This week, we started working with the Perlman Teaching Museum on their database of 3D Models of their collection. Clay, AJ, and I are working on modeling an earthenware pot using photogrammetry techniques available through Autodesk ReCap Photo. It is a fascinating technology, but it has proven difficult to work with up to this point.
We photographed the pot on Wednesday, February 1st. It was a successful session, and were able to get 83 photos of the object with fairly consistent lighting, different angles, and varying levels of detail. The photographing experience was very fulfilling, as it provided me with greater access than you can achieve in most museum circumstances and forced us to examine the object with a high level of detail and care. I noticed design details, textures, and construction techniques that I likely would not have seen otherwise. The required act of in-depth photography in the photogrammetry process helped me personally get to know the art.
I can only imagine that the manipulatable model that we are creating will allow for a limited instillation of this personal connection and knowledge in the people who use it. The reason I learned so much about this object from this process is because I took photos at every angle and level of detail that I could think of. The final model will include all of this, and will allow every single person who comes across it to recreate my experience, albeit digitally rather than physically. It really helped me realize that, while I do think that the experience of learning from a physical object can never be fully replaced, the digital experience of a model allows for different interactions that can also not really be physically experienced by most people. The two could compliment each other very well.
In our case, though, the photogrammetry project has hit a bit of a speedbump. We have not been able to get ReCap Photo to work, and are currently workshopping a variety of solutions which will hopefully help us reach the actual modeling stage. For now, while these issues have been a little bit disappointing, the promise of the technology and the photography process still have me excited about the final product!
3 thoughts on “3D Modeling with Photogrammetry”
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I am sorry to hear that there was a speed bump and I wish I could be there to help more. I think you did a great job at taking photos and have positioned yourself for future success for out group. Thank you so much for helping out so much while I recover.
Sorry to hear about the ReCap struggles! My group had a lot of difficulties with the software as well. I think you make a really good point that while making the model available allows a broad range of people to interact with the object more closely than otherwise, it doesn’t replace the physical, close-up experience that the modeler has during the process.
Although I was able to get my ReCap to work, I also ran into some struggles. I don’t know if it’s just because I was doing something wrong, but I could not get the size measurement adjustments to stick. They kept resetting. Aside from that, I agree that taking 80+ photos of the object allowed me to see details I initially missed when we first went to the museum as a class. I hope your ReCap issue was resolved!