New Geomagic Capture Software Simplifies Processing of 3D Scans

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C., June 6, 2001 -- Geomagic is releasing software later this month that simplifies processing of any kind of point data from 3D cameras, digitizers and coordinate measurement machines (CMMs). Geomagic Capture is the first software that provides a complete solution for scanning a part and converting it into a digital polygon file for use with 3D CAD or graphics software.

“With Geomagic Capture, it's almost as easy to handle point data from a 3D capture device as it is to process pixels from a 2D digital camera,” says Ping Fu, Geomagic's president and CEO. “The Geomagic Capture process resembles photography rather than traditional 3D modeling that requires special skills.”

Geomagic Capture is designed for fast, memory-efficient processing of large data sets, such as those from non-touch laser or structured-light scanners. It can register point or polygon data from any 3D scanner, and handle ordered or unordered data, multiple scans or a single point cloud. Output is compatible with most popular standard formats and a wide range of proprietary formats.

An automated wrapping algorithm within Geomagic Capture is specially designed to quickly triangulate large sets of points. Polygon files from Geomagic Capture can be brought into Raindrop's Geomagic Studio software for polygon editing, automated surfacing, and polygon reduction. The new software also works with Geomagic Qualify, Geomagic's software that allows automatic inspection of CAD files or build parts that are out of tolerance.

Geomagic Capture extends Geomagic's reach directly into 3D scanners, further enabling 3D photography, the process of automatically capturing a physical object and turning it into a digital model for design, engineering, mass customization and web-based marketing applications.

Geomagic Capture will be available to 3D scanner makers for bundling into their devices. It will also be offered as a standalone product and without additional charge to Geomagic Studio customers with current maintenance contracts.

Geomagic provides 3D photography software, technology and services that enable mass customization of consumer products and engineering parts. The company was founded in 1996 and is based in Research Triangle Park, N.C.