AR Models Manager Quick Users Guide
Using AR Models Manager you can load and visualize all your 3D models in augmented reality (created for example with Blender, FingerCAD, Finger3D, etc...).
First of all you have to create the 3D models, in this example with Blender:
Use UV mapping to add textures to your model as shown in the picture (copy the texture file in the same path of blender project file).
Once the model is complete press on: File -> Export -> Wavefront (.obj):
Follow the yellow arrows to set right OBJ + MTL file format:
The Path Mode must be set to "Relative" (this will set the right texture path in the MTL file).
Press Export OBJ (up right) to save the MUG.obj file in the same path of blender project file (in the same path where you have saved the texture)...
If You have many textures use a subfolder to save all the texture's files (subfolder of the path of blender project file) and save the MUG.obj file in the same path of blender project file (so You will have the file MUG.obj and the folder containing all the textures in the same path).
Connect your iPad or iPhone to Your MAC or PC (USB cable) and open iTunes:
- Choose your iPad / iPhone (pic. 1)
- Choose file sharing (pic. 2)
- Select AR Models Manager app (pic. 3)
- The Documents folder of AR Models Manager will be displayed on the right (pic. 4)
- Select the file .OBJ + .MTL and all the textures or the folder of the texture; drag and drop all the file/folders in the Documents of AR Models Manager (pic. 5)
- From the files filter: choose OBJ, to visualize only the .obj models in the list (pic. 1)
- Select the OBJ model ex. MUG.obj (pic. 2)
- Press Done (pic. 3)
You can add many 3D models (clones or different) to the same scene by repeating the above procedure, to build your augmented reality/virtual reality worlds.
EXPLORE 3D MODEL:
You can walk in the scene moving between the models or inside the models (with your legs as if everything were real):
- observe the 3D model in the smallest detail by walking around it, looking in all directions (front, side, back, top, bottom)
- walk with your legs inside the model, like you are walking in an existing building
- walk near the model to show more details (close up view)
- walk away from the model to show the model completely or more models together (seen from afar)
- turn around the model to looks at the side of interest
- move over or under the model
- walk in the model to look inside it (in all directions)
- ...etc...
INTERACT WITH 3D MODEL:
You can interact manually with 3D model:
- move the model in the real world (pan gesture: dragging a finger on the model)
- enlarge and reduce the model (pinch gesture: pinching the model)
- rotate the model around its axis of rotation (rotation gesture: rotating the model with two fingers)
- remove the model from the scene (long press gesture: holding a finger on the model for half a second)
ADD 3D MODEL CLONES:
You can add many models to the scene (clones) by touching the desired position (using a horizontal plane in the real world or feature points)... the loaded 3D model will be added to the scene in the touched position (see also MODEL OFFSET described in this tutorial).
BACKGROUND AND LANDSCAPE:
- in the presence of light, the real world will be visualized together with 3D models in augmented reality (the models will replace or enrich parts of the real world)
- you can add a background/sky to the scene (horizon) by inserting for example a cylinder or a cube (with texture) in the scene, with radius/side large enough to contain yourself (you will move inside the cylinder/cube) and the rest of the scene (the texture of the cylinder/cube will be your background/sky)
- you can build models of mountains, trees, rivers, lakes, streams, etc... and insert them in the scene to enrich the landscape
- you can add houses, cars, motorcycles, people, birds, etc...
- you can add to the scene any object you want, designed by You using 3D modelers (or purchased on the Internet: all formats compatible with ARKit can be used such as OBJ (with MTL and TEXTURE with relative path), SCN, STL, etc...)
OPEN IN:
3D models can be stored into AR Models Manager also using Open In (from an email attachment or from another app like for example the file manager "iFolders Safe" or "unzip + zip & send" or "megaDownloader Web Browser (HD)" or "Dropbox").
Use Open In to import OBJ3D models from FingerCAD or Finger3D apps.
FILE SHARING: iTunes File Sharing - Help
SAVE THE CURRENT SCENE:
Once you have built your ARScene you can save it pressing the button with CD icon (low right in the screen): it creates the file "Scene.scn" and store it in the AR Models Manager archive (the file Scene.scn can be loaded and visualized using the same procedure described for .obj files, choosing .SCN from the files filter in the archive of AR Models Manager).
MODEL OFFSET FOR POSITION, ROTATION, SCALE:
Up right on the screen is displayed the settings button: use it to set the desired offset of the position, rotation, scale of the 3D model before visualizing the model in the ARScene.
AR MODELS MANAGER - VIDEO DEMO:
FREE DOWNLOADABLE OBJ MODELS (SOME WEB LINKS):
AR Models Manager is compatible with wavefront .obj 3D models libraries. You can find and download them from the web.
For example:
AR Models Manager: compatible 3D "obj" models - web link
You can use for example the app "unzip + zip & send" to unzip and store in the device memory all the obj models library and import them/use into AR Models Manager app:
- using "Safari" app, tap on the desired 3D object ( from direct download web link or AR Models Manager: compatible 3D "obj" models - web link)
- wait the end of the download (the .zip file will be displayed on the screen)
- when the download is complete press "Open In" or "Other..." button (file sharing button near the file name) and choose "unzip + zip & send" to save the 3D models library (.zip file) into "unzip + zip & send" app
- using "unzip + zip & send" tap on the "<model>.zip" file (downloaded file) press the "Unzip" button and wait a few minutes (until the end of unpacking procedure)
- explore the extracted <3DModels> folder tapping on the <3DModels> folder and/or its subfolders
- to import the 3D models into AR Models Manager:
- tap on .mtl file (if it exists), press "Open In" button, choose AR Models Manager
- come back to "unzip + zip & send" app, tap on textures files (ex. .jpg, .png, ... files), press "Open In" button, choose AR Models Manager
- come back to "unzip + zip & send" app, tap on .obj file, press "Open In" button, choose AR Models Manager
- ...repeat this "tap" -> "Open In" for all the files of 3D model (to import all the files of 3D model into AR Models Manager)
"3DModels" direct download web link (all the 3D models are created by Sweet Home 3D contributors and are property of eTeks, © Copyrights 2006-2013 - All rights reserved).
AR Models Manager is compatible with the standard 3D models libraries (FREE or COMMERCIAL):
- Sweet Home 3D models
- Free3D models
- Animium 3D models
- ...etc...
Once all the desired 3D models are imported into AR Models Manager, repeating the above procedure, you can:
- load (...open AR Models Manager app on your iPad or iPhone and press the button with the folder icon; the list of the 3D models stored in the archive of AR Models Manager will be displayed...)
- visualize (...press the button with + icon to visualize the loaded 3D model...)
build your augmented reality / virtual reality worlds by loading and visualizing all the desired 3D models (only one or many models together) into ARScene.
