About The Project

We are in the process of digitalizing our Entomological Collection. To optimize the process we are doing experiments and writing scripts to automate most of the process. In this documentation, we are sharing our scripts and process optimizations. It is important to note that the hardware with which the images are made to process the 3d model is from Small World Vision. The information gathered from the hardware is needed for most of the scripts.

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Getting Started

To get a local copy up and running follow these steps below.

Prerequisites

Software:

Disc3D
Metashape

Hardware:

Small world vision - Insect scanner DISC3D

Installation

Download all the files for the corresponding Metashape version under 'Insect-Scanner/Metashape/Script/Version X.X/'. Or you can simply download it here. Save the folder with the same folder structure where the .py files are contained.

For the script to work some adjustments need to be made inside the python script. To edit the script we recommend Visual Studio Code.

Calibration:
All settings and calibrations can be done in the setting.py file inside the variable folder.

Create a folder where two files will be stored that are needed for the calibration
Open the folder from the DISC3D process where the desired calibration was used
Copy the file 'CamPos.txt' to the folder created in step 1
Go back to the folder from the DISC3D process
Open 'ScanInformation.pdf'
Copy the value for '2.4. Camera Constant/f [px]'
Load the images into Metashape (Workflow>Add Folder)
Go to Tool>Camera Calibration
Under the initial change Type from 'Auto' to 'Precalibrated'
Paste the copied value from step 6 into 'f'
Click the save icon
Save the file to the folder created in step 1 (specific name not needed. We use 'CamCalibration')
Open the file 'setting.py' inside the 'variable' folder
Change the value for 'calibFolder' to the path of the folder created in step 1

calibFolder = "FOLDER_PATH"

Change the value for 'referenceFilename' to the file name of the file copied in step 3 (usually 'CamPos')

referenceFilename = "CAMPOS_NAME"

Change the value for 'CamCalibration' to the file name of the file created in step 12 (usually 'CamCalibration')

CamCalibration = "CAMCALIBRATION_NAME"

Save the script File>Save

For more information, you are welcome to contact us.

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Usage

To run the scripts you have to start them inside of Metashape:

Go to Tools>Run Script (Shortcut: Ctrl+R)
Select the folder icon
Browse for the desired script and open it
Press OK

The script will now go through and ask for the specified folder.

There are four different scripts:

BatchScript
process one insect to a 3d model
BatchScript_FastCalculation
process one insect to a 3d model with the addition that the calculation will be approx. 3x faster with minimal loss of quality. Can be used for experimenting
Multi_BatchScript
process multiple insects to 3d models at once (select each folder)
Multi_BatchScript_SingleFolder
process multiple insects to 3d models at once (select main folder)
Model_Exporter
export multiple insect 3d models to obj at once