DAVID 2.3.4: turning real objects into 3D models

14th May 2009

The new version of DAVID has come out, a free program for three-dimensional scanning objects and converting the results into models. These models later can be imported into 3D-editors.
The program requires a computer, a camera connected to it (e.g. web-camera) and a laser level. The object is set in a corner of the room before the two planes, placed at 90 degrees to each other. Then you just grab a laser level, turn on the camera and begin pointing to the object with a laser level. The program will automatically compute 3D-coordinates of the scanned surface.
Straight after you have scanned the model, it can be viewed in OpenGL-viewer, integrated into the program. The result can be saved in the OBJ format and used to work with different 3D-editors. There is also a commercial version of the program, called DAVID Professional Edition. It offers broader functionality.
The latest version accelerates the scanning speed; reduces consumption of CPU resources; improves calibration; adds saving all scans into separate files (Professional Edition).