Let me introduce myself for those who don’t know me.
I am a professional italian conservator-restorer of cultural heritage. I have forty years of experience in this field. In the last decade I have also been involved in the applications of 3D technologies in my work, using 3D scanners, 3D printers and related software. I am not and do not consider myself a professional 3D technician, but a user of 3D technologies for professional purposes. I have always been a supporter of the “democratization of technologies” (even sophisticated ones) and in my experience I have used several scanners of various brands and of various costs. Revopoint scanners have contributed in an essential way to a turning point for the “democratization” of 3D scanners. I have had the opportunity to use practically all Revopoint scanners, which have become tools of almost daily use in my professional activity. That said, tools of this level at a reasonable cost, always remain tools that must be used with discernment and that require conscious use, (self) training, many tests and much work. As I often say, making a comparison with artistic activity, if it were enough to have Michelangelo’s chisel to sculpt in the same way, the world would be full of great artists!
As I wrote, I do not consider myself a professional 3D technician and for this reason my approach is always very humble: I do not think that the tool (in this case the 3D scanner) is ineffective or inadequate, but, on the contrary, I think that I am doing something wrong.
That said, I would like to make a small contribution by describing my approach to scanning, using a scanner as sophisticated and powerful as MetroX.
I’ll start by saying that my “subjects” are works of art and this in itself means that for 3D scanning the approach and techniques to be used are often inapplicable. For example, the use of 3D spray on artistic surfaces is almost never allowed, as is the need to glue 3D markers on the surfaces. In short, what should facilitate, help 3D scanning cannot be used. It’s true, there are now products (3D spray) made specifically for delicate surfaces such as artistic ones, but often, having to ask for permission to apply these opacifying layers, those who have to authorize it do not authorize it (and I speak from personal experience).
On the other hand, speaking of 3D markers to be pasted directly on surfaces, the problem of authorization does not even arise: the thing is prohibited!
So the use of a 3D scanner such as the MetroX, already poses challenges on how to use it effectively on subjects such as artworks.
I show you below the example of a sculpture, which in itself is a challenge to make a quality 3D scan.
The sculpture has fine details, undercut, dark colour, shining surface. In sum, this is a challenge to evaluate how far the potential of the MetroX scanner can be pushed. Furthermore, I have decided not to treat the surface to “facilitate” scanning.
Scanning a bronze sculpture with a dark patina is a challenge for those who need to create a quality 3D model with high detail.
MetroX in the Cross Lines laser scan mode allowed me to carry out the scan and the Marker Block Kit was essential to avoid placing the markers directly on the surface of the sculpture.
Truly amazing result.
The scanning set, in the images below:
the scuplture is all surrounded from many marker blocks.
After setting the parameters (Laser Brightness, Depth Exposure) I started to pass the scanner in a smooth and continuous motion, trying to stay with a constant distance and also an even speed.
During scanning, it is critical to keep enough markers in the scanning field (which is why there are so many of them placed around the sculpture).
The scan preview window is of great use, with the visual aid of color, color changing as the scanner acquires points, we know that when it turns all green the number of points is optimal and covers the entire surface.
Scanning took only a few minutes (about seven).
The next stage was point fusion.
…and after removing unnecessary points on the outside of the sculpture
then meshing.
These two operations also took a few minutes.
The result is amazing!
I have scanned this sculpture with other scanners and never achieved (and so simply) a result as rich in detail as with MetroX.
The advice is: don’t lose heart and be willing to try, test and still spend a lot of time to be able to understand and get better and better results until you reach excellence.
…To be continued…
