C3D

C3D (pronounced SEE-THREE-DEE ) is a combined hardware/software process that captures a pair of two-dimensional images, objects, or scenes and automatically reconstructs them into a digital three-dimensional ( 3-D ) model. In turn, this model can be used to create a virtual representation of the image, object, or scene. The C3D process uses a standard PC and camera to produce a realistic photographic model for viewing on a PC at a reconstruction accuracy of 50 micron s. C3D can be used with other tools, such as the Virtual Reality Modelling Language ( VRML ).

C3D exploits the stereoptic function of the human brain, which is able to combine an image perceived by each eye into a 3-D perception. Capturing images using the C3D process allows the image to be manipulated horizontally, vertically, or spatially (that is, by distance) using one of three modelling representations: a polygon wire frame, shaded, or naturally rendering. Once you create the modeling representation, a photographic rendering from the image pairing is placed on the modelling representation to create the shaped model.

Current C3D application uses include: tire footprints, health care studies, police mugshots, virtual studio applications for TV, microscopic modelling objects, aerial road surveys, and museum artifact archiving.