The 5 Minute FlexScan3D Setup Cheat Sheet

One of the biggest hurdles for getting going with FlexScan3D is the calibration process. If you know what to do it takes five minutes, this document hopes to give you a hands on walk through for everything you need to know to do this. In one handy cheat sheet too.

Before you start

  • Install FlexScan3D – Make sure it runs with the test data
  • Make sure latest version of DirectX 9.0c - December Update is installed
  • Read the FlexScan3D manual
  • Get a tape measure with metric units on it
  • A hard cover book or wall
  • Have your computer, projector, and camera read to go
  • 2 print outs of the calibration pattern
  • Please remember all units are metric unless stated otherwise

Projector Calibration

  • First figure out the distance the projector needs to be on a particular zoom level, we've might have emailed you this value.

The scanning image width needs to be the following for scanning, we need to figure out how far out to position your projector to get this.

  • 2cm pattern is 32 squares across so the total width is 64cm
  • 1cm pattern is 32 squares across so the total width is 32cm

I like to use the tool from the following site. http://www.projectorcentral.com/projection-calculator-pro.cfm

  • Make sure to use the max or min zoom value, and zoom your projector to match. I've red circled the key values below

  • I'm going to use the 2cm pattern which is requires the image to be 64cm across. I've also maximized the zoom on my projector. According to the projector calculator. The distance my projector will be is .91m.  Enter that value in to FS3D - Tools, Settings, Projector, Distance

  • Set your projector zoom to either min or max to match. In my example it's Max Zoom as per the projector specs
  • Position your projector so that the resulting image matches the needed width for your pattern. In this example, it's 64cm. Use the tape measure the verify. The distance from the image to the projector should be about .91m as well. 

  • When you place the paper pattern there, it should match perfectly.  If you're using a book cover or removable panel, you'll have to manually position align it.  Either way, it should take less than a minute. 

 

  • One it matches, tape on the pattern to the wall or if it's book, just leave it there for now. Turn off the projector. Time for camera calibration.

Camera Calibration

  • The manual covers this topic quite nicely, please review it if you're unfamiliar with the process.
  • Figure out the zoom you want to use, and stick with it. Moving it mid scan is bad
  • Take the lens and calibration images, turn on your flash and auto focus
  • Using the 2nd copy of your calibration image or of the one on the wall, take 6-8 images of it. If using the  2nd copy, make sure you've positioned it the same way as it is on the wall.
  • Import in to FS3D and calibrate.  (This step is only needed ONCE for a calibration pattern with any a camera lens or camera zoom position)
  • Position your camera on where you wan to scan, take a picture and manually import it or connect it up to FlexScan3D and take a lens position image and calibrate. Remember to place your camera at roughly a 45 green angle from the projector to the scan target.

You're now ready to scan, a few steps to ensure a really nice scan, versus a so-so scan.

  • Place your object in the scan window, focus the camera on the object then turn off auto focus. 
  • Project the alignment pattern on to the object and adjust focus on the projector to get the lines sharp.
  • Make sure your flash is off.
  • Set your camera on manual if you want FS3D to be able to control the camera settings. (so you can do the following).
  • Setup custom Fstop and Expose speeds for your lighting environment to ensure you're going to get a good photos.
  • Test your pictures to make sure the images come out cleanly
  • For good examples please refer to the example data set. Unless you have good pictures, your scans will not come out at all.

You're pretty much ready to scan, do a scan of the calibration image for a sanity check, after that you can get rid of the calibration pattern on the wall or remove the book cover. In this example it looks pretty good, the point measurement says 20.05 mm which is .05mm off, but that's more than good enough in for this scanning window. For more accuracy switch to a 10cm or move the camera closer.