Troubleshooting problems with models created using rotating setup
This section documents causes and fixes for some common problems with the output model created using the rotating
stand setup.
-
Parts of model got cutout in the output
Typical scenarios could be a small tip portion of the model missing, or some part of the model appearing
thinner than the original or sometimes even a big part of the model cut out. This could happen because one of the
following:
-
Problems with the setup
The
amount of cutting out
or thinning can depend on the degree by which the setup went wrong. One
assumption that IBModeler makes for the photographs taken using the rotating stand setup
is that the camera lens is parallel to the axis of rotation of the disc.
We can try to achieve it by levelling up the disc's plane and the camera's
plane. The below image shows how IBModeler expects the disc and camera to be aligned and
the scenario (in red) when the calculations could go wrong leading to cut out models.
-
The missing part was marked as part of background during identifying the background screen
If the original model
had parts with colors same as the background screen, then it
will be marked as background by IBModeler during the process of stripping the
background screen. Sometimes, light might reflect back from the backscreen on top of the model
which again could give the backscreen color to parts of the model. To validate if this was the
cause of the missing part in the output, have the 'save my inputs in a subfolder' option checked on the create
script input dialog and checkback the bitmap images in the subfolder to see if any part of
the model is marked with the background marking color. Such a type of wrong marking, even in one image, can
make parts of the model disappear.
-
Wrong markings during input
If you misplaced your marking on any of the image, you could end up with cut portions or thinned
out models. You can use the above troubleshooting method to verify your markings and try creating the
script again.
-
Wrong camera callibration
See camera callibration dialog
documentation in the help
files to know how
the camera's
view angle is calculated. If the camera is not at sufficient distance from the model,
we cannot use the first option of camera at infinity. And if we are using the second
option, then we should cross check each of the marked images to see if the top portions of the model
have been identified properly by IBModeler in each of the images.
-
The shape of the model is not carved out completely
This mostly
happens due to lack of sufficient number of photographs from all
angles. IBModeler allows you to create models with a minimum of five
subsequent photographs.
But it is hard to
get a good output with such a low number of photographs
unless the model is of a simple shape (for e.g. a cube
shape). Depending on the complexity of the shape of the model, we should
aim at providing as many photographs taken from angles 0 to 180 degrees. Usually an
angle gap of 5 to 10 degrees between subsequent photographs have given good outputs.
See the bottom image to see how the model starts to shape up
as more and more photographs are supplied.
Since the rotating stand setup
only gives
the
provision to take photographs while moving around the model in a horizontal
plane, there might be parts of the model whose outline cannot be determined by any
of the photographs and so we might not get the desired output for
those hidden edges of the model using this setup. This is a limitation of
the rotating stand setup and can be eliminated either by using a different
setup to take photographs or trying to orient the model in such a way that
all it's edges can be identified by moving the camera around the model. If it
is a model with movable parts (like a toy with movable arms or legs) it would
be a good idea to try to
spread it's parts in different direction rather than keeping them cluttered for
easily distinguishing the shapes of it's parts when viewed through different angles of rotation.
-
The edges of the model are rough
The smoothness of the edges of the
model depends on the poly count level used to describe
it. So to get smoother edges, try a higher poly count. This can
be done while creating the mold file. Move the poly count slider to get
the desired level of poly count for the
model. Note that increasing the poly count of the model also means bigger file size.
-
Trouble in displaying model due to big file sizes
If a model was created with a very
high poly count (as discussed above), then it might require a
lot of resources (memory and processing speed) to display it. To address this
issue, you can either try creating a model with a lower poly count or you can
go for creating only a section of the model, rather than creating the
entire model.
-
Textures didn't come out so well on the sides, top or bottom
At this time, IBModeler only
uses two photographs to apply textures on the model. One from the
front and one from the back. It tries to stretch these two images to cover up
the areas on top, bottom and sides which were not visible in the front and
back photographs. To work around this limitation, try to place the model at
angle at which the maximum (or most important) areas of the model are
covered within these two photographs.
If you have any questions
about the outputs that you get using IBModeler or need any help, please feel free to contact us at
support@ajubaa.com.
For detailed documentation on IBModeler 2.0, go to IBModeler 2.0 help files