How to create 3D models from photos

In recent years, AI has made tremendous strides in the realm of image generation, with tools like DALL-E 2 and Stable Diffusion providing increasingly photorealistic images based on text prompts. However, creating 3D models from photos, concept art, or AI-generated images in true 3D space has proved challenging. While some promising startups are exploring ways to directly generate 3D meshes from text, actually visualizing ideas in a virtual environment requires 3D assets.

This is where platforms like CSM.AI come in. Rather than starting only with text, CSM.AI allows users to leverage both traditional concepting methods like photobashing or painting as well as the latest image generation techniques before bringing those ideas into the third dimension through automated 3D model generation.

In this article, we will take an in-depth look at CSM.AI's approach to 3D generation from images. We'll examine the process, showcase examples of the types of models it can create, and discuss current limitations and future potential. CSM.AI represents an exciting new direction for realizing 2D concepts in true interactive 3D worlds.

Ready to take your 3D rendering to the next level? Harness the power of GarageFarm.NET's render farm for fast and affordable rendering. Sign up for a free $25 worth of credit and experience seamless integration, 24/7 support, and incredible rendering speed. Don't wait, unlock the potential of cloud rendering today!                      

What is 3D.CSM.AI?

3D.CSM.AI is a web-based platform that allows anyone to generate realistic 3D models from images and s. You don't need any 3D modeling skills or software to use it. All you need is an internet connection and a browser. You can upload any image or file, choose a plan, and wait for the magic to happen. In a matter of minutes, you will receive a downloadable link to your 3D model, complete with a color texture map. You can then import your model into any 3D software or game engine of your choice.

How does 3D.CSM.AI work?

The process of using 3D.CSM.AI is very simple and straightforward. Here are the steps you need to follow

1. Go to https://3d.csm.ai/  and sign up for a free account.

2. Upload your image or file. You can use any format and resolution, but the higher the quality, the better the results.

3. Wait for the AI to do its magic. Depending on the plan you chose and the complexity of your image or, this can take anywhere from a few minutes to an hour.

4. Refine the result

5. Download your 3D model. The platform supports major formats like OBJ and GLTF with a PNG Color texture map.

Pricing Plans

Tinkerer (Free): This plan offers unlimited turbo preview models, a slow public server, baseline 3D model quality, image to 3D, queued usage based on GPU availability, and 3D models shared publicly (CC by 4.0).

Maker ($20 per month): This plan offers 100 credits/month (equal to unlimited turbo preview models and ~20 turbo HD models), a fast dedicated server, pro-3D model quality, image to 3D &  to 3D, batch uploads and simultaneous processing, and 3D models are shared publicly (CC by 4.0).

Creative Pro ($60 per month): This plan offers 400 credits/month (equal to unlimited turbo preview models and ~80 turbo HD models), a fast dedicated server, pro-3D model quality, image to 3D &  to 3D, batch uploads & simultaneous processing, and 3D models are private & customer owned.

Limitations of 3D.CSM.AI

While 3D.CSM.AI is an amazing tool that can save you a lot of time and effort in creating 3D assets, it is not perfect. There are some limitations that you should be aware of before using it:

Mesh quality: The AI does a great job of capturing the shape and details of the object in the image, but the resulting mesh is not optimized for animation or deformation. The topology is irregular and components of the mesh are not merged in some areas, which can cause problems when rigging or posing your model. You may need to retopologize your model manually or use another tool like Blender or ZBrush to improve the mesh quality.

Texture quality: The AI also generates a color texture map for your model, but the colors are not always accurate or consistent with the original image. The texture may also have some artifacts or noise that can affect the realism of your model. You may need to edit or enhance your texture map manually or use another tool like Photoshop or Substance Painter to improve the texture quality. 

 If you plan to use the resulting model as a hero asset for production, you will definitely need to retopologize and UV unwrap it, bake the color map into the retopologized mesh, and use the new map as a base for your texture painting. 

Using 3D.CSM.AI for Production

Despite its limitations, 3D.CSM.AI can still be very useful for production, especially for The early stages of visual development or visualizing a script or screenplay. Here are some examples of how you can use 3D.CSM.AI in your workflow:

- Storyboarding: You can generate assets even from relatively rough concept sketches so that you can begin to quickly develop a storyboard or shot list without having to sketch every panel. 

- Mid-Background Props: If you need to populate your scene with some mid-background props that are not too close to the camera, you can use 3D.CSM.AI to quickly generate them from images. For example, you can use images of buildings, cars, trees, furniture, etc., in cases where they only serve to populate the scene.

- Simpler and Smaller Props: If you need to create some simpler props that don't require much detail or deformation, you can use 3D.CSM.AI to easily generate them from images. Images of books, bottles, cups, plates, etc., and turn them into 3D models that you can use in your scene, even in the foreground at times.

- Early Iterations: If you need to create some early iterations of your scene for blocking out or lighting purposes, you can use 3D.CSM.AI to speed up the process. For example, you can use concepts of your characters and turn them into rough 3D models that you can use as placeholders in your scene to determine composition and the lighting hierarchy.

Conclusion

In conclusion, 3D.CSM.AI is a powerful and innovative tool that makes the creation of 3D model photos workflow actually viable for a production pipeline. It can be very useful for 3D animation production, especially for creating background or secondary props that don't require much animation or deformation. However, it also has some limitations that you should be aware of, such as the mesh and texture quality, which may require some manual editing or enhancement. We hope you enjoyed this blog post and learned something new about 3D.CSM.AI. If you want to try it out for yourself, go to https://3d.csm.ai/ and sign up for a free account. Have fun and happy generating