PhotoModeler Data Exchange – Exports and Imports

There are several ways to use PhotoModeler data with other applications, via export and import:


Export Formats:

PhotoModeler Standard and PhotoModeler Premium export 3D model data in the following formats:

Extension Name Supports photographic textures
3ds 3D Studio yes
3dm Rhino yes
csv Comma Separated Values
dxf 2D† & 3D DXF
fbx Filmbox yes
igs IGES
kml Google Earth yes
kmz Google Earth yes
las ASPRS LAS yes†
ma Maya script
ms 3D Studio Max script
obj Wavefront yes
pts PTS – XYZ scan data
txt RAW XYZ coords yes†
stl Stereo-lithography
svg Scalable Vector Graphics – 2D
wrl VRML 1 & 2 yes

† 2D DXF has an ASTM compliance option for those in the patternmaking industry.

PhotoModeler Premium, in addition to all the exports above, can also export point cloud and mesh data in these mesh-specific formats:

Extension Name Export types supported
byu Brigham Young triangulated mesh
facet FACET triangulated mesh
iv Inventor point cloud, triangulated mesh
ply Polygon triangulated mesh
stl Stereolithography triangulated mesh
txt RAW point cloud xyz point cloud‡

Note that not all format types support all PhotoModeler entity types.
‡ Photographic texture export for point formats is rgb coloring of each point from the original photos.


Other Exports:

Animations
PhotoModeler can create animated videos of the 3D View. These animation videos can be exported as GIF or AVI files. In addition animations can be uploaded directly to YouTube.

Orthophotos
PhotoModeler can create and export orthophotos (remapped photos to remove shape and perspective distortion). These can be exported in the following image formats: jpg, tif, bmp, pcx, tga, png, pct, psd, iff, cal, sgi, and rgb.

Tables
The various numeric and textual data tables (photos, points, lines, curves, surfaces, etc.) can also be exported as space-, tab-, or comma-delimited text files (txt,csv).

PDF
Generate a PDF report with numerous configuration options for internal project documentation or sharing with a client. PhotoModeler Premium only.

API / Programmability
PhotoModeler can be accessed by an external application through the Windows standard DDE interface. The DDE interface provides both control over the program as well as data import and export capabilities. See the help file for more detail.


Import Formats:

Image formats that PhotoModeler Standard and PhotoModeler Premium can load

  • JPEG (.jpg)
  • Tiff (.tif)
  • Windows BMP (.bmp)
  • PC Paintbrush (.pcx)
  • Targa (.tga)
  • Portable Network Graphics (.png)
  • Pict (.pct)
  • Photoshop (.psd)
  • Portable Pixmap (.ppm)
  • Macintosh Paint (.mac)
  • EA Interchange File Format (.iff)
  • CALS Raster (.cal)
  • PhotoCD (.pcd)
  • Silicon Graphics Image (.sgi)
  • Silicon Graphics RGB (.rgb)
  • Jpeg2000 (.jp2/.jpx)
  • MS HDphoto (.hpd/.wdp)

Video formats that PhotoModeler Premium can load

  • MOV
  • MP4 (mpeg 4)
  • AVI
  • WMV
  • 3GP
  • MPEG
  • Note, the ability to load any of the above depends on how the video is encoded and if your computer has a matching codec. PhotoModeler does include the H.264 codec used often in mp4 and mov.

3D file import formats (used for control points, coordinate system transforms, and perspective model matching):

  • DXF
  • Wavefront OBJ
  • 3D Studio
  • Raw Text file
  • CSV

3D point cloud import formats (Premium only):

  • LAS
  • STL
  • OBJ
  • PLY
  • BYU
  • FACET
  • DAT
  • TXT