3D Models from Cheap Digital Images - Proposal

Step 5 3D Model Creation

At this step we now have a somewhat de-noised 3D point cloud that needs to be turned into a 3D model which can be printed.  This area, unfortunately, is proving to be rather difficult and in need of further research and improvement.  We have attempted two different ways of going about creating models.  

1.  Create a 3D model directly from the point cloud.  There are some academic software packages that exist for turning a point cloud into triangular mesh.  We have investigated and tried using these to turn our point cloud into a model.  These tools have produced valid 3D meshes, however they are in no way suitable for 3D printing.  The first problem with the meshes produced is that they are very jagged and do not produce smooth faces.  This is an artifact of the noise remaining in our point cloud.  The second problem is that meshes produced are in no way watertight and thus not suitable for 3D printing.  By this i mean that due to the holes in our point cloud (see previous step, error type 4) we have gaps in the mesh.

2.  Use an existing 3D model of a face and deform it so that it looks like the subject being photographed.  This method for creating a model is promising but needs to be explored further.  Its primary advantage is that we are starting with a model that already looks kind of like what we want, and also is watertight and thus suitable for 3D printing.  In order to use the point cloud to deform an existing mesh we first have to align the point cloud to the mesh which thankfully is not proving to be too difficult.  The next step, which needs to be explored further, is using the point cloud to deform the mesh.