I'm looking for a piece of software (or knowledge of how this could be
achieved in Flash)that will enable me to create an image that can be
rotated in a web page. I don't want to create a 3D image from scratch
using  3D softwere, I want to be able to take photos of an existing
object from different angles, and put them together in such a way that
they give the impression of being a solid 3D object which can then be
rotated by the visitor on a web page. I know this software exists.
I've even read a bout it in one of my magazines, but can't locate it.
This website http://shop.orange.co.uk/shop/show/handset/nokia_6230/detail
shows the feature in action, with zoom too, but clearly these pictures
have been drawn in a 3D app, I want to avoid that lengthy process and
take photos.
cheers

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Clarification of Question by design_jazz-ga on 26 Feb 2005 01:45 PST

It is not panorama software that i am after. I went to be able to take
pictures of an object so that I can rotate the object to see all sides
of it.

Hi

There are at least two options for you to get what you want: you can
use panorama software with 3d object option/ "mirrored functionality"
or you can use specialized software to create real 3d object from the
set of photos. Both solutions have advantages and disadvantages and
they product slightly different results. With panorama software you
can create photorealistic, but not very interactive 3d-like objects
without too much effort and difficulties. Real 3D objects are more
difficult to build and they don't offer such level of photo-likeness -
instead they are real 3d, which mean that they can be freely rotated,
zoomed etc.
For creating 3d-like photographic object you can use one of many
panorama software available - most of the semi-professional software
have such option. Example of such application is PixMaker (
http://www.pixaround.com ) - just click the link named "Object View"
on the http://www.pixaround.com/products/pm10/index.asp page to see
what you can do with a series of static photos. Another example of
such software is Modelweaver (http://www.easypano.com/gallery_mw.html)
or AppleQuicktime VR (official authoring tools are for Mac only) which
have really nice gallery located at (
http://www.apple.com/hardware/gallery ), full of 3D views of their
hardware products. There is also Photovista 3D objects (
http://wsism2.iseemedia.com/3dobjects/ ) - just like I said, there are
really many programs capable of building such presentations. Please
note, that most of this program creates objects that can be only
rotated horizontal. For the best results you would also need a
turntable and tripod.

Real photo to 3D models builders are another story. They are more
complicated, but results that you can get with them are quite
interesting. Example of such program is D Sculptor (
http://www.d-vw.com/ ). It creates real 3D models from a set of
carefully taken photos. It's much more complicated than programs
listed above and it requires some 3D skills and experience.

Good luck!


Additional links:

Tucows software listings
http://tucows.com/3d95_default.html
http://tucows.com/panorama_default.html 

Panoguide
http://www.panoguide.com


Search terms used:

3d objects photo
360 objects
3d photo


Best Regards,
rolnick-ga

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Request for Answer Clarification by design_jazz-ga on 01 Mar 2005 03:06 PST

Thank you for your answer, which has proved useful. Could you possibly
dig out a few of the other companies you have found, as the ones seen
so far are ok, but not quite as good as I was hoping to find. Thanks.

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Clarification of Answer by rolnick-ga on 01 Mar 2005 07:09 PST

Some additional resources, good luck in your searches for best solution:

Photomodeler - another expensive software that can be used to
transforms photos into 3D
http://www.photomodeler.com/

Canoma - not longer officially available software that can create real
3D models from photos
http://www.canoma.com/ 

Real2Virtual3D - another software for creating 3D models from flat
images (this one looks pretty affordable)
http://www.real2virtual.co.uk

Archived software section of panoguide.com site, not 
currently available
http://web.archive.org/web/20040208152436/www.panoguide.com/software/

VR ObjectWorx - builds 3D-like objects and saves them into Quick Time VR format
http://www.vrtoolbox.com/vrobjectworx.html

Realview 3D Pro Editon - 3D like objects that can be rotated both
horizontally and vertically
http://www.realview3d.com

To find more program please use standard software sites, that can be
found in Google Dmoz Catalog:
http://directory.google.com/Top/Computers/Software/

Please note, that probably I will not be able to provide further
clarifications on this question, due to extensiveness of the topic. I
suggest you to write down what features you need and then choose the
software that matches your needs best.



Best Regards,
rolnick-ga

Are you looking for panorama 3d software. What it is, you have to take
multiple pictures then piece them together.

Well you could record the video and convert it to flash then you would
have to add in some click and drag feature or even a button to rotate
it. You could also do this with just photos.

Here I just found this via AllDumb.com It is a working example of what
you want to do with flash. This is adult content. But it good example
for what you are wanting to do. You can drag frame by frame and see
how it works.

Not safe.
freeweb.siol.net/stargate/MaryBeth.htm

To inseret a video go to file, import, import to library, select your
video, edit if you only need to edit, if not go to import the entire
video. if you go to import entire video select next for compression I
selected 56k modem that way it will not take for ever to load on
computers with slow connection. Then click finish. Now open your
library and drag and drop the film onto your stage. Ok now I will go
ahead and post this. I need to know how you want it to work. Either a
constent play or do you want it to rotate by clicking or draging a
slider.

Btw I didn't mention that I was using flashmx.

Sorry but you are way off with this. I am only interested in using
still images to create this effect. But yes I waant to rotate by
clicking or draging a slider.

You can take a look at this: http://www.xara.com/
I work on websites via: http://www.rcgwebdesign.com
and bought a copy of this software,last year
for about 49.99. It is very nice and has some great
export options.

I suggest the 3d object rotation in flash:

http://www.yofla.com/flash/3d-rotate/

Have a look at éspier ltd at http://www.espier.co.uk

They specialise in 3d web based content. Using their expertise in 3d
solid modeling and web design they have managed to produce some
impressive results using the Viewpoint Media Player plugin.

I don't how complicated it is to make these web based 3d models but
the finished product looks pretty good.

This is something I?m trying to do in flash myself. 
david1977-ga seems to be spot. Not sour of the example used but its
dose exactly what I?m looking for. I?ve found plenty of tutorials to
do this by moving your mouse around but I want it to work using a
slider. Dose anyone know where there is a tutorial on how to do this
or can anyone help me with the code. or even where I can download an
example file I can learn from.

Here is another example of what I?m trying to do that I thought was really cool.
http://adisney.go.com/disneypictures/narnia/index.html
Go in to the movie section and select one of the characters like Aslan.

In the end I did this in flash and kept it very simple indeed, but it
is highly practical, as it does what I want, whic is to show all side
of an object. Here is a live example for a client:
http://www.presentation-packaging.com/display_bust.htm

The flash code is v simple using a bit of action script. Of course I
may develop this as necessary. The key thing to get right is the
photography. In this example there are simply 8 photographs. Above
all, you need a turntable.