Trimensional Updated, Appearing on CNN

Trimensional v1.02 has officially been released! Β It comes with new options for sharing movies and animated GIFs as well as the much-requested 3D model export feature that lets you use your Trimensional scans for 3D printing or with your favorite 3D graphics software.

Stay tuned this week for more in-depth coverage of how these new features work, and watch for us to make a live appearance on CNN today (Monday, April 11) between 1pm and 3pm EDT.

We’d love to see what you’re able to achieve with this latest version, so make sure to post any good scans or other results to the Trimensional Facebook page or the Trimensional Flickr group:
www.facebook.com/trimensional
www.flickr.com/groups/trimensional

UPDATE: Sign up to be notified when we release Trimensional for Android devices.

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16 Responses to Trimensional Updated, Appearing on CNN

  1. StarkCMfgT says:

    This app looks amazing! Nice bit on CNN this afternoon. When will the Android app be available? As a manufacturing engineer, I can think of dozens of everyday uses for this app. Can’t wait to get going with this and Solidworks!

    • Thanks! The Android version is in the works, but I can’t estimate a timeframe just yet. As you may imagine, there are complications when a hardware-centric application like this needs to run on the numerous Android devices with different camera, screen, and hardware configurations. In fact, I’d love to get an estimate of which Android models people are using if you’re willing to offer that info. Thanks again.

      • Lenbok says:

        I have a Samsung Galaxy S, and would love it if you could port your app to android!!!

      • Droid Incredible. Love to see this for Android as well!

        Kris

      • Gregg Eshelman says:

        Samsung Epic 4g. It has a very nice 5 megapixel camera.

        One method that might help speed the Android port would be either setting the camera to the iPhone resolution or putting a border on the screen to crop the 3D imaging zone to the iPhone resolution. then the amount of image data to process should be pretty much the same.

        Later versions could expand the area.

  2. Very cool. I am eager for you to port it to Android, too!
    I would also like to understand how it works, but I understand if you don’t want to share that….

    • Hi Steve, thanks, I’m actually a fan of your work! The technique is related to photometric stereo, with which google and wikipedia can help you further πŸ™‚

  3. Hi Grant
    Well done on this. I have just downloaded it and am waiting for the lights to go out to try it!
    As you will see from our website, we are active in the field of 3D – 3D scanning, 3D hapticated design, 3D machining and 3D printing. All of these are available at low cost, so that we can get 3D technology into as many hands as possible and democratise the whole field.
    It would be good to know if there is some way in which we can collaborate.
    Martin

  4. John says:

    Droid Thunderbolt….. I would like to import the image into Bobcad and cut something out on my CNC machine.

  5. David Montgomery says:

    HI I am currently machining Machining images and using a 3 d scanner Very expensive and hard to impact as a business and this may be a quick way for clients to send me their image details without an expense from me . I notice the images shown are very rounded more sperical in shape. I will pick up a Iphone4 tomorrow and down load an app, is the version1.02 a more natural image and do you think this process will be more refined as you progress?

    • Hi David,
      Sounds like an interesting idea. While this would certainly be way to get a quick scan of certain objects (faces work best at this point), it definitely won’t approach the quality of what you’ll get with an expensive 3D scanner. Quality should improve with more development — the current spherical shape you’re seeing is due to a variety of factors which can be counteracted in the future. So I’m not sure we’re quite at the level of quality you need yet, but I hope we’ll get there soon and I’m very open to feedback if you get a chance to play around with the app.

  6. Klada says:

    Hello Grant,

    Thumbs up for developing this iPhone App. I came across an article of it couple of months ago. It was featured on one of the online tech magazines – Gizmodo, I think. I’m a big fan of CG and CV algorithms, that smartly bend the envelope. πŸ™‚

    I’m currently finishing my BSc in Computer & Information Science. And I have couple of ideas I’d like explore for my diploma: some CV algorithms + front-cam Android phone. As I read, You’re currently porting this App to Android platform. The Question: Due to Android OS & HW fragmentation, I’d like to ask You for an advice on which phone to decide for Android App development? Which one did You choose? Maybe a Nexus S – since it is stock Android phone? Some other?

    Thank You for any advice && Keep up the good work!

  7. Jason says:

    So, how’s the progress on that android app?

  8. Mrunal Kansara says:

    Hello Grant,

    Thanks a lot for your developments on 3D scanning applications.
    I would like to buy a new phone for 3 Scanning work.
    Which type of phone is more suitable for the 3D scanning – iPhone OR Android Phone??
    & Which type of Camera you would recommend — 3D camera like in HTC EVO 3D phone OR normal phone Camera??
    Also please inform preferred megapixle in Camera for best results.

    Thanks a lot.
    Regards,
    Mrunal Kansara

    • Hi Mrunal,
      Thanks for your interest! In summary: Trimensional curently requires an iOS device with a front-facing camera (iPhone 4/4S, iPad 2, or iPod Touch 4th generation).
      To clarify a few things in more detail: Currently, only the iPhone version of Trimensional has been released. The screen-based scanning method used by Trimensional requires a front-facing camera (these are usually lower-resolution than the main camera on the back of the device). Also, Trimensional won’t yet take advantage of the 3D cameras built in to some Android phones.
      Finally, I’m not sure of your exact needs, so I recommend trying out the app on a friend’s device first to make sure it suits your purposes before investing in an entirely new phone just to run the app πŸ™‚
      Regards,
      Grant

      • Mrunal Kansara says:

        I want to use such scanning application for engineering design purpose.. i mean i will scan some parts, to get probably the stl files, then i may edit the surface, if necessary on ProE OR Catia software & then i will use the data for CNC Programming & CNC machining of my part.
        So my purpose is quite professional engineering, but i dont require much accuracy so i dont intend to use the expensive scanners & software available in the market. A scanning inaccuracy of about 0.4 milimeters is allowable for my process. Please help, Thanks, Mrunal mickykan123@gmail.com