or an external software due to lack of hardware resources, it is possible to resize the .jpg file (reducing the same percentage for the width and height) using any image editor.

 

While processing step 2. Point Cloud and Mesh 

In order to generate the 3D Textured Mesh while processing the step 2. Point Cloud and Mesh:

1. On the Menu bar, click Process > Processing Options...
2. Select step 2. Point Cloud and Mesh.
3. Select the tab 3D Textured Mesh
4. In the section Generation, select Generate 3D Textured Mesh.
5. (optional) In the section Settings, select the Resolution for the 3D Textured Mesh.
6. (optional) In the Settings section, select the checkbox Use Color Balancing for Texture to use the color balancing algorithm for the texture of the 3D Textured Mesh. For more information: Menu Process > Processing Options... > 2. Point Cloud and Mesh > 3D Textured Mesh.

 
Note: By default, the resolution is set to Medium Resolution. For more information: Menu Process > Processing Options... > 2. Point Cloud and Mesh > 3D Textured Mesh.

7. (optional) In the Export section, select the desired output formats to be generated (.ply, .fbx, .dxf, .obj, .pdf). For more information: Menu Process > Processing Options... > 2. Point Cloud and Mesh > 3D Textured Mesh.
8. (optional) In the 3D PDF output, click Select... to select a logo to be displayed in the 3D PDF file that will be generated (.jpg and .tif formats are accepted).
9. Click OK.
10. On the Menu bar, click View > Processing.
11. Select step 2. Point Cloud and Mesh and unselect 1. Initial Processing and 3. DSM, Orthomosaic Index.
12. Click Start.

 

After processing step 2. Point Cloud and Mesh

In order to generate the 3D Textured Mesh once step 2. Point Cloud and Mesh has been completed.

1. Follow steps 1. to 9. above to define the Processing Options
2. On the Menu bar, click Process > Generate 3D Textured Mesh

 
Note: By default the 3D Textured Mesh is not displayed in the rayCloud.
  • In order to visualize it in other software: Pix4D outputs with other software > by output.
  • In order to visualize it in the rayCloud:
    • 1. Open the rayCloud: On the Menu bar, click View > rayCloud.
    • 2. On the section Layers of the left sidebar, select Triangle Meshes.

For more information about the Triangle Meshes features: Menu View > rayCloud > Left sidebar > Layers > Triangle Meshes .

 

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10 comments

  • Thomas Thiis

    Hello,

    how can i change the shader of images before processing 3D Mesh texture so i can have a colorful 3D mesh with thermal shader as a result?

     

    Best regards

    Edited by Thomas Thiis
  • Holden (Pix4D)

    Hi Thomas. What do you mean by shader? In order to overlay thermal data over a mesh generated from and RGB, you have to process a thermal and RGB dataset together. Then in the advanced tab of the step 2 processing options, you can select the Thermal dataset as the source for texture and the RGB dataset as the source of geometry. See the link below for more information.  

    MESH ADVANCE SUPPORT ARTICLE

  • Raphael Parent

    Hi,

     

    I wonder if it's possible to import an external point cloud generated with LiDar points with another software to build the 3D mesh in Pix4D.

    If so, how can I do it?

     

    Best regards,

    Raphaël

  • Holden (Pix4D)

    Hi Raphaël. Currently, the LiDAR point cloud import feature is only able to affect step 3 data products. The mesh is generated in step 2 and thus is not able to incorporate the LiDAR data. 

  • Raphael Parent

    Thank you Holden for your quick answer. Is it a feature Pix4D is planning to add in the future? 

  • Latha Punithavel

    Hello Team,

    Kindly find the below PixCloud link where i am not getting my 3D mesh model 

    please support to resolve the same

    https://cloud.pix4d.com/dataset/688359/map

  • Holden (Pix4D)

    Hi Latha. The issue is that the project is loaded in arbitrary space because of the mix of geolocated images and non-gelocated images. Additionally, the calibration is not great due to the low resolution of the camera. I would recommend processing the images with geotags separately to see if that improves your results. 

  • jameel jameel

    Hello team.
    Thanks in advance.
    I had a problem , i generated a 3d mesh but its came without x.y.z , normally from what this kind of trouble is came ? And which external viewers do i meed to used to add the offset file to get georefrence mesh?....

  • jameel jameel

    Hello team.
    Thanks in advance.
    I had a problem , i generated a 3d mesh but its came without x.y.z , normally from what this kind of trouble is came ? And which external viewers do i meed to used to add the offset file to get georefrence mesh?....

  • Holden (Pix4D)

    Hi Jameel. If you regenerate the mesh does it still not appear?

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