Virtual objects are 3D representations of an object shown on a 2D screen. This kit includes all of the hardware you will need to create one, including a StackShot 3X, a StackShot Macro Rail and a Rotary table. Once everything is set up and the subject is mounted on the top of the rotary table, the StackShot 3X is configured to rotate the subject, usually 360 degrees, stopping at each user defined rotational interval. At each stop of the rotary table the system will move the cameras focal plane through the subject capturing all of the images needed to create a focus stacked image. Once this is complete you will have a 360 degree, completely in focus view of the subject. These images can then be used to create a movie or web object that can be manipulated by the viewer to give you a 360 degree view of an object. This is often used for small product photography or cataloging artifacts or insects in collections so they can be easily shared without putting the originals in harms way. In the virtual object above the images were captured with the camera at two different heights and turned into a movie. We have a detailed how-to on creating virtual objects here.

Using images collected with the StackShot Virtual Object kit in the same manner as described above, one can also process the images with specialized software to create photogrammetry models. The image below is a screenshot from the photogrammetry program made by Agisoft called Photoscan. The output of this program is a surface file, the most common file type for this type of file is stl, but there are many others. The advantage of this type of file is that it contains all of the information required to create a 3D print of the subject. This allows for not a virtual representation but also a physical model.

• USB port for computer control and updating firmware
• Wi-Fi (802.11 a/b/g/n) enabled for wireless connectivity to your computer or our remote
• Controls one or two Rotary Tables, the StackShot 3X Slider, and/or the StackShot Macro Rails
• Capacitive touch screen full color display with haptic feedback for easy control
• All timing parameters for motion and shutter control are completely user configurable
• Durable extruded aluminum housing
• Adjustable motor torque - turn down the torque to save battery life or run small stepper motors
• LCD Power Save - perfect for nighttime photography, or just to save on battery life
• Dedicated modes for stacking, panoramas, shoot-move-shoot, and continuous motion control
• Configurable settle time in between captures
• Capture multiple photos at each step (exposure bracketing or mirror lockup)
• Preview options to examine your framing and setup
• Optional battery power for field shooting, operates at 12-24VDC
• User presets - Save your different setups and recall them as needed
• Change the lighting or exposure and run your last stack or motion profile with a single button press
• Dragon Frame compatible
• Helicon Focus and Zerene Stacker compatible (X-axis only)
• Compatible with existing StopShot/StackShot shutter cables or any shutter cable equipped with a 3.5 mm plug