Years after the rollout of the application on both the Apple App Store (May 2020) and Google Play Store (April 2021 – although the Beta version was available as early as October 2020), the Matterport Capture app has garnered hundreds of thousands of downloads. And if you are among those who have downloaded the application but are unsure how to use it to scan 3D spaces, this Matterport capture basics article is meant for you. But first, what is Matterport Capture?

About Matterport Capture

History of Matterport

Founded by Matt Bell and Dave Gausebeck in 2011, Matterport aimed to provide solutions for rapidly scanning spaces and objects, creating digitized 3D models. To achieve this vision, the company created and launched a 3D camera – invented by Matt – and an interactive viewing platform – Dave led the team that engineered this system, which supported hardware integration.

Matterport Capture

Over the years since, Matterport released new solutions and tools that helped improve the user experience. In 2014, for example, Matterport developed and launched the Matterport Capture app for the iPad in 2014 to help users capture and control the Matterport Pro1 3D camera. The app communicated with the camera’s firmware allowing users to execute various functionalities. The Matterport Capture app’s initial features included:

• Control the operation of the Matterport Pro1 3D camera
• View, move, or delete scans
• Upload the scans to Matterport Cloud for processing
• Add or edit mirrors, windows, or trim marking (discussed below)
• Label floors
• Automatic global alignment (Matterport assisted alignment)

The rollout of the Matterport Capture app 2.1 in 2015 brought a few additional features, including:

• Real-time diagnosis and suggestions: it analyzed the model identifying potential problems with the model before alerting the user on what corrective measures to take
• Marking tips and hints on how to add or edit mirrors, windows, and trim the area
• In-app user guide

Combined, the platform, Capture app, and camera have so far helped the company amass a Matterport library containing billions of individual data points and 3D images. In total, Matterport notes, the platform has captured over 15 billion square feet of spatial data. And it is this pool of vital spatial data that the company used to train its AI and machine learning (ML) technology named Cortex, which in turn powers the expanded functionality of the Matterport Capture platform. 

These solutions have helped Matterport emerge as a leader in the virtual tours space, outpacing other Matterport alternative platforms or Matterport competitors.

What is Matterport Capture?

The current generation of smartphone cameras does not include 3D sensors. As such, smartphones usually take 2D (flat) photos, which do not contain depth information. This means that converting such flat images to 3D models would be impossible if not for the power offered by Cortex. With the training from billions of 3D images, this AI technology learned how to estimate, to a great degree of accuracy, the depth of specific sections of a 2D image.

In this regard, Matterport Capture is an application that converts two-dimensional smartphone and iPad cameras into 3D cameras using the Cortex engine. It also enables users to use these devices to control select 3D and 360º cameras. These include Matterport’s very own Pro1 and Pro2 3D cameras, as well as third-party cameras developed by Insta360, Leica, and Ricoh Theta. So, with all these capabilities, is the Matterport capture app free?

The Matterport Capture application is 100% free to all users. And, given that Matterport offers a free package as one of its pricing tiers, clients can use its software platform and mobile phone app for free. Still, you need to create a free account with Matterport. Moreover, the company offers additional features and privileges at a fee – here is a breakdown of Matterport pricing.

Matterport Capture Basics

Matterport Capture Basics: Supported Devices

Matterport recommends that the app be used on the following devices:

•  iPhone devices: iPhone 6S or newer running iOS 14 or higher (iPhones with an ultra-wide-angle camera – iPhone 11 or newer – are preferred)
• iPad devices: iPad Pro (1st, 2nd, 3rd, or 4th generation), iPad (7th or 8th generation), iPad Air (2nd, 3rd, or 4th generation) 
• Android devices: phones running Android 8.0 or higher with 3GB of RAM or more and a gyroscope (for the best results, Matterport recommends a recently launched high-end model with an ultra-wide camera)

Matterport Capture Basics: Getting Started

How do you use the Matterport Capture app? To get started, simply follow the steps below:

1.  First, create a Matterport account via the company’s website, although you can also create the account using the Matterport Capture app
2. Secondly, head to App Store (for the Matterport iPhone and iPad versions) or Play Store (for the Matterport Android version)
3. Next, type “Matterport Capture” on the search bar and click Install
4. Sign in to your Matterport account before creating a scan. You can still scan your space without logging in. However, the app will prompt you to sign in to your account in order to upload the scan.
5. Set up the application for the first scan – discussed below
6. Scan your space (simple or complete scan) – discussed below
7. Upload the scan to the Matterport Cloud for processing

Matterport Capture Basics: Setting up the Application for a Scan

1. First, open the Matterport Capture app on your phone
2. Use the Matterport login button to sign in to your account. Alternatively, you can wait until you have to upload the scan to the cloud. This is because you first have to log in to your account in order to upload the scan.
3. Next, click the + button at the bottom section of the screen to create a new job; this opens a New Job window that displays the location information. The app automatically populates the location information for you. However, it also lets you edit this information according to your preferences.

Matterport New Job Button (source)

1. Click the Save button at the top-right section of the screen
2.  Next, tap the Options button on the left-hand side of the Capture button. This lets you choose between a Complete Scan and a Simple Scan (the differences are detailed below). You can also elect to capture a 3D scan or a 360º image on the Scan Options menu. To capture 3D scans, select the former option.

Matterport Scan Options (source)

1. Finally, the Matterport Capture app lets you choose whether you want to use the phone camera or an external camera (3D or 360º camera). You can achieve this by tapping the Android Camera or iPhone button (above the Capture button). This step displays the Select Source menu, enabling you to choose which camera you wish to use. Then, simply tap the mobile phone option. Alternatively, you can tap the Connect External Camera button to connect to a 3D or 360º camera via Wi-Fi.

Matterport Capture Basics: Simple Scan vs. Complete Scan

As mentioned earlier, you have the liberty to choose between a Simple Scan of a Complete Scan. What does each entail?

•  A Simple Scan lets the Capture app scan the section of the space directly in front of the camera – including the walls and the furniture in the room; this option blurs out the ceiling and floor area (this is because the simple scan uses one 360º rotation – a single horizontal ring)
• A Complete Scan, which uses two 360º rotations (vertical and horizontal rings), scans the walls and furniture as well as the floor and ceiling area 

Matterport Capture Basics: Capturing Matterport 3D Scans

To capture a Matterport 3D scan using the Capture app, simply follow the steps below:

1. Click the Capture button

Matterport Capture Button (source)

2. The screen will display a series of spaced small circles. Each circle represents a specific section of the space whose scans you should take to create a 360º image. First, align the larger capture circle such that it encloses one of the small ones to begin the scan. Next, repeat this step for each of the remaining small circles to complete the 360º scan.

It is noteworthy that the small circles are only positioned horizontally in a simple scan. In this regard, you will have to make a single 360º rotation. On the other hand, Matterport Capture displays small circles along a horizontal and vertical axis. This means you have to make two 360º rotations.

1.  Next, the Matterport Capture app will process the image by stitching the various images.
2. Move to a new scan location, five to eight feet away from your initial scan. Then, click the Capture button to begin a new scan. The app automatically aligns the various scans, provided the scan locations are spaced five to eight feet away.
3. The app will create a 2D mini-map that displays the stitched scan, showing the various scan locations. 

Matterport 2D Mini-Map (source)

1. You can edit the mini-map by adding mirrors and windows. You can also use the trim marking feature, which enables you to specify the boundaries of a room.
2. Upload the scan to the cloud. If you had not signed in to your Matterport account earlier, you should log in at this point.
3. Use Matterport Workshop, an online toolbox, to edit and improve your scan. Here, you can add measurements, tags/labels (Matterport mattertags), and more.

Parting Shot

Matterport is a versatile platform. It enables users to capture Matterport 3D scans of various spaces that, when processed, create 3D virtual tours. The company offers integrated software and hardware solutions that, combined, offer a seamless user experience. The Matterport Capture application, for instance, is one of these solutions. Available on iPads, iPhones, and Android devices, the app enables users to capture 3D scans using their mobile phone cameras. And in this article detailing Matterport capture basics, we have tackled the application’s capabilities. We have also explored how to install and use it.

About Matterport

Matterport Software Platform

Matterport is a software, hardware, and spatial data intelligence company that offers an eponymous spatial data platform. This platform enables users to upload 3D scans of different spaces in order to create 3D models that they can then use for design, building, facilities management, or promotion. Simply, it facilitates the digitization of spaces, creating 3D virtual twins that can be viewed online through a web player in what is known as a virtual tour.

Matterport Spatial Data Platform

The platform has so far been used to capture more than 15 billion square feet of data and growing. This ever-growing volume of spatial data has meant that Matterport is continually building the world’s largest digital library of data, which it can in turn use to improve different functionalities within its arsenal of products. 

For instance, in 2020, the company launched the Matterport Capture app for iOS and a year later rolled out the application to Android phones. While mobile phones are currently not equipped with the requisite sensors to capture 3D scans, the Capture app uses artificial intelligence, trained using data from the company’s extensive library, to convert 2D/flat images to 3D scans and models. 

The library has also enabled Matterport to offer spatial intelligence, integral to facilities management. For example, these professionals can use the platform to narrow down the number of scanned spaces that have particular characteristics from a pool of thousands of spaces. This is especially useful for facilities managers working for organizations such as fast-food brands with thousands of stores. 

The platform is available to a wide array of users, including hobbyists, professionals, enterprises, and businesses. To meet their needs, Matterport offers various packages, each of which is priced differently. Hobbyists, for example, can benefit from the free package, while realtors can use the professional, business, or enterprise package. Matterport’s offerings and packages target different industries, including:

• Travel and hospitality
• Real estate
• Retail 
• Insurance and restoration
• Facilities management
• Architecture, engineering, and construction
• Homeowners looking to showcase their homes for sale
• 3D photography

Matterport Hardware

To enable its users to capture high-quality scans, Matterport offers the Pro series 3D cameras. And just like you may opt to use Matterport alternatives, you can also elect to use other cameras from third-party providers. However, these cameras must fulfill certain basic requirements. In this Matterport camera comparison article, therefore, we will list and discuss the other cameras supported by the Matterport platform. 

History of Matterport 3D Camera

Matterport 3D Camera Roots: Kinect Hack

The story of the Matterport camera begins with a hack (yes, you read that right). In 2011, Co-Founder Matt Bell was among many hackers who had realized the power of Microsoft Kinect. A motion-sensing input device, Kinect enabled video game players to play with their bodies. They eventually identified other uses for it.

In Bell’s case, he had envisioned a device that, when coupled with software, would enable users to capture real estate spaces or products. Bell attached a camera to his Kinect that he had, in turn, plugged into his laptop. Bell regards this as the company’s first prototype (a good proof of concept). Now discontinued, Kinect, which Bell described as the first consumer-level device that could see in 3D, inspired the creation of the 3D equivalent of a camera. 

Matterport Pro1 3D Camera

In fact, in order to create the company’s first 3D camera, Matterport worked with PrimeSense, the organization that had developed the internal components of the Kinect. As a result, Matterport’s first camera, the Matterport Pro1 3D camera, incorporated three of PrimeSense’s sensors. Matterport launched the camera in 2014 with the launch of the 3D media platform that also consisted of the Matterport Web Player and cloud services.

Bell is credited for inventing the 3D camera, known as Matterport Pro1 (the first iteration), with his Co-Founder Dave Gausebeck responsible for creating the software (hardware integration and algorithms that drove the 3D creation tool).

The Matterport Pro 3D camera captured raw 3D scans that the software, a real-time 3D reconstruction platform, then used to create 3D models of buildings. The combination of its hardware and software shortened the time it originally took to create 3D models – from weeks to between 30 and 45 minutes (for a typical three-bedroomed house). It also required fewer professionals.

Matterport Pro2 3D Camera

In 2017, Matterport released the second and latest iteration of its 3D camera, the Matterport Pro2. This 134-megapixel camera uses an infrared sensor and captures high-quality 4K two-dimensional images as well as state-of-the-art three-dimensional and virtual reality (VR) floor plans and walkthroughs. 

In addition, it generates spherical images and 360º views, which make it easy to capture and communicate the appearance and depth of spaces. It also has in-built GPS technology that facilitates automatic geotagging of locations. Furthermore, the camera also has advanced social sharing and syndication features.

Matterport Pro2 3D Camera (source)

Matterport Cameras Compared

We begin our Matterport camera comparison analysis by looking at Matterport’s two iterations of 3D cameras. These are the Matterport Pro1 and Pro2 3D cameras. It is, however, important to point out that although Matterport develops and sells proprietary 3D cameras that also capture 360º images/videos in outdoor settings, the platform supports cameras from other manufacturers as well. But the software limits this support to 360 cameras from a limited selection of manufacturers, as discussed later.

Matterport Pro1 Camera vs. Matterport Pro2 3D Camera

Matterport’s first and second generations of its 3D cameras differ in many ways. But this does not mean that they do not have some similar features. After all, they are all Matterport cameras. The Matterport camera comparison table below summarizes the similarities and differences.

The similarities between Matterport Pro1 and Pro2:

• Both capture 3D and 360º images
• They are mainly used to scan indoor spaces
• For both, outdoor scans are primarily captured using the camera’s 360º capture tool
• They have a capture time per scan/sweep of 20 seconds
• They support wireless connections via Wi-Fi
• Pro1 and Pro2 cameras have similar dimensions:  9.0” H, 10.25” W, 4.38” D (230 x 260 x 110 mm)

Table 1:  Matterport Cameras Compared: Differences Between Pro1 and Pro2 3D Cameras

Matterport also offers a lighter (weight) and cheaper version of the Pro2 3D Camera called the Pro2 Lite 3D Camera, which was launched in 2018. The grey Pro2 Lite (instead of black) debuted at $2,495.

Matterport 360º Cameras from Other Manufacturers

As detailed, Matterport supports cameras from third-party providers as part of a horizontal platform strategy. This strategy targets the entry-level segment of the virtual tours market, which does not need the image quality, performance, and accuracy offered by the Matterport Pro series camera. That said, the cameras must fulfill several basic requirements. At a minimum, they must support Wi-Fi connectivity in addition to being 360º cameras. The latter requirement means Matterport does not support DSLR cameras.

Matterport supports the following cameras:

• Leica BLK360
• Insta360 ONE X2
• Insta360 ONE R)
• Ricoh Theta SC2
• Ricoh Theta Z1

It is noteworthy that the Leica BLK360 is a precision pro camera, while the rest are entry-level cameras. This means that the Matterport Pro series 3D cameras, which the company regards as the Professional line of cameras, are the middle ground between the Precision Proline and entry-level cameras.

Insta360 also offers the 48-megapixel Insta360 ONE RS 360º camera, which starts at $299 and has similar features as the Insta360 ONE R camera.

Insta360 ONE RS Camera (source)

Leica BLK360 Camera (source)

Ricoh Theta SC2 Camera (source)

Ricoh Theta Z1 Camera (source)

Feature Comparison: Matterport Camera Under $1,000

Table 2: Matterport Cameras Under $1000 Compared

Feature Comparison: Matterport Cameras Over $1,000

Which Matterport Camera Should You Use?

Matterport supports different 360º cameras, enabling a wide selection of users to enjoy its platform’s benefits. The choice of the camera depends on the nature of your work and your budget. It is also dependent on the features and capabilities of the camera, i.e., does the camera capture 3D scans, or does it only capture 360º images? The Matterport camera comparison tables above have broken down what each camera offers. 

Your nature of work will dictate the level of accuracy and precision required of the scans. So, if your work requires high-precision, high accuracy 3D scans, such as surveying, then you should go for a precision pro camera. Similarly, if your work requires you to make high-quality and high-accuracy 3D scans supported by a relatively considerable budget, it would be best to choose professional-grade cameras. 

Moreover, if you are just venturing into the 3D virtual tours space, entry-level 360º cameras are your best bet. The list below summarizes the options available for each tier. Finally, you can simply use your mobile phone if you are a hobbyist, virtual tours enthusiast, or homeowner without an elaborate budget to purchase a 360º camera.

• Precision Pro camera: Leica BLK360
• Professional-grade camera: Matterport Pro1 and Pro2
• Entry-level 360º cameras: Insta360 ONE X2, Insta360 ONE R, Insta360 ONE RS, Ricoh Theta Z1, and Ricoh Theta SC2
• Enthusiasts: Mobile phone (Android or iOS phone – the Matterport Capture app must be installed)
• To utilize Matterport’s Add-on features, namely Matterpak Bundle, E57 File, Matterport Trueplan, and Matterport BIM File, you must first capture your model using a Matterport Pro, Pro2, Pro2 Lite, or Leica BLK360 camera. You cannot use 360º cameras or mobile phones if you wish to purchase any of the add-ons mentioned above

Conclusion

Matterport is a technology company focused on providing software, hardware, and spatial data solutions. Its hardware offerings include professional-grade cameras, Matterport Pro1 and Pro2, and a motorized mount for mobile phone users. The company’s software platform also supports third-party 360º cameras, expanding the options available to customers. In this Matterport camera comparison article, we have detailed each camera’s capability. Finally, we have the question, what camera should you choose from a selection that includes your mobile phone camera, Insta360 ONE X2, Insta360 ONE R, Insta360 ONE RS, Ricoh Theta Z1, Ricoh Theta SC2, Matterport Pro1, Pro2, and Leica BLK360.

History of Matterport

Formative Years

Headquartered in Sunnyvale, California, Matterport is a publicly-traded company that is just over ten years old. It was founded in 2011 by Dave Gausebeck and Matt Bell and grew progressively as a budding upstart thanks to investor funding as well as its vision to revolutionize the real estate space. In its formative years, Matterport focused on developing a 3D capture camera and an online viewing system, which was eventually launched in the second half of 2013. The platform enabled users to automatically create, modify, experience, and access cloud-based digital models of physical interior spaces.

2014 to 2017

In the summer of 2014, the company began rolling out capturing devices, the Matterport Pro 3D camera, in a move that expanded its capabilities even further. According to pundits, the camera came to define Matterport’s operations and its origin story even though it was released much later than the viewing platform. 

At that time, too, Matterport had not yet started supporting 3D capture via mobile phones. But the company hoped it would eventually support this capability after developing applications that would enable smartphones, tablets, and accessory 3D camera owners to capture and upload 3D scans. Also, Matterport hoped mobile phone technology would advance to accommodate this vision. 

Indeed, the Matterport Pro 3D camera complemented the company’s initial offering. Customers could use them to take 3D scans of the interior spaces and upload the files to the cloud, where Matterport’s revolutionary platform would process the data into high-resolution 3D models. The platform would then allow users to view the processed content (virtual tour) via its website and third-party platforms that ran on the company’s cloud. 

Throughout its formative years, however, Matterport wanted to be more than just a camera company. In line with this spirit, the company in 2015 envisioned the launch of its own VR headsets to rival the likes of Oculus, enabling users to tour the 3D virtual spaces in a more immersive manner. But Matterport had still not yet rolled out 3D capture capabilities for mobile phone users at this time.

2018 to Present

In 2018, Matterport hired its current President and CEO, RJ Pittman. Pittman has since modified the company’s direction by making it a data company that leverages the millions of data points collected whenever 3D scans are uploaded to the software platform. This renewed focus enables Matterport to digitize spatial data providing building intelligence on different spaces as well as targeted and accurate results to search queries. 

In 2021, Matterport finally launched the Matterport capture app for smartphones, extending its services to mobile phone users. Given that mobile phones are not equipped with tools and sensors to capture 3D scans, Matterport developed the Capture platform, which relies on AI – trained using its vast library of spatial data – to convert 2D images to 3D models.

Matterport has also expanded its capabilities and offerings, cementing its place as a leader in the 3D virtual tours space. So, what is Matterport?

What is Matterport?

Matterport is a platform that enables users to capture 3D scans of their spaces, digitize them by creating a 3D virtual twin, and subsequently promote and manage the 3D tours online. The platform also offers spatial data analysis intelligence that enables facilities managers, for example, to narrow down the number of properties that have specific attributes from a list of thousands of similar properties.

Depending on the situation, users can also use the 3D tours as a lodestar to guide the construction of spaces that are similar to what is captured within the Matterport digitized models. For instance, Matterport can generate schematic floor plans from the scans as well as models that can be imported into programs such as Revit, 3ds Max, ReCap, or AutoCAD. 

Matterport also offers professional capture services. Under this arrangement, the company lets you schedule a professional 3D scan wherein you hire a technician from its network of professionals. Matterport then sends you the final 3D virtual tour via email within 24 hours. 

The company also sells 3D cameras, with the current iteration being the Matterport Pro2 3D camera, released in 2017. Regarded as the gold standard for 3D capture, the 134 megapixels camera is ideal for use in various settings, including commercial buildings, apartments, hotels, and homes. Along with the Pro2 camera, Matterport also develops and sells the Axis(TM) motorized mount to facilitate quality scans on mobile phones.

It is worth noting that Matterport offers these hardware and software offerings at a fee. This brings us to the most fundamental bit of this article: Matterport pricing.

Matterport Pricing Explained

Our analysis of Matterport pricing will take a multi-pronged approach that will discuss the various offerings separately. First, it is noteworthy that Matterport uses a subscription model, although some services are available on a one-time fee basis. 

Matterport Pricing: Software Offering

Matterport Pricing: Add-ons

Add-on: Schematic Floor Plans

This schematic floorplans add-on (not to be confused with the Matterport BIM File add-on) allows Matterport customers to purchase 2D floor plans of their 3D models captured using supported cameras and mobile phones. Once an order is placed, Matterport generates floor plans for each floor, which are then delivered as separate PNG and SVG files. The company also offers a single-page PDF document containing all the floors. The Matterport pricing details on this add-on vary based on your package, as summarized below.

It is worth noting that Matterport does not support any other file format apart from PNG, SVG, and PDF. In this regard, if you wish to vectorize the raster floor plans, Scan2CAD is an excellent place to start. As a leading conversion software, Scan2CAD enables you to convert Matterport floor plans to vector file formats such as DXF or DWG.

Add-on: MatterPak Bundle

The MatterPak bundle enables users to download different types of Matterport assets, including:

• OBJ files: these files contain textured 3D meshes created when Matterport combines 2D visual data with 3D depth data (shown below)

Textured 3D Mesh (source)

• Point clouds: colorized models based on 360º panorama images (example shown below)

Point Cloud (source)

• High-resolution floor plan images: unique orthogonal views of textured 3D meshes

High-Resolution Floor Plan Image (source)

• Reflected ceiling plan images: vertical views of everything on the ceiling, including insulation, plumbing, ventilation shafts, wiring, and more

The Matterport pricing for the MatterPak is summarized below:

The MatterPak bundle is only available for purchase to users who capture their models using the Matterport Pro1, Pro2, Pro2 Lite, or Leica BLK360 3D cameras. The feature is therefore not available to users who use supported 360º cameras or mobile phones. It is noteworthy that this requirement also applies to Matterport’s other add-ons, namely the aforementioned Matterport BIM File, TruePlan (discussed below), and the E57 File.

Add-on: Matterport TruePlan

Matterport TruePlan add-on is designed to help property insurance professionals settle their claims efficiently. It leverages the fact that Matterport is a property/spatial data provider. This is because TruePlan is a feature that enables you to purchase a 2D plan of a property you had scanned and uploaded to Matterport. 

Matterport TruePlan (source)

The service is available as a result of a collaborative effort between Matterport and Xactimate, a software that enables policyholders to create accurate, detailed, and professional-looking estimates of property claims. The integration between the software allows Xactimate users to order TruePlans natively on the Xactimate, saving time as a result. The Matterport pricing for this add-on is based on the area covered by the property. This is summarized in the table below. 

 Add-on: Publish to Google Street View

Matterport enables users to publish the 3D virtual tours of non-residential properties to Google Street View. However, the publication is subject to Google Street View’s terms of service. Matterport Pricing for this add-on is summarized in the table below.

 Matterport Pricing: Hardware Offerings

 The Pro2 camera & backpack bundle comes with the Pro2 camera, a tripod, quick release, and backpack, while the small hard case kit comes with a tripod, quick release, and a small hard case. Matterport also sells third-party 360º degree cameras from Insta360 and Ricoh Theta.

Matterport Pricing: Services

 It is worth pointing out that if the Matterport pricing is well over your budget, there are several Matterport alternatives from which to choose. In fact, there are some free 3D virtual tour software as well as non-subscription-based software that require you to pay a one-off fee. 

Parting Shot

Matterport is a technology company that develops both software and hardware. In addition, the company offers allied services and includes add-on offerings for its customers. These products and services are priced separately to suit different users’ needs. And in this Matterport pricing explanation article, we have explored how much different Matterport products and services cost.

Matterport offers a wide range of virtual tour solutions that are priced differently. This article, therefore, explores Matterport pricing for these offerings.

About Matterport

What is Matterport?

Matterport is a web-based platform that allows you to create a 3D digital twin of any given space by capturing 3D scans using a 3D camera, a mobile phone camera (the Capture app has to be installed), or a 360° spherical camera. The platform then processes the images, creating a 3D digital twin of the space.

The 3D twin allows visitors to virtually interact with the space by moving from one position (hotspot) to another. As the creator, you can add tags and measurements to provide the potential buyers with as much information as possible about your property. You can also use the 3D twin as a digital guide to making physical duplicates of the initial layout of a house or production line. 

Screenshot of Matterport 3D Digital Twin of an Ice Cream Parlor (source)

It is noteworthy that Matterport stores the tags, measurement, and virtual tours information to create a user-specific library/repository. With a simple search, you can extract specific information about your properties. Read on for a detailed example of this capability. 

Overall, Matterport’s various unique and powerful capabilities have cemented its place as a leading virtual tour software provider. The company’s myriad offerings put it a step ahead of the competition, i.e., Matterport alternatives.

About Matterport: History

Founded in 2011, Matterport was focused on facilitating easy 3D capture of the real world. According to Co-Founder Matt Bell, the company was founded at a time when virtual reality (VR) was yet to deliver, even though it had captured people’s imagination for years. But the company sought a different path. The path was guided by the dream to create a product that would blend in with interactive 3D content, 3D training simulations, and video games that captured the richness of the digital world. 

Cognizant that creating 3D digital environments required millions of dollars, Matterport looked to change the narrative. It sought to break the barrier between the physical and digital worlds by creating a system that anyone could rely on to capture real spaces in 3D without spending millions of dollars. 

Matterport is founded on the basis that 3D capture goes beyond photography and video. It enables people to capture and encode 360º views of spaces instead of just a single view. Further, it allows users to improve and manipulate the digital world in novel ways. Before Matterport, Matt reckons, the process of reconstructing the world in 3D was complex and slow. At the same time, 3D modeling software was costly and had a steep learning curve. But all this changed with Matterport. 

Since its establishment, Matterport has made a name for itself as a leader in creating 3D virtual tours for residential real estate. It even develops and sells professional-grade cameras – the Matterport Pro2 3D capture system – that enables customers to create high-quality 3D scans of their spaces. 

About Matterport: Present and Future

For years, Matterport focused its attention and offerings on the real estate industry. But with the onboarding of the company’s current Chairman and CEO, RJ Pittman, in December 2018, the company has since pivoted. Currently, Matterport targets multiple other sectors, including: 

• Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC)
• Insurance & Restoration 
• Travel & Hospitality
• Facilities Management
• Retail
• Real Estate

Now, Matterport is focusing on digitizing the entire world – not just real estate – and, in the process, building the most extensive and essential spatial data library in the world. In this regard, Matterport is currently a data company that seeks to unlock the insights hidden inside each captured space. 

Matterport Pricing and Customers

Matterport targets a wide array of customers with its tiered packages. Click here to learn more about Matterport, specifically on the features the company offers for each package. In summary, though, these packages include: 

According to RJ Pittman, Matterport’s enterprise category is the fastest-growing. It currently boasts a portfolio of customers that includes Fortune 1000 companies, industrial and manufacturing firms, and facility management businesses. For example, the company has worked with top pharmaceutical companies to create a 3D digital twin of one production line, which is then used as a guide to creating an actual physical twin of the original production line at scale.

Matterport’s Business Focus

Matterport focuses on three main segments. These include: 

• Software
• Hardware
• Data

About Matterport: A Hardware Company

As a hardware company, it develops and sells the Matterport Pro2 3D capture cameras as well as motorized mounts for mobile phones (Matterport Axis). Considered the best-in-class all-inclusive 3D capture system, the highly precise Matterport Pro 2 captures the highest quality 3D scans in 4K. (Still, Matterport supports other third-party 360º and 3D cameras, including the Leica BLK360.) 

Matterport Pro2 3D Camera (source)

On the other hand, the Matterport Axis motorized mounts (below) enable users to conveniently and steadily capture panoramic images.

Matterport Axis Motorized Mount (source)

About Matterport: A Software Company

The company brings the power of technology to the various industries it targets. They achieve this through a robust web-based application/software that enables users to create, view, and manage their virtual tours. Additionally, the software generates floor plans from 3D scans. Matterport also develops and offers the Capture App for iOS users.

Simply, Matterport is a virtual tour software platform that enables users to automatically create 3D virtual tours. 

About Matterport: A Data Company

Since its inception, Matterport has built a library that contains more than 15 billion square feet of data from over five million spaces. The figures are growing by the day. With this data, the company has created solutions that expand the reach of its product. For instance, the extensive library, coupled with the power of AI, enabled the company to develop the Capture mobile app for iPhones and Android phones.

Natively, mobile phones are not equipped to capture 3D photos. In order to facilitate this capability, Matterport leaned toward AI. The company trained its proprietary Cortex engine with high-quality 3D images taken using its highly precise Pro2 camera. In total, Cortex was trained with data from more than five million spaces, including studios, cruise ship interiors, homes, hotels, fast-food places, and more). 

As a result, the Cortex engine can reconstruct 3D models by predicting 3D geometry from flat photos. Now, mobile phone users (both Android and iPhone) can simply install the Capture app, which converts their phones into literal 3D cameras. 

Additionally, it takes the measurement tool 14 seconds to capture what would take a professional contractor using a laser measuring device weeks to complete. The platform then stores this information for eons, making it a repository that you can access for the life of the building and also if you want to remodel or repair it. 

Users can also rely on Matterport for building intelligence. Facility managers, in particular, can readily access specific data from a pool that contains data on thousands of stores. As an example, a facilities manager working for a fast-food outlet with 15,000 stores can narrow down the search of the number of stores that cover less than 2,500 square feet and have at least two cash registers with just a two-second Google-like search. 

Matterport Offerings and Capabilities

Matterport develops and offers various products and services, each serving a specific function. The company’s offerings include:

• Virtual Tour
• Notes
• Capture App
• Capture Services
• Web-based Platform
• BIM File Generation and Visualization Capabilities

Matterport Virtual Tour

Matterport enables its customers to create 3D digital twins of disparate spaces. So far, the software has been used to capture more than five million spaces, a figure that is continuously growing. In addition, users can include tags and measurements to improve the user experience for anyone viewing the tour.

Screenshot Showing Matterport Measurement Tool (source)

Matterport Notes

Matterport recently released Matterport Notes targeted at promoting team collaboration, documentation, and communication. With this feature, you can upload field notes and documents right inside the digital twins. It also allows users to invite friends and family to document what they like about the space, making Matterport a useful solution for people looking to purchase a property. 

In addition, colleagues can use Matterport notes to collaborate on office layouts and pace planning. At the same time, companies can use the feature to allocate tasks and make decisions that involve facilities located in different parts of the world.

Matterport Capture App

Powered by AI, the Matterport Capture App enables mobile phone users to capture 3D scans with Matterport. The application automatically downloads the Cortex engine, which, as stated, uses artificial intelligence (AI) to convert the 2D panoramic images captured by a mobile phone camera into 3D models/scans. To use the Capture app, you need to be signed in to your Matterport account. 

Matterport Capture Services

The Matterport Capture Services is a professional scan service that lets you hire a technician to help you capture professional 3D scans. The company will then process the images and subsequently send the final 3D digital twin of your property within 24 hours. 

Matterport Web-Based Platform

Matterport provides a dashboard, which customers can use to securely manage their 3D models. Here, they can collaborate or transfer the ownership of models with friends or colleagues. For instance, the platform supports collaboration by allowing users to make descriptive notes. 

Matterport BIM File Generation and Visualization Capabilities

The company has also made visualization easy. For instance, Matterport allows users to generate 3D Revit models and 2D CAD files of the scanned property. Dubbed the Matterport BIM file, this function is available for users on the Professional plan or higher. To generate the Revit models and 2D CAD files, users must first scan their spaces using Matterport or Leica cameras. This means you cannot use a phone or tablet. 

It is noteworthy that Matterport avails the files as a zip file containing PDF and PNG files. Thus, if you want to edit them using CAD software, you first have to convert the raster files to vectors. Scan2CAD offers a convenient and easy way to vectorize PDFs and PNG files, creating high-quality DXF or DWG files.

At the same time, you can use the Matterport Dollhouse View to visualize the relationships between rooms and the space. It offers a 3D floor plan perspective that you can fully interact with, acting as a convenient way to navigate any section of the space. 

Matterhouse Dollhouse View (source)

Parting Shot

Matterport is a leading 3D virtual tour solution for a reason. It offers individual users and enterprises a wide array of features that meet their needs. For instance, it enables collaboration through the Matterport Notes feature. It also allows users to capture 3D scans using their mobile phones, thanks to the power of AI. In addition to providing 3D virtual tour services, Matterport has pivoted towards being a data company, providing spatial intelligence to its customers. With this article, we hope that you have learned everything there is to know about Matterport.

When it comes to working with their produced floor plans, however, the company only typically supplies the user with raster images or PDFs of the floor plans. If you’ve ever wondered how to convert a Matterport floor plan image to DXF/DWG, keep on reading. We’ll cover the basics of converting raster to workable vector files and how Scan2CAD can easily automate and streamline that process.

What Kind of Floorplan Files Do You Get from Matterport?

Matterport Floorplans (source)

Matterport supplies you with both a 3D model of the scanned space as well as a professional-grade floor plan for presentation purposes. We’ll be zeroing in on the 2D floor plans you’ll be getting with their service.

According to their website, after 2 business days of processing, they supply you with a zip folder containing both PNG files and a PDF. The PNG files display individual floor plans and the PDF file contains all floors together. If we take the sample file they have posted up on their site as an indication of what to expect with the PDF files they send over, we can see that the PDF also contains raster images.

Raster images are made of colored pixels and, unlike DXF or DWG files, are not editable on standard CAD programs. Vector files, which is the type of file that DXF and DWG files are, are composed of editable geometry that can be opened and manipulated with CAD software.

PNG files are an example of raster images and as such, the default images that Matterport gives you will be harder to convert to DXF/DWG compared to vector images. But there are a number of options if you want a shot at raster-to-vector conversion.

What Are Your Options When Converting Raster Images to DXF/DWG?

You mainly have three straight-forward options when it comes to converting Matterport floor plans into CAD files:

1. Importing the raster images into your preferred CAD program and tracing over the image with the program’s built-in drafting tools.
2. Use a CAD program’s automatic raster-to-vector conversion functionality.
3. Make use of dedicated conversion programs such as Scan2CAD.

Option 1: Trace Over

Tracing Over A Raster PDF Using CAD (source)

The simplest way to convert a raster image into a CAD file is to import it into any standard CAD program and then start tracing over it with the program’s drafting tools. It’s basically the same as placing tracing paper over a hard copy of a plan and tracing over the plan with manual drafting tools.

If you have highly skilled drafters who have a good eye for detail and a great sense for drafting and floor plan standards, this is most likely the most accurate process. However, it is also undoubtedly the most involved and most tedious of the previously stated methods.

The accuracy of this method really shines with less than stellar raster images. With blurry, pixelated floor plans, automatic conversion tools will have less to work with and most often will give you low-quality vector files after the conversion process. Manually tracing over low-quality raster images lets draftspeople use their experience with floor plans and the context of the image to interpolate what the details are for the image.

Of course, this is less of an issue for floor plans coming from Matterport. As we mentioned before, the drawings you get from their services are professional-grade, with quality that needs no interpolation. Additionally, state-of-the-art conversion solutions like Scan2CAD are getting more and more accurate when it comes to converting even low-quality images.

Nevertheless, if you have time, labor, and patience on your hands, manually converting Matterport floor plans would be perfect for you.

Option 2: CAD Program Conversion Tools

There are CAD programs that have built-in conversion functionality that some users will find useful. AutoCAD has Raster Design that does exactly that – it’s useful and convenient for those who already have a copy of the software. The same goes for other CAD programs that have a conversion tool. Out of the three methods, this one is the most convenient.

Do note, however, that for a lot of these programs, the conversion tool isn’t the main focus of their development team. Often, you’ll find these built-in conversion tools as plug-ins or add-on tools that you need to purchase separately from the main program. As such, ease-of-use, as well as the number of tweaks you can make to the conversion process, can be limited. This makes it more difficult to deal with raster images that are of lower quality than the tool is designed to handle.

Still, the convenience of having a conversion tool already built into your CAD program mostly outweighs its cons. At the end of the day, it’s up to the user to decide if they want to prioritize convenience or functionality with the type of project they’re working on.

Option 3: Conversion Programs

Scan2CAD is a dedicated conversion program that’s designed specifically to convert files for use in CAD and CNC projects. It can easily handle Matterport floor plans and convert them into DXF or DWF formats. For the last two decades, Scan2CAD has sought to improve and develop its conversion tools including advanced object recognition and OCR functionality.

In a way, it’s a perfect balance between the first two conversion options. Like manually tracing, dedicated conversion solutions like Scan2CAD can handle raster images that are normally too pixelated or blurry for automatic conversion. And like built-in conversion tools, it’s convenient and does the process automatically.

For a full tutorial on how to use Scan2CAD to convert Matterport Floorplans, Check out this Video:

Video Tutorial: Converting Matterport Floorplans to CAD

Why Scan2CAD?

Excess Vertices on CAD (source)

Automatic conversion often gets a bad reputation due to the sheer number of low-quality online “Converters” found on the internet. And two of the biggest gripes are the ways those converters handle 1.) curves and 2.) text.

For curves, you’ll often get results similar to the image above – instead of a smooth arc or spline, you get several tiny polylines. The converter doesn’t smooth out edges and just views all pixels in the raster image as individual polylines. This shortcoming also applies to text. Where instead of converting raster text into editable vector texts, the text is converted into polylines.

These kinds of frustrating results are virtually nonexistent with Scan2CAD’s and object recognition and OCR (text recognition) functionalities. With Scan2CAD, curves, arcs, and circles are recognized by the program as such and they’re converted properly.

Scan2CAD is the industry leader when it comes to raster and vector conversion. And unlike most built-in automatic conversion tools, Scan2CAD is fully customizable and versatile – you can tweak your settings and fine-tune them to the type of document you’re working on. You can even save those settings as presets to reuse them as you want in the future.

Recap

To reiterate, here are the different ways to convert a Matterport floor plan image to DXF/DWG:

Using Scan2CAD is a good mix of functionality and accuracy and is overall the best option for those that want to prioritize those two factors.

This month’s news round-up will cover Matterport’s announcement of BIM 360 integration with deep linking; a former AutoDesk CEO being appointed to BOX’s board of directors, and Panasonic designing mould cooling channels with generative design and hybrid manufacturing.

Other stories we also checked out include how a hospital in Italy is using 3D printing to treat coronavirus patients; a 3D-printed hands-free door opener created by Materialise; and 3D-printed face shields produced by Nottingham University for NHS.

This edition of Coffee Break News is packed with so much information, so let’s get right to it!

Matterport integrates BIM 360 with deep linking

Matterport has announced integration with Autodesk BIM 360 in order to better support collaboration on various construction projects. This integration will focus on the professional-level contractors who are currently using BIM 360 for their projects.

With this integration, teams utilizing BIM 360 for construction projects, particularly organization and optimization, will be able to access and explore Matterport scans and digital twins in addition to the information already stored in their BIM 360 Project Home dashboards. Matterport can create what is known as “deep links” to specific locations within a scan, thus increasing the speed of decision making by allowing annotations to link directly to specific questions and problems.

Other features of this integration include allowing users to view Matterport 3D models on BIM 360 project pages by adding a URL from Showcase, adding a Matterport digital twin to information requests to demonstrate the reason, access to digital twin of a job site, and more.

Tomer Poran, Director of Business Development for Matterport, said, “By simply adding the Matterport Partner Card into their BIM 360 Project Home, construction teams can activate the Matterport integration to streamline documentation across workflows and collaboration between stakeholders.”

James Cook, head of integrations for Autodesk Construction Solutions, added, “Embedding Matterport’s 3D walk-throughs into the BIM 360 Project Home dashboard provides construction team members spatial context alongside essential project data so they can seamlessly collaborate and make decisions from any location, saving time and money to keep projects on track.”

Former Autodesk President and CEO joins Box Board of Directors

Cloud content management company Box announced last week that Carl Bass, former President and CEO of Autodesk, has been appointed to its Board of Directors. Bass was also formerly the chief technology officer and chief operations officer at Autodesk. Bass currently serves on the board of directors of several leading technology firms today, such as Built Robotics, Zendesk, and Planet Labs.

Talking about the appointment, Box CEO and co-founder Aaron Levie said, “Carl led Autodesk through an exciting period of growth and transformation, and he is a fantastic addition to our Board. Carl’s years of operational experience building one of the defining software companies will be invaluable as we execute on our strategy to drive product innovation and profitable growth as we scale.”

Bass, meanwhile, said, “Box has built the industry leading cloud content management platform and as work environments continue to evolve globally, they have an incredible opportunity to reshape how businesses of all sizes operate. I know first-hand that great software can empower creativity and reshape the way entire industries work. I’m thrilled to bring my experience building large software businesses and working with leaders to deliver value and innovation for customers to the exceptional team at Box.”

Bass was part of Autodesk for 24 years, holding a number of executive positions. He was CEO of Autodesk from 2006 to 2017. He co-founded Ithaca Software and Buzzsaw, both of which were later acquired by Autodesk.

Panasonic develops mould cooling channels through hybrid manufacturing and generative design

Life Solutions Company of Panasonic Corporation has announced the development of a new hybrid manufacturing method for mould cooling water channels combining 3D printing, milling, and generative design. In a post on the Autodesk Redshift blog, Panasonic said this conformal cooling system reduces cooling time by 20% compared to conventional drilled channels.

Seiichi Uemoto, an analyst for Panasonic’s Life Solutions Company Manufacturing Engineering Center, looked for ways to use generative design for automatically creating metal mould cooling channels, after he did optimisation work on cooling loops designs for box-shaped metal moulds. Uemoto thought that automating the design process with generative would deliver new designs.

Panasonic then worked with Autodesk to apply generative design to deliver optimised design outcomes to the mould cooling water channels, particularly for mass-produced fan blades in duct ventilation systems.

Uemoto said, “Topology optimisation can produce only one solution from the conditions provided to the system. It is difficult to produce something with smooth contours from the generated result. But it became apparent to me that generative design would inherently result in smoother shapes. I felt with generative design, we would be able to effectively generate multiple concepts that took manufacturing principles into account.”

Four different mould samples were manufactured using this method, all using the LUMEX Avance-25 hybrid system combining metal 3D printing with milling for manufacturing complex parts with complicated internal structures. Uemoto said the results were “quite remarkable” and successfully achieved their goal of applying automated design.

Other stories we checked out this month:

• This hospital in Italy is using 3D printing to treat COVID-19 patients, teaming up with Isinnova to manufacture respirator valves in 24 hours.

• Belgian software and 3D printing firm Materialise is offering its 3D-printed hands-free door opener for free to users all over the world as its contribution to help with containment efforts.

• Engineers from the University of Nottingham have also designed and produced 3D-printed PPE face shields for healthcare workers in the Nottingham area.