Dot3D:
1. Export: Save as PLY.
- Important: In the options, select "Include Vertex Normals".
- Optionally, reduce the number of points to keep the file size manageable.
CloudCompare:
3. In CloudCompare, locate the DB Tree window (top left). Select the sub-entity with "Cloud" in its name so that the bounding box appears.
4. Navigate to Menu → Plugins → Poisson Recon.
5. Set Octree Depth to a value between 9 and 11, depending on the desired level of detail.
- Higher values produce meshes with more triangles.
6. In the Density tab, check "output density as SF".
7. Click OK to generate the mesh. Wait for the process to complete.
8. The new mesh will appear as a separate entity in the DB Tree window (top left).
- It is recommended to uncheck the cloud to hide it, leaving only the mesh visible.
9. Select the mesh in the DB Tree. Then in the Properties window (directly below the DB Tree):
- Set Colors: Scalar Field (this should already be selected).
- Scroll down to SF display params and adjust the left slider in the histogram to remove unnecessary triangles.
10. Go to Menu → Edit → Scalar Fields → Filter By Value.
11. Ensure the mesh is still selected, then save:
- File → Save → PLY Mesh
- Confirm and choose BINARY in the dialog.
MeshLab (Optional - Reduce Mesh Complexity):
12. If the mesh contains too many triangles, reducing the number is recommended.
13. Open
MeshLab and
import the
PLY mesh saved from CloudCompare.
14. Go to Menu → Filters → Remeshing, Simplification and Reconstruction → Simplification: Quadric Edge Collapse Decimation.
15. Enter the desired number of triangles in the first field.
- Fewer triangles = less detail.
- Adjust based on the target software’s capabilities.
16. Leave the other parameters unchanged and click Apply. Wait for the process to complete.
17. Go to Menu → File → Export Mesh As... and save in a format compatible with your downstream workflow.