NationStates Jolt Archive

Hmm, so I want to create a 3D model of a real world object for a game, however, creating stuff from blueprints in the background doesn't really work for me because I can never seem to get the blueprint the right size and everything always comes out looking weird. Now I can get a model representation of this object (an accurate one) and I was wondering if it's possible to take an electronic pen or scanner and scan the real life model into a 3D model into the computer? Is this possible or am I talking about something that doesn't exist?

There's a number of ways to turn a real model into a computer model; but I think you may have trouble finding the tools (both hardware and software).
One way is to project a known grid onto the model, then have cameras capture the image and work out the shape from the distortion in the grid; doing this from several sides gives an accurate representation.

Maybe you can find something at http://www.simple3d.com/ which has a whole list of technologies you can use; it's the first result on google.

3d hardware scanners DO exist. is your name donald trump?
the're not exactly cheep. ok, the're not THAT expensive. you probably COULD pay more for a used car.

but i would think the bigger challange one of file format. but if you've got that worked out. i mean what this game requires/will expect. or its your authority specifying that to begin with, as in your on the team designing/creating the game, then yes, there's a couple of ways you could go. one would be to hire someone already familiar with, or willing to learn, whatever your using to produce the objects in it.

if you're an advanced end user mod'ing an existing game, well again the main issue is file format and compliance with other standards in the game universe context. forgive me for not using all of the right terminology for that. what i do know is that some game universes are inteded to be user extensable like that.

as for 3d scanning check out publications addressed to design and drafting proffesionals. you'll see that there ARE several 3d tablet and scanning tecnologies available on the market and the kind of price ranges involved.

i suspect you'll soon conclude it more practical to develop a skill in a compatable 3d authoring environment. and while most of these are in the handful of thousand dollar range, there is one, called blender, that is actually honest to gosh free.

worth checking out if you're not familiar with it.
interface isn't all warm and snuggly like what you'd pay x many hundreds or thousands for, but it IS learnable, and once learned, just as powerful.

there are other relatively low cost alternatives too.

depending on the game, i can't gurantee how your goinna get your object in there, but if you've got that already figgured out, then this is what your looking at.

hope that helps.

=^^=
.../\...

Hmm, so I want to create a 3D model of a real world object for a game

Why not say which game? You could hit the jackpot ... someone who'se actually done what you're trying to do ...

There's a number of ways to turn a real model into a computer model; but I think you may have trouble finding the tools (both hardware and software).
One way is to project a known grid onto the model, then have cameras capture the image and work out the shape from the distortion in the grid; doing this from several sides gives an accurate representation.

Yes, I tried this years ago. If you don't mind marking the physical model, you can draw the grid (or just numbered spots at the most important points, salients and inflexions) on the model with a pen.

, however, creating stuff from blueprints in the background doesn't really work for me because I can never seem to get the blueprint the right size and everything always comes out looking weird. Now I can get a model representation of this object (an accurate one) and I was wondering if it's possible to take an electronic pen or scanner and scan the real life model into a 3D model into the computer? Is this possible or am I talking about something that doesn't exist?

If you're OK with destroying the physical model, you can cut it into thin slices, scan each one with an ordinary scanner to get a simple outline of the slice, and then build a new solid. I'm racking my brain for the word for that ... I did it in Lightwave*, the trickiest bit was getting the same number of points on each cross-section and concentrating them where the detail was. Also getting the ends (top and bottom slice in the physical model) to close up nicely.
I don't think you'd want this for a game model, though, since I found it only worked well with very thin slices and a lot of polygons (like about 500...)

For a simple shape, you can take pictures (at equal distances, use a long lens from far away if possible, to reduce perspective errors) from above, in front, and the side (ie each of the three dimensions) without the grid, then use the outlines of each image to cut into a solid block from each of the three directions. I made a quite nice ME 109 that way, but there was still a lot of work in the modeller. Basically, you get the thickest part in each dimension to work from, it's a head-start on modelling the thing from scratch, not a substitute for actually using the modeller.
3d Max came out about the time I lost interest in raytracing. It seemed easier than Lightwave from the couple of times I played with it. I've never tried Blender.

I concur with Cameroi in that the model has to be compatible with the game you want to use it in. The developer community of the actual game would be a good place to start, should be linked on the game's website.

* If you think I payed the $1500 or so they wanted for Lightwave, you're thinking of some other Hobo.

Hmm, so I want to create a 3D model of a real world object for a game, however, creating stuff from blueprints in the background doesn't really work for me because I can never seem to get the blueprint the right size and everything always comes out looking weird. Now I can get a model representation of this object (an accurate one) and I was wondering if it's possible to take an electronic pen or scanner and scan the real life model into a 3D model into the computer? Is this possible or am I talking about something that doesn't exist?
Yeah. I read an article a few years back in a machinist hobby magazine that presented a tool that did exactly what you are describing. Before I go look though my collection, tell me if you are ready to build one, or if you're just looking for something simple that plugs into a port on the computer.

... you can cut it into thin slices, scan each one with an ordinary scanner to get a simple outline of the slice, and then build a new solid. I'm racking my brain for the word for that ... I did it in Lightwave*, the trickiest bit was getting the same number of points on each cross-section and concentrating them where the detail was. Also getting the ends (top and bottom slice in the physical model) to close up nicely.

If anyone is curious, the object was a banana.