3D photography is the process of using cameras and light to capture the shape and appearance of real objects. This process provides a simple way of acquiring 3D models of unparalleled detail and realism by scanning them in from the real world. This course provides an introduction to the emerging area of 3D photography, focusing on the current state of the art and the principles underlying several leading approaches.

After introducing fundamental concepts, the course surveys a variety of techniques and provides an in-depth analysis of a few successful approaches at the forefront of 3D photography, presented by leading researchers in the field. The focus is on passive and active optical methods, including stereo vision, photogrammetry, structured light, imaging radar, interferometry, and optical triangulation. The course concludes with a field study: capturing 3D photographs of Michelangelo's statues.

Scope

The course will cover a variety of methods for recovering shape from images. Introductory material will describe the fundamentals of cameras from lenses to CCD's and ways of calibrating them. A number of standard and emerging passive vision methods will be presented, including stereo, structure from motion, shape from focus/defocus, shape from shading, interactive photogrammetry, and voxel-based reconstruction . Active vision methods will include imaging radar, optical triangulation, moire, active stereo, active depth from defocus, and desktop shadow striping. An overview of reconstructing shape and appearance from range images will be followed by the first presentation of the Digital Michelangelo Project to the SIGGRAPH community.