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Use Agisoft Metashape to create 3D objects for Dynamics 365 Guides and for mixed-reality components included in apps created with Power Apps

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This tutorial guides you through the process of using Agisoft Metashape photogrammetry software to create a 3D object that you can use in Microsoft Dynamics Guides and in mixed-reality components included in apps created with Microsoft Power Apps.

This tutorial was created only for informational purposes, to show how Agisoft Metashape works with Dynamics 365 Guides and Power Apps. Microsoft Corporation isn't affiliated with, isn't a partner of, and doesn't endorse or sponsor Agisoft or any of its products.

What is Agisoft Metashape?

Agisoft Metashape is a standalone software product that photogrammetrically processes digital images and generates 3D spatial data that can used in geographic information system (GIS) applications, in cultural heritage documentation, for visual effects production, and for indirect measurements of objects of various scales. Learn more about Agisoft Metashape.

Photography tips

The following tips will help you take quality photos for photogrammetry:

  • If you can, take photos in a location where lighting is consistent and doesn't cast shadows.

  • Try to keep your own shadow out of the picture.

  • Make sure that there are no moving objects in the background when you take the photos.

  • If the camera that you're using has a high dynamic range (HDR) setting, turn the feature off, and try not to adjust the exposure of your photographs while you capture images.

  • Take pictures about one meter apart while you circle the object.

  • If you can, maintain a perpendicular location relative to the object while you take photos.

  • If the object is large, move in a lateral motion from one end of it to the other, and change the height at each pass, until you've captured all surfaces.

Set preferences

For the most part, you can use the default preferences. However, there are a few changes that you must make before you start.

  1. On the Tools menu, select Preferences.

    Preferences command.

  2. In the Metashape Preferences dialog box, on the GPU tab, select the check box for any graphics processing units (GPUs) that are available. If only one GPU is available, select the Use CPU when performing GPU accelerated processing check box at the bottom of the dialog box. When you've finished, select Apply.

    GPU tab settings.

  3. On the Advanced tab, in the Miscellaneous section, follow these steps:

    1. Select the Enable fine-level subdivision check box. This option produces a more refined model that has more triangles.

    2. Select the Enable VBO support check box. This option provides a more refined way of storing the information in the structure of the graphics card memory. The result is a more detailed polygonal model.

    3. Select OK to apply your changes and close the Metashape Preferences dialog box.

    Advanced tab settings.

    Note

    If the camera that you're using has extensive metadata about location, orientation, and so on, you might also want to experiment with the options in the Export/Import section of the Advanced tab.

Import your photos

After you've finished setting up your preferences, the first step is to import the photos that Metashape will use to construct the 3D object.

  • On the Workflow menu, select Add Photos, and then select the photos to import.

    Add Photos command.

Mask your photos

You can "mask out" any irrelevant elements in your source photos that might be confusing to the program or produce undesirable results. By limiting the number of pixels that the application must be aware of, you help reduce the memory profile of each image. The result is a better 3D object. You might want to complete this step from different angles in your photos. Although you don't have to mask objects in every photo, the more photographs you mask, the more accurate the result will be.

  1. Double-click an image to open it, and then select a selection tool, such as Intelligent Scissors.

    Intelligent Scissors tool.

  2. Outline your 3D object subject, and then select Add Selection to create the mask.

    Add Selection button.

    Your model should now resemble the following illustration.

    Mask created.

  3. For the best results, repeat this procedure in multiple photos, from multiple angles.

    Refined model.

Align the photos

Photogrammetry uses objects that are consistently present in multiple images to create a map of where it thinks the camera was when the photo was taken. For this step of the process, you use the Align photos command.

  1. On the Workflow menu, select Align Photos.

    Align Photos command.

  2. In the Align Photos dialog box, use the default settings (see the following illustration), or change the settings as you require. When you've finished, select OK.

    Align Photos default settings.

  3. Select the Model menu to view the results. Your model should now resemble the following illustration.

    Photo alignment outcome.

Align the region

After you've finished aligning the photos, you can use the bounding box to trim the size of your 3D object.

Note

This step isn't required, but it speeds up the next steps.

  1. On the toolbar, select the Resize Region tool.

    Resize Region tool.

  2. Drag the spheres at the edge of the region to select the area that you want to convert.

    Area to convert selected.

Build a dense point cloud

The next step is to generate a point cloud. You can then use the point cloud to generate polygonal data that is used to form a mesh. By increasing the number of points that are generated from the aligned photos, you help define an accurate 3D representation of the surface.

  1. On the Workflow menu, select Build Dense Cloud.

    Build Dense Cloud command.

  2. In the Build Dense Cloud dialog box, use the following settings:

    • Quality: Select Medium.

      Note

      If you have a powerful computer, you can set the Quality field to High. However, for many operations, the Medium setting produces quality results.

    • Deep filtering: Select Aggressive.

    • Calculate point colors: Select the check box.

    Build Dense Cloud settings.

    These settings are good settings to start from. Experiment with other options to see the different results that they produce. Your results might vary, depending on the subject matter and surface characteristics of the object that you're working with.

  3. When you've finished, select OK.

Build the mesh

The next step is to build the mesh.

  1. On the Workflow menu, select Build Mesh.

    Build Mesh command.

  2. In the Build Mesh dialog box, use the following settings:

    • Source data: Select Dense cloud.

    • Surface type: Select Arbitrary (3D).

    • Face count: Select Medium (89,796).

    • Interpolation: Select Enabled (default).

    • Calculate vertex colors: Select the check box.

    Build Mesh settings.

    Note

    These settings work for general cases. Experiment with other options to find the best combination for your needs. You might want to change the Face count setting to match the performance requirements for your targeted platform.

  3. When you've finished, select OK to convert the point cloud into a 3D object.

  4. Examine the results, and then follow one of these steps:

    • If you're satisfied with the results, skip ahead to the Export the 3D object procedure later in this tutorial.

    • If you want a higher level of surface detail, move on to the next procedure, Build the texture.

    • If you don't like the shape of the object, you might want to add more masks to the areas that are missing details.

Build the texture

By adding a texture map to your 3D object, you can significantly increase the visual fidelity but also maintain performance.

Note

This step is optional.

  1. On the Workflow menu, select Build Texture.

    Build Texture command.

  2. Use the default settings (see the following illustration). When you've finished, select OK.

    Build Texture default settings.

    Note

    Depending on the platform that you're targeting, you might want to reduce the texture size.

Export the 3D object

The last step is to convert the model to the GLB file format, so that you can use it in Dynamics 365 Guides and Power Apps.

  1. On the File menu, select Export > Export Model.

    Export Model command.

  2. In the Save As dialog box, specify a name and location for the 3D object. Then, in the Save as type field, select Binary glTF (*.glb). When you've finished, select Save.

    Save As dialog box.

  3. In the Export Model dialog box, in the Export texture field group, we recommend that you select PNG. Leave the other default settings.

    Export Model settings.

  4. When you've finished, select OK.

The model is now completed and ready to be used in Dynamics 365 Guides and Power Apps.

Finished model.

View a 3D object in Dynamics 365 Guides or Power Apps

After you've prepared a 3D object, use the following links to learn more about using the model in Dynamics 365 Guides or Power Apps:

More information

Screenshots in this tutorial were taken from the Agisoft Metashape software program to provide clear instructions about how to use Agisoft software. Learn more about Agisoft Metashape.

Microsoft Corporation is not responsible for, and expressly disclaims all liability for damages of any kind arising out of the use of Agisoft Metashape, or reliance on these instructions. This document is created only to provide general information to our customers and does not take into consideration any individualized business plans or specifications.

The use in this document of trademarked names and images is strictly for informative and descriptive purposes, and no commercial claim to their use, or suggestion of sponsorship or endorsement, is made by Microsoft Corporation.