Vectorization - PIX4Dmatic

PIX4Dmatic allows you to vectorize point clouds processed from your project images. You can precisely define the position of the geometry using original images, the point cloud, and the vertex editor and organize each geometry in layers.

Selection and vectorization tools in PIX4Dmatic

The following selection and vectorization tools (+Keyboard shortcut) are available in PIX4Dmatic:

Selection tools (+Keyboard shortcut)	Vectorization tools (+Keyboard shortcut)
Simple selection (S)	Marker (M)
Rectangle selection (R)	Polyline (L)
Polygon selection (J)	Circle (C)
Object selection (Y)	Polygon (P)
Color selection (Shift+C)	Polygon hole (H)

How to use selection and vectorization tools in PIX4Dmatic

Selection tools specifics:

• Simple selection (default): Click on the object to select it. 
• Rectangle selection: click on the first point and move to the second point to define the rectangle. All the objects, point cloud and geometries, inside the rectangle will be selected
• Polygon selection: click as many points as needed to define the selection area. 
• Object selection: click on the desired entity and the point cloud related to this entity will be selected. For further information, read this article.
  
• Color selection: pick a color, and then similar colors within the given tolerance and radius will be selected.
  

Vectorization tools specifics:

• Marker: Click on a point in the 2D or 3D view to create a marker.
• Polyline: A minimum of two points need to be clicked in the 2D or 3D view to define a polyline.
• Circle: The first vertex defines the center of the circle, and the second vertex defines a point at the circumference. Circle objects are always horizontal, and the elevation is defined by the point of the point cloud selected for the center. The second point must also be in the point cloud, but the circle will be drawn at the altitude of the center defined by the first point.

• Polygon: A minimum of three points need to be clicked in the 3D view to define a polygon. By default, polygons are created as planar surfaces; however, this setting can be modified before creation.
  
• Polygon hole: A minimum of three points need to be clicked in the 3D view to define a hole inside a polygon. To use, the polygon must be previously selected.

To use vectorization tools:

1. Select the tool on the toolbar or use the keyboard shortcut.
2. Left-click in the 2D or 3D view to create the first vertex to start the vectorization.
3. Continue using the left-click to add more vertices to the geometry.
4. (Optional) Press the Esc key to cancel the vectorization.
5. To finish the geometry:
   • Right-click in the 2D or 3D view to add the last vertex and finish the geometry.
   • Alternatively, press Enter to accept the edits and finish the geometry.
6. (Optional) Right-click again to exit the vectorization tool and to change to Simple selection (default).

How to edit selection results in PIX4Dmatic

• Simple selection: Click on a different element to change the selection.
• Rectangle selection: Once the rectangle selection is confirmed, it cannot be altered. 
• Polygon selection:  Once the polygon selection is confirmed, it cannot be altered.
• Object selection: Click on a different entity to change the selection.
• Color selection: only one selection per click. It is not possible to add a new color to the selection.

How to edit vectorization results in PIX4Dmatic

To move the vertex in the 3D view

1. Use the Simple selection tool to select an object.

2. Click on the existing geometry.

3. Click on the vertex and drag it to the new position.

After moving the vertex to the new position, the edits are automatically taken into account, and you can continue creating new geometries or edit existing ones.

To add a vertex to existing geometry

1. Use the Simple selection tool to select an object.

2. Hover over the section where you would like to add the vertex.

3. Click to create a new vertex.

To remove a vertex from existing geometry

1. Use the Simple selection tool to select an object.

2. Click on the existing geometry.

3. Click on the vertex and press the Delete key.

To split the polyline

1. Use the Simple selection tool to select an object.

2. Select the vertex where you want to split the object, it will turn purple.

3. Right-click on the vertex

4. Click Split polyline.

After the polyline is split, two separate polylines are created. The polylines share the vertex in which they were split.

To join polylines

1. Use the Simple selection tool to select the vertex of the first polyline.

2. Hold Shift and select the vertex of the second polyline.

3. With Shift still pressed, right-click on the shared vertex and click Join polylines.

After the polylines are merged, a single polyline is created.

To continue polylines

1. Use the Simple selection tool to select an object.
2. Select the vertex where you want to continue the polyline. The polyline can only be continued from the ends.
3. Right-click on the vertex
4. Click Continue polyline

To offset polylines

1. Use the Simple selection tool to select an object.
2. Right button and Offset polyline
3. A new section view will be created on this polyline.
4. Write the horizontal and vertical offsets to create a copy of the polyline.
   
   

Layers

All geometries created with the vectorization tools are organized into Layers. These layers help manage and categorize the various geometries according to the specific needs of the project. 

The properties of the layers are the following:

• Color: Change the color of the layer. All the geometries inside the layer will be colorized with the same color.
• Line width: Change the width of the line (Polyline) or the width of the perimeter line (Polygon and Circle) inside the layer.
• Select all: select all the entities inside of the layer.
• Rename: to change the name of the layer.
• Triangulate geometries: update outdated layer geometries if calibrated cameras are up-to-date
• Compute all outdated volumes: in case the volume calculation becomes outdated, this tool calculates all the volumes at once. 
• Export: export the geometries selecting the format and the layers.
• Delete: The selected layer and all the content within will be deleted.
• Layer lock. Since version 1.74 and newer, it is now possible to lock layers. When a layer is locked, the geometries contained within cannot be modified. Locked geometries will appear grayed out, clearly indicating that they cannot be altered.

Export vector layers

The vector layers that need to be exported can be filtered to match your requirements. It is possible to select specific layers [1] and/or filter by object type [2].

The vector layers can be exported in .dxf, .zip shp, .shp, GeoJSON, and .csv (only for makers) formats [3]. If Export vertices as markets are activated, all the vertex of the geometries will be exported as a marker.

If the .csv format is selected (comma-separated values), only markers will be exported. The format of the resulting table can be set.

Drape polyline

It is possible to drape any polyline over the point cloud. This will create vertices that fit the top part of the point cloud.

To use the drape polyline tool:

1. Select a polyline.
2. Right-click on the selected polyline to display a contextual menu.
3. Choose the Drape polyline option from the contextual menu.
4. The polyline will be draped over the visible point cloud, and the polyline simplification window with the Complexity slider will appear.
5. (optional) The Complexity slider can be adjusted until the draped polyline fits the required specifications.
   

   

Editing geometry on images

To move the vertex on the images:

1. Use the Simple selection tool to click on an object.
2. Click on the vertex on the image and drag it to the new position on at least two images.
3. Press Enter to accept the edits.
4. (Optional) Hit the Esc key to cancel the edit.

After moving the vertex to the new position on at least two images, the position of the vertex is automatically changed and updated.

Editing geometry with polyline simplification

It is possible to simplify a complex polyline by reducing or incrementing the number of vertices. The option to adjust the complexity of the polyline is available when it is draped over the point cloud. If the polyline was created manually, it consists of segments between vertex.

To modify the polyline simplification, follow these steps:

1. Use the simple selection tool to select the polyline.
2. To access the polyline simplification menu, click on Polyline simplification located near the object name in the bottom left corner of the PIX4Dmatic window.
3. Adjust the level of simplification using the slider, which ranges between 1 and 10
   • 1: maximum level of simplification.
   • 8 (default): default level of simplification.
   • 10: no simplification. All vertices are kept.

Editing geometry with vertex alignment

In the case of objects with more than 1 vertex (polylines, polygons, volume polygons), it is possible to align the vertices to a specific altitude.

To vertically align the vertices:

1. Use the Simple selection tool to select an object.
2. To access the vertical alignment menu, click Align Vertices located near the object name in the bottom left corner of the PIX4Dmatic window and choose the desired alignment:
   
   • Align to the highest: All the vertices of the selected object are moved vertically to align with the highest vertex.
   • Align to the average: All the vertices of the selected object are moved vertically to align with the average altitude of all vertices of the selected object.
   • Align to the lowest: All the vertices of the selected object are moved vertically to align with the lowest vertex.
   • Custom height: All the vertices of the selected object are moved vertically to align with the given custom height.