User manual

FastSCAN 37
7 Exporting a Surface
7.1 Export Options
You can export a surface at any stage of processing—the file formats available are
determined by what stage you are at.
FastSCAN
TM
can export files in a number of industry standard formats. We have at-
tempted to support the most popular variant(s) for each—if you have difficulties im-
porting one of these files into your 3D application, try exporting another variant or
format. If you continue to have difficulties, please go to our website (www.aranz.com
or contact Aranz Scanning Ltd ([e-mail]) with the following informa-
tion:
• the file format used to export from FastSCAN
TM
• the importing program’s application name and version
• the problem file
• a file that is known to work with your application program.
Scans can be exported with respect to the Screen, Reference or Bounding Box coordi-
nate systems, by selecting the appropriate option in the Coordinate System section
of the File/Export As/ dialog box. Note: you cannot reload any of these formats
back into the FastSCAN
TM
program.
When saving the Sweeps, some file formats support saving each sweep as a separate
object in the file—check the Separate Sweeps control. This allows you to manipulate
the sweeps easily in another application. Currently only the Wavefront (.obj) format
supports Separate Sweeps, and only for triangle meshes.
7.1.1 File Types for Export
There are two Surface Types, both of which may be available for export with some
file types:
Triangle Mesh: Contains points and facet information (created by joining points to-
gether).
Cloud of Points: Saves only points and no facet information. This is a smaller file as
it contains less data.