We are committed to the on-going support and improvement of our products. We regularly release upgrades containing fixes and new features/enhancements. The Support Upgrades page describes how to get the latest versions.
Listed below are significant changes since the 2018 release. Click on each section to expand to see details.
See below for older releases, or see a complete list of all the changes listed by version.
PhotoModeler's Major Enhancements List
2020 Changes
- New Coded Target Presets System. Addition of a new, flexible and powerful system for defining groups of Coded Targets actions. It is easy to apply a set of actions (such as setting scales, setting offsets, creating lines, and planes) automatically to all new projects, or semi-automatically to existing projects, based on predetermined Coded Target Id numbers. Multiple groups of presets can be defined and saved for different scenarios.
- SVG Export. The Scalable Vector Graphics format (svg) can now be used to export 2D graphic data.
- New DXF Export Method. The export of 2D and 3D .DXF files now produces a newer format that supports spline curves, circles, and increased compatibility with some applications.
- Surface Draw Point Convert. The Surface/Template Curve draw mode right-click menu has a new tool that allows you to convert an existing curve point into a corner point.
- Photo Projections Visibility Improvement. 3D objects being displayed on photos as projections can now have their Material overridden with a fixed color, which can make them much easier to see.
- Referencing Improvements. There have been a number of improvements to point referencing to improve efficiency.
- In total there were 5 significant changes, 21 improvements, and 32 fixes.
- Bug fixes and stability. This pre-holiday release is mostly about stability improvements and fixes.
- Processing improvements and fixes. There were a few significant improvements with Processing (esp. in the Orientation and Smart Orient stages). A problem with Smart Orient not correctly handling the addition of control points or frozen points to already-oriented projects has been fixed. The stability and ability of Smart Orient with low-count coded target projects has improved and is also more consistent now.
- Show Surface Draw related Surface. Now when a Surface Draw item (point, line, curve) is selected, the associated surface is highlighted in the 3D view and table to help identify the association.
- In total there were 8 improvements, and 18 fixes
- New Target System. A new system of targets has been introduced for use with Automated Coded Target projects. Sheets of 6 targets, called 'Lettered Sheets', can be printed, or purchased (date tbd), laid out in a scene on flat surfaces, and used to automatically set up the coordinate system (including multiple scales), best fit planes (typically for use with Surface Draw), and multiple offset points.
- Merged 3D Model and Ortho-photo. The 3D model can now optionally be overlaid on top of an exported orthophoto. Great for ortho-mosaics with contour lines, facades with vectors, etc..
- Extending Surface Draw. You can now extend Surface Draw Lines or Curves across photos.
- Automatic Project Preset Scales and Planes. Coded Target Automated Projects can now generate preset scales, and planes using Coded Target ID ranges. Settings in Preferences.
- Coded Target Smart Orientation and Calibration. Automated coded target projects with EXIF cameras now use Smart Orientation and Auto-calibration by default - this allows non-calibrated EXIF cameras in coded target projects to solve more robustly and getting a camera calibration if possible. Very useful for remote site measurement tasks where you might not have access to the camera.
- Advanced Point Offsets. Point Offset Revamp: Multiple offsets (of any type) can now be assigned to points. For example, you can add an X-axis offset and a 2 Point offset to the same point in the project to define new 3D points.
- In total there were 6 significant changes, 44 improvements, and 76 fixes.
2019 Changes
- ASTM DXF Format. The DXF-ASTM format, used by the clothing and fabric industries, is a new export option. Use this option to transfer digitized 2D patterns from PhotoModeler to software like CLO.
- Merge and close polylines. A new checkbox will merge all connected line and curve entities into a single polyline which makes pattern outline export in the DXF ASTM format more useful.
- In total there were 16 improvements and 12 fixes.
- The Template Pattern Capture Add-on. The TPC Add-on is now officially released. It is an extra cost add-on to PhotoModeler Standard and included with PhotoModeler Premium.
- Use a Plane to Define Rotation. A Best-Fit Plane can be used to define part of the coordinate system rotation. E.g. use the normal of a plane to define the z-axis.
- Export Orthophoto with Rhino. When exporting Rhino .3dm files, an associated orthophoto can be exported, along with the 3D data, to form a backplane image.
- Surface Draw Improvements. Various improvements to speed and methods of Surface Draw.
- Manual Reference Improvements. Various improvements to how manual referencing works. E.g. you can now drag points in the source photo without leaving referencing mode.
- In total there were 22 improvements and 21 fixes.
- 2D Template Digitizing Work Flow. A new workflow, new dialogs, and new tutorials for those using PhotoModeler for accurate digitizing of 2D template patterns.
- Auto-trace tool. A new tool for automatically detecting and tracing lines and edges of flat objects – used mostly for 2D template digitizing.
- Performance improvements. Some improvements when working with larger projects in various areas.
- In total there were 29 improvements and 30 fixes.
- Bug fixes. Mostly a bug fix release to address new 2019 and Premium issues.
- Rhino Ortho Export Trace Image. When exporting an orthographic photo there is now an option to create a Rhino .3DM file containing a view with a tracing image.
- In total there were 17 improvements and 20 fixes.
- New Premium Product. The PhotoModeler Premium product has replaced Scanner and UAS.
- New Ribbon User Interface. The main interface has changed from the menu and toolbar to Ribbon style for ease of use. Overview article.
- Coded Target Labels. Coded Targets can now be printed on Avery labels with correct spacing. Paired offsets too.
- Rhino 3D Cameras. The Rhino .3dm export can include the solved camera positions and images as wallpaper.
- In total there were 22 improvements and 31 fixes.
2018 Changes
- Fixes. This release is mostly a bug fix and a small improvement release. If you use control points or have a very high-resolution screen this would be a good update for you.
- Pixel Distances. Measure Pane now also displays distances in pixels – which can be useful for precision determination.
- In total there were 8 improvements and 17 fixes.
- Image Sequences. Supports multiple images from one stationary era (such as with security cameras). Great forensics tool.
- Speed Improvements. Some general speed improvements in UI and processing. Some Xeon machines will see processing speed improvements.
- Offset Point Symbol. The 3D view of offset points is now a 3d cross shape making it easier to find in the 3D View and on projections.
- Control UI Improvement. A power feature for those that mark control points – a short cut to not use the EGE.
- Dense Surfaces Denser. In some cases DSM point clouds have less tendency to having holes in areas with low photo count.
- No Limit Support Uploads. File uploads to support no longer have the total 1GB limit.
- In total there were 33 improvements and 39 fixes.
- UAV Control Marking Improvement. UAV and drone projects with GCP (ground control points) are now easier to set up when there is a change in vertical datum (very common).
- Multi-point Transform Improvement. Multi-point transforms can now be formed with just one point (translate), or two points (translate and scale). Three and more point transforms remain as is.
- Evaluation System Improvement. Evaluation codes are now 30 days long and are easier to get.
- In total there were 20 improvements and 16 fixes.
- Offset Pairs Scale. If using paired offset Coded Targets, one can now automatically set up multiple scales based on the pairs. Great for scale redundancy, and removing the need for another scale bar in the project.
- WKT and Proj4 Geo. Geographic Coordinate Systems can now also be defined by WKT and Proj4 methods (on top of current built-in and EPSG codes). (pmu only)
- Import of Faro IDs. Faro targets, or markers, that are recognized and exported by Faro Scene in DXF, can be loaded by PhotoModeler as Coded Targets. Making the matching of laser scan and photogrammetric projects easier.
- New GetStats External Command. The external API and command language has a new command GetProjectStats.
- In total there were 24 improvements and 26 fixes.
- Gridded DEM. New gridded Digital Elevation Model export as XYZ text or GeoTIFF files in PM UAS.
- Coded-Target Smart-Processing. Smart Processing improved to handle Coded Target projects as well (in all versions).
- Smart-Processing Speed. Smart Processing can be 2 to 4 times faster for bigger projects (in Scanner and UAS).
- Ortho-photo Improvements. A number of small improvements to the orthophoto dialog and the orthophoto export (in all versions).
- In total there were 19 improvements and 34 fixes.
