PhotoModeler Tutorials

Tutorial videos take you step by step through the various features and capabilities of PhotoModeler and PhotoModeler Scanner. The tutorials are a great learning resource for new users of PhotoModeler as well as seasoned experts.

There are two sources of tutorial videos and data:

Online (this page)
- most complete and up-to-date set
- requires a high speed network connection
CD-ROM
- if you have the PhotoModeler CD
- local - no network required
- covers basic functions (not a complete set)
- videos usually start playing with less delay

Videos and Associated Project Data
The tutorial videos use Flash mp4 Video and play in most web browsers. In addition to the videos, many of the tutorials have associated PhotoModeler project (pmr) files and images that you can load and test yourself. Many of these files can be found on the CD or they can be downloaded from links shown below. In addition, this file (203 MB) contains all the tutorial data if you don't want to download individual files below. These project files and images work with the demo version as well.

See Errata for changes to the program that no longer match the videos.

What to Watch
If you are new to PhotoModeler a good place to start is with the 'Points Project Walk-through', 'User Interface Overview', and the Calibration tutorials. PhotoModeler Scanner customers can also view 'Dense Surface Modeling - SmartMatch'. After that, read the What Tutorials Should I Watch page, to get our recommendations based on your application field.

There are two types of tutorial videos: Full Length - that show projects being run start to finish, and have associated project and image files; and Feature Based - that are short and depict one or two features. Videos shown with symbol are closed-captioned for when you don't have audio or it is easier to read than listen. Closed-captions are off by default but can be turned on by clicking on the CC symbol on the bottom video play bar (when available).

Tutorial Speed
The tutorial videos move along quickly, and it is expected that most viewers will use the Pause / Play controls to adjust the speed to their own pace for following along.

Summary List

Full Length
Full Length - PhotoModeler Scanner specific

Feature Based
Feature Based - PhotoModeler Scanner specific
- PointMesh Modify
- PointMesh Points Edit

PhotoModeler Tip Videos
In addition to the tutorials shown here we have a regular blog feature called "PhotoModeler Tips". These tips are short videos that cover features that customers may not be fully aware of. The tips can been seen on our YouTube Tips Playlist.

Visit Main PhotoModeler site.

Full Length Videos

Automated Coded Targets Play Now [8:15]	Description How to run an automatic project with RAD coded targets and offset points. Automatic marking and automatic referencing described as well.

	Project Data AutoCT.zip

Calibration - Multi-sheet Play Now [9:54]	Description How to calibrate a camera using the multiple sheet method.

	Project Data CalibMS.zip

Calibration - Single Sheet - 1 Play Now [4:23]	Description How to calibrate a camera using the single sheet method.

	Project Data CalibSingle.zip

Calibration - Single Sheet - 2 Play Now [9:22]	Description Follow on video to number 1 above. [Recorded with PM6 - steps very similar in PM2010]



Crush - Multi-photo Unknown Play Now [17:27]	Description Measuring the crush of a vehicle with an unknown camera and exemplar. See Errata below for a change to the geometry add dialog.

	Project Data Crush.zip

Points Project Walk-through Play Now [9:02]	Description Covers starting and completing a simple points-based project.

	Project Data PointsIntro.zip

Road Diagramming - 1 Play Now [26:04]	Description Creating a diagram of a road scene using multiple photos and a calibrated camera. [Recorded with PM6 - steps very similar in PM2010.]

	Project Data RoadDiagram.zip

Road Diagramming - 2 Play Now [15:32]	Description Follow on video to number 1 above. [Recorded with PM6 - steps very similar in PM2010.]



Road - Single Photo Unknown Play Now [15:59]	Description Creating a diagram of a skid mark on road surface from a single camera of unknown origin with control points. See Errata below for a change to the geometry add dialog.

	Project Data RoadSinglePhoto.zip

Shapes - Intro Play Now [15:58]	Description Introduction to shapes-based projects. [Recorded with PM6 - steps very similar in PM2010.]

	Project Data ShapesIntro.zip

Shapes - Additional Play Now [30:01]	Description Advanced use of shapes. [Recorded with PM6 - steps very similar in PM2010.]

	Project Data ShapesAdvanced.zip

User Interface Overview Play Now [6:18]	Description Covers PhotoModeler's menu, status bar and pane interface.

Full Length Videos - Scanner Specific

Dense Surface Modeling - Coded Targets setup Play Now [11:10]	Description Set up and perform a dense surface modeling project using coded targets.

	Project Data DSMCT.zip

Dense Surface Modeling - SmartMatch setup Play Now [3:06]	Description Set up and perform a dense surface modeling project using SmartMatch setup.
	Related Videos Dense Surface Modeling - coded targets setup
	Project Data DSMSM.zip

Dense Surface Modeling - Trouble shooting Play Now [10:34]	Description Trouble shooting common problems with Scanner Dense Surface Model projects.

	Project Data DSMTrouble.zip

SmartMatch Play Now [8:29]	Description Creating a SmartMatch project, adding photos to it, doing field calibration, and further manual modeling.

	Project Data SmartMatch.zip

SmartMatch Intro Play Now [8:46]	Description Introductory overview of the new SmartMatch tool - automatic matching of natural features across photographs.

Feature-based Videos

Check Distances Play Now [3:07]	Description How to use check distances and points to check accuracy or to compare to known values. See Errata below for a change to the geometry add dialog.
	Related Videos Measure, Scale-Rotate-Translate, Project Review


Curves - Referenced Play Now [3:02]	Description How to create NURBS Curves from multiple referenced 2D curve marks.



Curves Through Points Play Now [0:57]	Description How to create NURBS Curves from existing 3D points.



Dimensions Play Now [1:19]	Description How to set up on-photo dimensions and annoations.
	Related Videos Measure, Scale-Rotate-Translate


Field Calibration Play Now [2:47]	Description Improving the calibration of a camera by calibrating it in the 'field' with real project data.



Measure Play Now [1:09]	Description Demonstrates how to use the Measure pane.
	Related Videos Dimensions


Photo Zoom Play Now [1:40]	Description Demonstrates the various tools for zooming and panning photograph views.



Project Review Play Now [4:15]	Description Shows how to use the Project Review pane to improve the quality of a project.



Properties Play Now [1:39]	Description Demonstrates the Properties pane. All object have properties and this pane allows you to modify them.



Referencing Play Now [9:36]	Description Demonstrates Referencing (manually matching points and objects that are marked on different photos) with more detail than the Points Walkthrough.
	Related Videos Points Walkthrough


Scale Rotate Translate Play Now [2:54]	Description Use of External Geometry Explorer to set up Scales, Rotatations and Translates of the coordinate system. See Errata below for a change to the geometry add dialog.
	Related Videos Measure, Export


Surface Draw Play Now [1:36]	Description Demonstrates the Surface Draw tool (drawing 3d data on a single photograph without referencing but on an existing surface).



Surface - Path Mode Play Now [0:38]	Description Shows how to create a surface by selecting the objects that define its outline (the path).

Feature-based Videos - Scanner Specific

PointMesh Modify Play Now [3:25]	Description Demonstrates how to use the Modify PointMesh tools.
	Related Videos PointMesh Points Edit


PointMesh Points Edit Play Now [1:04]	Description Demonstrates how to edit the points within a PointMesh
	Related Videos PointMesh Modify

Errata

External Geometry Explorer Add Dialog - changed 2012.2
PhotoModeler versions 2012.2 (released Aug 2012) and later have a different style of Add Geometry Dialog in the External Geometry Explorer (EGE). The new dialog is focussed on the end-goal and is easier to use and understand all the different options - but is quite different from what is shown in some of the videos above. For reference, this Tip video shows the new Add GeometryDialog for comparison.

Text File Import - changed 2012.2
PhotoModeler versions 2012.2 (released Aug 2012) and later use a new flexible Text and CSV file importer. No longer do you see just a file browser dialog to pick the import file, but a dialog that let's use skip rows and columns, pick your delimiter, change column order, etc. The 'Road - Single Photo Unknown' video shows the old style.

Photo Chip Names - changed 2012.2
PhotoModeler versions 2012.2 (released Aug 2012) and later show the name of the image file under Photo Chips in the Photo Control pane. Previous versions showed the photo number only. Names are by default set to the shortened image file name and can be cleared if desired.

3D View Fly-out Visibility Tab - changed 2012.2
PhotoModeler versions 2012.2 (released Aug 2012) and later have 3D Viewer windows with a fly-out tab on the upper left for some immediate visibility control settings. In previous versions all visibility control settings where only on the modal 3D Viewer options dialog.

3D View Control - changed 2011.0.3
PhotoModeler versions 2011.0.3 (released May 2011) and later have a new look for the 3D Viewer window. There is a new gradient background and new buttons. In previous releases (and in the tutorial videos) the buttons look like:

In 2011.0.3 and later the buttons look like:

The Options button is now the 'gear-like' button (used for 'settings' in many modern interfaces), and the Reset button is the 'back-arrow-like' button. The buttons operate the same way they did in previous versions, they just look different.