Helicon 3D

Frez · Post by **Frez** » Fri Aug 03, 2012 8:20 am

This is a pretty interesting program. I mapped some recent diatom stacks. Hope you enjoy them.

Frez

Jacek · Post by **Jacek** » Fri Aug 03, 2012 9:01 am

very interesting effect

Cactusdave · Post by **Cactusdave** » Fri Aug 03, 2012 11:34 am

Yes it works quite well if you choose the parameters carefully, though it's easy to get an exaggerated effect. I like the first and third images particularly.

rjlittlefield · Post by **rjlittlefield** » Sat Aug 04, 2012 11:02 pm

Looks good for these diatoms. Be aware that if your subject has fine 3D structure, Helicon will smear that out. See for example the illustrations HERE.

--Rik

Cactusdave · Post by **Cactusdave** » Sun Aug 05, 2012 1:21 am

I agree with that comment Rik. I'm quite wary of Helicon 3D. It's effects are very dependent on the parameters you enter into it, and it's very easy to get exaggerated and quite unrealistic effects from it, reversing 'hills' into 'valleys' etc. It needs to be used very judiciously for diatoms.

Thanks also for providing that link to Graham Matthews' exceptional diatom image. I need reminding just how good that one is each time I attempt something similar.

It is fortunate indeed to find a specimen so nicely oriented. Mounted diatoms tend not to be tilted in this helpful way, but capturing the image still requires skill.

flyer2o12 · Post by **flyer2o12** » Sun Aug 05, 2012 5:44 am

What other applications are available out there whereby 3d models can be automatically generated from stacks of images, and preferably, with the ability of importing stacks in multiple directions?

Frez · Post by **Frez** » Sun Aug 05, 2012 6:20 pm

Those 3D images are screen captures. I'm still using the trial version and it doesn't seem to allow saves within the 3D application. No argument here that the default 3D parameters are over the top. For me it's more fun than useful. It will likely improve as it matures over the next couple of years. Graham's images are great!

Frez

rjlittlefield · Post by **rjlittlefield** » Sun Aug 05, 2012 8:45 pm

Frez wrote:It will likely improve as it matures over the next couple of years.

That's possible, but the feature first appeared almost 4 years ago and the basic functionality seems to be unchanged since then. Charlie Krebs provided our first introduction to the feature, as well as the dataset that they've been using ever since to advertise it.

flyer2o12 wrote:What other applications are available out there whereby 3d models can be automatically generated from stacks of images, and preferably, with the ability of importing stacks in multiple directions?

I don't know of any that do a very good job on biological subjects. I recently added a feature to Zerene Stacker to output the DMap depth map, but of course it has the same limitations as Helicon's. You might take a look at Photosynth, and you can do a Google search on 3d model builder stereo to get some feel for state of the art. It's a very tough problem when the structure to be modeled has complex geometry with overlapping curved surfaces that have texture and coloration. Bristles and hairs are a nightmare to get right. The tools that generate really nice results tend to be assistants that help a human work faster, rather than fully automated software that cranks out good results by itself.

--Rik