Yes, you do have to register with Scanetica before you can use the Scanner. Registration is free.

Our server requires a username and password to allow us to keep track of the useage of the Scanner. We also require your email address to assist in situations like forgotten passwords.

These details are kept secure, and under no circumstances will they be passed on to a third party.

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Yes, it is completely free at the moment, but charges may apply to some functions in the future.

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Shiny objects act like a mirror and give strong reflections. When you look in a mirror, the objects you see reflected have the appearance of being behind the mirror. For the same reason the camera sees the reflections as behind the true surface which results in a model with a deep 'hole' as shown on the right.

Note though that In the model shown in the figure on the right, only the strong reflection on the left has caused a 'hole'. There is sufficient surface detail in the weaker reflection to allow the Scanner to form a correct surface.

In some cases it may be possible to arrange the lighting or the subject itself to reduce the reflections to get a good Model.

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As part of its program of continuous improvements, the Scanetica 3D scanner now works with your photographs and models exclusively on your own computer. This means there is no limit on the size of the image files. If you wish to use any previous models then you will need to reconstruct them using the original images.

This change will not affect your registration. If you have registered previously then you do not need to re-register. Your details will remain the same.

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The stereo scanner can only produce one surface of the subject. With human faces, if hair is hanging over your face, the surface can correspond to the position of this hair, rather than the skin underneath.

In the photograph on the right, the wisp of hair over the model's forehead causes a problem in the 3D model. Note the bulge in the left side of the model's forehead corresponding to the wisp of hair.

This effect is most obvious if you turn off the texture, by pressing the 'Facets' button, and look at the basic surface model without the texture.

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If your model appears completely flat (like a sheet of paper) you have probably used the same image twice. Simply make sure you use the correct images.

Otherwise the camera has not been moved between photographs.

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Sometimes you may get a face model that is squashed flat or elongated with a very long pointed nose. There are two major reasons for this result.

• The model may have moved significantly between the photographs.

The scanner needs images taken from two slightly different directions. If the subject moves then the apparent directions can be incorrect causing the effect. The usual problem is that the subject looks at the camera (or photographer) and moves when it moves. Try taking the photographs again but getting the subject to look at a fixed point, NOT at the camera or the photographer.

Alternatively if you are sure that movement is the problem you could try using two cameras with simultaneous photographs to avoid movement.

• The incorrect focal length of the camera lens is used.

This can occur if :-

• the details in the 'exif' header of the photograph files are absent or incorrect,
• you have edited the photograph, or
• the the camera details are not in our database,

In this case you have given an incorrect lens focal length when asked. If you have edited the photographs, try using the original photographs. Otherwise make sure that you have the correct 35mm equivalent focal length of the lens (not the actual focal length). If you are unsure try different values to get a good model.

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In general it is not possible to make models of moving subjects. The Scanetica 3D Scanner requires two stereo photographs and movement between taking the photographs will ruin the model.

However if the movement is very slow or occasional, such as with a pet animal, then it is possible to take suitable pairs of stereo photographs by using two cameras as outlined under 'Advanced Techniques'.

The photograph of the model of the dog shown opposite (the model is in our Gallery) was taken with a pair of cameras. Otherwise she would turn her head each time the camera moved to take the second photograph.

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There can be a number of causes but you should consider the following.

• The photographs were out of focus or showed motion blur if using long exposures.

Try taking the photographs again.

• The subject moved or changed their expression (even slightly).

Try taking the photographs again with as short a time between photographs as possible. Remind the subject not to change expression (eg smile) or blink, and to look at a fixed object, not at the camera or the photographer.

Alternatively if you are sure that movement is the problem you could try using two cameras with simultaneous photographs to avoid movement.

• The photographs may be too 'noisy'.

All cameras have a small amount of electronic noise. In dim light, digital cameras can amplify the image as much as necessary to give bright pictures. However they amplify the noise at the same time. The 'noise' can be seen as speckles of random colour in darker areas of the photograph. The Scanner tries to match these speckles causing a bad model. The problem is usually poor lighting, and the answer is to take the photographs in brighter light.

• The movement of the camera between photographs (or separation of the two cameras) was too small or too large.

The optimum movement of the camera between exposures is 10% of the distance to the subject. If the subject is 1 metre away then the movement should be 10 cm. This can be a particular problem if using a wider angle camera such as in a camera phone. In this case you need to take the photograph at very close range. The usual problem is to move it too far.

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The Scanetica Viewer can be provided with a set of controls to allow users greater control over how they view their model. The set of controls is embedded within the viewer as shown on the right. The functions of the individual controls are given below.

Enlarges the model.

Reduces the model.

Click on an outer square to rotate model.

Click on an outer square to move the model.

Resets model.

Stops auto-movement.

Removes the texture.

Prints the image in the viewer on the user's printer.

Provides information on the model and viewer.

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You do not need to display the controls in a viewer embedded in your webpage. Go to the page and view the code in your normal editor. Find the piece of code which displays the viewer. It should look like the code on the right. The value of the property of the ViewerControl (highlighted in blue opposite) called

'ViewerHideMenu'

should be false. Make the value 'True'. This will prevent the controls from being displayed on the webpage.

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