Just not getting a workable result on flat objects

[BRP]

This is super frustrating. I have a near-bas relief set of .stls, but fiddling with all the controls, I get massive distortion. I'm sure this is something fundamental that I;m just not seeing, but I've fiddled with every control I can find, and looked through every info field.

 

[Jimcad]

Where did the STLs come from?

 

[Jimcad]

Also, Can you upload an stl for the team to look at?

 

[BRP]

Where did the STLs come from?

They are from a number of different artists we work with. They are good; I have used them to build models without errors. The problem is that they are nearly bas reliefs in their own right, and I can find nothing in the tutorials to account for this kind of bowed shape. I'm sure it's something seemingly simple, but I'm not able to find it.

 

[BRP]

Apparently not - the files are "too large."

 

[Jimcad]

Can you use drop box or similar?
I'm guessing that @Admin will take a look for you.
I know when I did the carving of the country house there was distortion which I was able to disguise by putting into a dish shape.
I think Relief Maker is aimed more at taking a 3D model and creating a relief from that.
Admin will be able to give better help than Me.

Jim

 

[Max]

Apparently not - the files are "too large."

Hey BRP, please upload your files to here:

Share Your 3D CAD Model With Alibre

We love to see what our customers are up to. If you would be willing to share your 3D models with us, upload your file and send them to us.

www.alibre.com

Don't worry about the "use for marketing" stuff I'll see them and move them off. Please email me at hello@reliefmaker.com when you're done with the names of some of the files or, preferably, put them all into a zip.

Out of curiosity, do your 3D models already have a back plane on them? If so, that is the reason. Remove the back plane and redo it.

Cheers!

 

[bryan]

any resolution to this? I'm having the same issue.

 

[Max]

Can you post an image of what you're seeing? Also, are you using a 3D model or a heightmap as an input?

 

[bryan]

any resolution to this? I'm having the same issue.

Can you post an image of what you're seeing? Also, are you using a 3D model or a heightmap as an input?

I'm using 3d models. It seems to happen mostly with models that are already in a relief style.

 

[Max]

any resolution to this? I'm having the same issue.

I'm using 3d models. It seems to happen mostly with models that are already in a relief style. View attachment 31

So this boils down to the solver needing more "degrees of freedom" than are provided by the input. At a really high level, you need to remove the background of the objects if you're seeing this happen. So bring in the dog without the circle, for example.

Out of curiosity, what is your objective of using the axe coin inside Relief Maker? Why are you trying to make reliefs of things that are already reliefs?

We will be making a new solver that will be a new option that will do a different kind of relief creation that is suitable for different circumstances, and I'm curious if your use case would be one of them.

 

[bryan]

any resolution to this? I'm having the same issue.

I'm using 3d models. It seems to happen mostly with models that are already in a relief style. View attachment 29View attachment 30View attachment 31View attachment 32View attachment 33

So this boils down to the solver needing more "degrees of freedom" than are provided by the input. At a really high level, you need to remove the background of the objects if you're seeing this happen. So bring in the dog without the circle, for example.

Out of curiosity, what is your objective of using the axe coin inside Relief Maker? Why are you trying to make reliefs of things that are already reliefs?

We will be making a new solver that will be a new option that will do a different kind of relief creation that is suitable for different circumstances, and I'm curious if your use case would be one of them.

ah, okay. I'll try removing the backgrounds and see how it goes. I'm laser engraving coins and belt buckles and other pendants, etc. My process is that I will model some parts, then merge and sculpt as a relief, them make a depth map that I then edit in photoshop. Basically I'm sculpting/modeling as a relief so I know more exactly what it will look like when converted to a depth map for the laser engraver.

 

[bryan]

ah, okay. I'll try removing the backgrounds and see how it goes. I'm laser engraving coins and belt buckles and other pendants, etc. My process is that I will model some parts, then merge and sculpt as a relief, them make a depth map that I then edit in photoshop. Basically I'm sculpting/modeling as a relief so I know more exactly what it will look like when converted to a depth map for the laser engraver.

ah, okay. I'll try removing the backgrounds and see how it goes. I'm laser engraving coins and belt buckles and other pendants, etc. My process is that I will model some parts, then merge and sculpt as a relief, them make a depth map that I then edit in photoshop. Basically I'm sculpting/modeling as a relief so I know more exactly what it will look like when converted to a depth map for the laser engraver.

If you'd like any of my files to test with your new solver, or would like me to test it out on my end, let me know. When I use the STL2PNG website to convert my sculpted reliefs, it works fine. It's just not as a good a quality nor has the different options that reliefmaker has.

 

[Max]

ah, okay. I'll try removing the backgrounds and see how it goes. I'm laser engraving coins and belt buckles and other pendants, etc. My process is that I will model some parts, then merge and sculpt as a relief, them make a depth map that I then edit in photoshop. Basically I'm sculpting/modeling as a relief so I know more exactly what it will look like when converted to a depth map for the laser engraver.

Is it fair to say that you are, in this context, using Relief Maker primarily to convert your 3D relief file into a 2D depth map and that the "relief-ification" aspect of Relief Maker is actually not the goal? In other words you want more of a straight conversion to depth rather than to "make a 3D relief"?

If so, the new algorithm is designed for this purpose in mind. It also has the side effect of being much more desirable for hard surface objects like buildings, whereas the existing algorithm really excels at organic shapes.

We are targeting February for a pretty broad release including:
1) The new algorithm option
2) STEP export for CAD software (!)
3) A handful of useful things for working with imported depth maps

 

[bryan]

Is it fair to say that you are, in this context, using Relief Maker primarily to convert your 3D relief file into a 2D depth map and that the "relief-ification" aspect of Relief Maker is actually not the goal? In other words you want more of a straight conversion to depth rather than to "make a 3D relief"?

If so, the new algorithm is designed for this purpose in mind. It also has the side effect of being much more desirable for hard surface objects like buildings, whereas the existing algorithm really excels at organic shapes.

Yes, I would say that is the case. In fact, I often turn the focal length up as high as it goes as I don't need the perspective. Can't wait to try the new algorithm.

 

[Max]

If you'd like any of my files to test with your new solver, or would like me to test it out on my end, let me know. When I use the STL2PNG website to convert my sculpted reliefs, it works fine. It's just not as a good a quality nor has the different options that reliefmaker has.

Yes, RM's version of that algorithm will benefit from high quality antialiasing, amongst many other benefits of using the Relief Maker pipeline, that will make its results superior to the STL2PNG implementation for conversions of this nature. Will keep you posted - poke around mid Feb. or feel free to email me at hello@reliefmaker.com sometime early Feb to get on the radar and I'll run some tests for you.

 

[Max]

I often turn the focal length up as high as it goes

Do be careful with this - extreme values can introduce distortions. Set it "as high as you can" while avoiding the last 10% of the slider, if possible. Or at least inspect the results closely to ensure you are getting what you expect.

 

[bryan]

Great, thanks for the advice and I'm really looking forward to seeing the new version!

 

[Jimcad]

It'll be a Valentine's present.
I too am looking forward to it.

Jim

 

[Jimcad]

Hi @Max,
It's February. Any ideas on a date for the new version?