Glossary

The following terms related to Artec Studio and 3D scanning appear regularly in this manual.

accuracy — general term
How closely a measurement matches the actual value of the quantity being measured.
Autopilot
An advanced smart mode that guides the user through postprocessing in a few steps, automatically selecting the most effective settings and producing a 3D model.
bundle
Capture of an object through simultaneous use of multiple scanners, whose numbers and relative positions are specified in the application.
CAD model
Feature-based, editable solid model used in manufacturing. It can be created in a CAD system or reverse-engineering software package.
fine registration
A thorough frame alignment using an algorithm for relative positioning of sequential frame pairs.
frames
3D surfaces captured during a scanning session. The maximum scanning rate is 15 frames per second (30 frames per second for Microsoft Kinect, PrimeSense Carmine and Asus Xtion sensors).
fusion
Process that creates a polygonal 3D model. It effectively melts and solidifies the captured and processed frames or point-cloud surfaces. Fusion can be run as a separate algorithm or throughout the scanning (Real-time fusion).
global registration
Algorithm that optimizes the relative positions of all frames using a single coordinate system.
key frames
Frames used by the global registration algorithm. The algorithm selects them automatically to fully cover the surface of the captured object using as few as possible.
mesh
The surface geometry of a 3D model; it comprises a series of linked polygons.
model
The 3D object that results from the fusion operation (in Artec Studio) or another modeling process in a different software package.
near and far cutting planes
Planes that limit the space in which the scanner is capturing 3D frames. The device will ignore everything that is closer than the near cutting plane or more distant than the far cutting plane.
project
A method of managing the scanned material, processed data and user operation history, either in memory or on disk. Artec Studio project files use the SPROJ extension.
resolution; general term
The ability of a scanning system to capture detail in an object.
rough registration
Preliminary frame alignment performed during capture.
scan
A sequence of frames captured in a single continuous movement of the scanner around an object or scene.
section; in a point-cloud scan
Corresponds to the region selected in the Ray preview area. The application may save these sections in the export files differently (Merging Sections).
section; in measurements
Short for cross-section. Section is the plane that splits model or scan into two parts (Using Sections to Measure Area and Volume).
supporting surface
A surface on which the object is resting (e.g., a table or the floor).
targets
Stickers placed on the object being scanned to ease identification of the various regions. There are two types of targets: non-coded and coded. Unless the type is explicitly specified, the target is considered non-coded. Typically, a non-coded target is a round sticker that has a black ring with a white circle in the center; a coded target has a unique code ring that photogrammetry software can automatically recognize.
tracking
Calculation of the scanner’s position in a coordinate system relative to the scene.

You can also find these terms along with some algorithm parameters in Index.