Thursday, March 30, 2017

Week 7: What Exactly is a STL File?

Since 3D image processing is relatively new territory for me, it has been a pretty steep learning curve over the past few weeks. 


I have been using Artec Studio 11 to construct the 3D models. However, this program is limited in its ability to take measurements. 
This means that I will have to use a different software to account for exact wound dimensions and volume. 

Dr. Ryan suggested MeshLab as an alternative. However, this program takes STL (Stereolithography) files as input rather than the scan format used by Artec Studio 11. 

As someone who is new to these programs, I had no idea what the difference between a STL and other computer-aided design (CAD) files was. 

After a little bit of research I discovered that STL files only account for the surface geometry of 3D objects. They do not have data on things like texture and color.

An STL file can also be referred to as Standard Triangle/Tessellation Language. This is because STL files are created from raw data of triangulated surfaces. The diagram below gives a better idea of what this means. 


For the purpose of measuring wound volume, data on color and texture would not be relevant. This is why a STL file could work perfectly for this part of my project. 

I hope this gave you a better idea on the differences between 3D image file types. Feel free to ask any questions! 


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