ArBa3d

Take a real-life puzzle box into your hands and you can twist it and turn it and check it out from any angle you want. A similar effect can be achieved with ArBa3d. Load 2D images of a puzzle box into the application and use them to come up with a 3D model of said puzzle box, model that you can rotate, zoom in, and check out from any angle you want.

There are two ArBa3d editions to choose from: a Standard and a Full edition. To get ArBa3d Standard up and running, you must download a small archive, run the executable inside, then follow the instructions presented to you by a setup wizard. To get ArBa3d Full up and running, you must download an MSI installer, run it, and click through a simple setup wizard. No matter which version you go for, one thing remains the same: you will quickly and effortlessly get ArBa3d up and running.

ArBa3d interface is divided into several sections: an Object List pane in the upper left, panes that display the images you load, and a pane in the lower right that displays the 3D model you create. When you launch ArBa3d for the first time, you are presented with the Help documentation that, among other things, clearly presents the interface.

Using ArBa3d is a fairly simple 3-step process that goes like this:
Step 1 – load 2D images of an object, images with different view points.
Step 2 – calibrate the photos loaded into the application. Draw vertices or edges on the objects you want to extract.
Step 3 – Export or save the 3D model.

According to the developer, ArBa3d Standard is free to use for an evaluation period of 30 days. I ran into this peculiar situation while testing the application. I downloaded ArBa3d, installed it, launched it without a problem. When I wanted to run it a second time, all I got was a prompt telling me the application is free to use for 30 days. I uninstalled the application, installed it again, and I successfully launched it – once. Because the second time I wanted to run ArBa3d, I got the same notification prompt telling me the application is free to use for 30 days.

Want to show off an object on your website? With 2D images of that object, images with different view points, and with ArBa3d’s help, you can create a 3D model that you can display on your website.