ReCap Pro 2018: How to Analyze and Export Your Reality Data - Scan3D
Activation ReCap Pro 2018: A Complete Guide
If you are looking for a powerful and easy-to-use software for capturing reality data from laser scans, photos, or drones, you might want to check out ReCap Pro. ReCap Pro is a product from Autodesk that allows you to create accurate 3D models from reality data. You can use ReCap Pro to process, edit, register, analyze, and export your reality data to other Autodesk products such as Revit, AutoCAD, Civil 3D, or InfraWorks.
Activation ReCap Pro 2018
In this article, we will give you a complete guide on how to activate ReCap Pro 2018, the latest version of this software. We will also cover the features of ReCap Pro 2018, how to download it, how to use it, and some tips and tricks to make the most out of it. By the end of this article, you will have a clear understanding of what ReCap Pro can do for you and how to get started with it.
Features of ReCap Pro 2018
ReCap Pro is a comprehensive software that offers various features for different types of reality capture projects. Here are some of the main features of ReCap Pro 2018:
Scan-to-m Scan-to-mesh: Convert laser scans to 3D meshes
One of the features of ReCap Pro 2018 is the ability to convert your laser scan data into 3D meshes. A mesh is a collection of polygons that form a surface. Meshes are useful for creating realistic and detailed models of objects or environments. You can use ReCap Pro to create meshes from your scans in two ways:
Automatic meshing: ReCap Pro can automatically generate a mesh from your scan data using a predefined resolution and quality level. You can choose from three options: low, medium, or high. The higher the resolution and quality, the more polygons and details the mesh will have, but also the larger the file size and the longer the processing time.
Manual meshing: ReCap Pro also allows you to manually create a mesh from your scan data using a custom resolution and quality level. You can adjust the parameters such as smoothing, simplification, hole filling, and sharp edge preservation to suit your needs. You can also select which regions of the scan data you want to include or exclude in the mesh.
Once you have created a mesh from your scan data, you can export it to other formats such as OBJ, STL, FBX, or RCM. You can also import it to other Autodesk products such as 3ds Max, Maya, or Fusion 360 for further editing or rendering.
Scan-to-BIM: Create Revit models from point clouds
Another feature of ReCap Pro 2018 is the ability to create Revit models from your point cloud data. A point cloud is a collection of points that represent the coordinates and colors of a scanned object or environment. Point clouds are useful for capturing accurate and detailed measurements of reality. You can use ReCap Pro to create Revit models from your point clouds in two ways:
Automatic modeling: ReCap Pro can automatically generate a Revit model from your point cloud data using a predefined template and rules. You can choose from three options: architectural, structural, or MEP (mechanical, electrical, and plumbing). The template and rules will determine how ReCap Pro will recognize and classify the elements in your point cloud data, such as walls, floors, ceilings, columns, beams, pipes, ducts, etc.
Manual modeling: ReCap Pro also allows you to manually create a Revit model from your point cloud data using a custom template and rules. You can adjust the parameters such as tolerance, snap distance, alignment angle, etc. to suit your needs. You can also select which elements in your point cloud data you want to include or exclude in the model.
Once you have created a Revit model from your point cloud data, you can export it to other formats such as RVT, DWG, or IFC. You can also import it to other Autodesk products such as AutoCAD, Civil 3D, or Navisworks for further editing or analysis.
Photo-to-3D: Create 3D models from photos
A third feature of ReCap Pro 2018 is the ability to create 3D models from your photos. Photos are a common and convenient way of capturing reality data from various sources such as cameras, smartphones, or drones. Photos are useful for creating realistic and textured models of objects or environments. You can use ReCap Pro to create 3D models from your photos in two steps:
Photo processing: ReCap Pro can process your photos using a cloud service called ReCap Photo. ReCap Photo will analyze your photos and stitch them together to create a 3D point cloud. You can upload up to 1,000 photos per project and choose from three options: standard (up to 20 megapixels), high (up to 40 megapixels), or ultra (up to 70 megapixels). The higher the resolution, the more details the point cloud will have, but also the larger the file size and the longer the processing time.
Mesh creation: ReCap Pro can create a mesh from your point cloud using the same methods as described above for scan-to-mesh: automatic or manual. You can also export or import the mesh to other formats or products as described above.
ReCap Photo also offers some additional features such as geolocation, orthographic view, elevation map, volume calculation, etc.
Reality capture API: Integrate ReCap Pro with other applications
A fourth feature of ReCap Pro 2018 is the ability to integrate it with other applications using a reality capture API the portal, you will need to sign in with your Autodesk account or create one if you don't have one already. After signing in, you will be able to see your products and services under the All Products & Services tab. You can find ReCap Pro 2018 under the Software section. You can click on the View Downloads button to see the available options for downloading ReCap Pro 2018. You can choose your operating system (Windows 64-bit) and language (English or other languages). Then, you can choose to download the installer file (about 1.5 GB) or use the browser download option (about 2.5 GB). You can also choose to download the offline help file (about 300 MB) if you want to access the help documentation without an internet connection.
Using Autodesk Desktop App
The third way of downloading ReCap Pro 2018 is using the Autodesk Desktop App. The Autodesk Desktop App is a tool that helps you manage your Autodesk products and services on your computer. You can use the app to install, update, uninstall, or launch your Autodesk products. You can also use the app to access your Autodesk account, get support, or learn more about your products. You can download the app from https://www.autodesk.com/desktop-app. After installing the app, you will need to sign in with your Autodesk account or create one if you don't have one already. After signing in, you will be able to see your products and services under the My Products tab. You can find ReCap Pro 2018 under the Software section. You can click on the Install button to start the installation process. The app will automatically download and install ReCap Pro 2018 on your computer.
How to activate ReCap Pro 2018
After downloading and installing ReCap Pro 2018 on your computer, you will need to activate it before you can use it. Activation is a process that verifies that you have a valid license or subscription for ReCap Pro 2018. Activation also helps prevent unauthorized use of ReCap Pro 2018. There are two ways of activating ReCap Pro 2018:
Activation details for subscribers
If you have a subscription for ReCap Pro 2018, you can activate it using your Autodesk account. A subscription is a flexible and cost-effective way of accessing ReCap Pro 2018 and other Autodesk products and services. You can choose from different subscription plans such as monthly, yearly, or multi-year. You can also choose from different subscription types such as single-user or multi-user. A subscription gives you access to the latest updates, cloud services, technical support, and more.
To activate ReCap Pro 2018 using your subscription, you will need to do the following steps:
Launch ReCap Pro 2018: After installing ReCap Pro 2018 on your computer, you can launch it by clicking on the desktop icon or by searching for it in the Start menu.
Sign in with your Autodesk account: When you launch ReCap Pro 2018 for the first time, you will see a sign-in screen. You will need to sign in with your Autodesk account or create one if you don't have one already. Your Autodesk account is the same one that you used to purchase or manage your subscription.
Select your license type: After signing in with your Autodesk account, you will see a license type screen. You will need to select Single-user or Multi-user depending on your subscription type.
Enter your serial number and product key: If you selected Single-user, you will need to enter your serial number and product key for ReCap Pro 2018. You can find these information in your Autodesk Account portal under All Products & Services > Software > ReCap Pro 2018 > View Downloads > Serial Numbers & Product Keys. If you selected Multi-user, you will need to enter the name of your license server or specify a license file.
Complete the activation: After entering your serial number and product key or license server information, you will see an activation screen. You will need to click on Activate to complete the activation process.
Once you have activated ReCap Pro 2018 using your subscription, you will be able to use it without any limitations.
Activation details for trial users
If you do not have a subscription for ReCap Pro 2018, you can activate it using a free trial version. A free trial version is a way of testing ReCap Pro 2018 and its features for a limited time before purchasing a subscription. You can download a free trial version of ReCap Pro 2018 from the Autodesk Product website at https://www.autodesk.com/products/recap/free-trial. You can use the free trial version of ReCap Pro 2018 for 30 days.
To activate ReCap Pro 2018 using a free trial version, you will need to do the following steps:
Launch ReCap Pro 2018: After installing ReCap Pro 2018 on your computer, you can launch it by clicking on the desktop icon or by searching for it in the Start menu.
Sign in with your Autodesk account: When you launch ReCap Pro 2018 for the first time, you will see a sign-in screen. You will need to sign in with your Autodesk account or create one if you don't have one already.
Select your license type: After signing in with your Autodesk account, you will see a license type screen. You will need to select Trial as your license type.
Complete the activation: After selecting Trial as your license type, you will see an activation screen. You will need to click on Activate to complete the activation process.
Once you have activated ReCap Pro 2018 using a free trial version, you will be able to use it for 30 days with some limitations. For example, you will not be able to use the cloud services of ReCap Photo or ReCap Pro, and you will see a watermark on your exported files.
How to use ReCap Pro 2018
Now that you have downloaded and activated ReCap Pro 2018, you are ready to use it for your reality capture projects. ReCap Pro 2018 has a user-friendly interface that consists of four main parts:
Ribbon: The ribbon is located at the top of the screen and contains various tabs and commands for different functions and tools. You can use the ribbon to create, open, save, import, export, edit, view, analyze, or share your projects.
Project Navigator: The project navigator is located at the left side of the screen and shows the structure and contents of your current project. You can use the project navigator to manage your reality data files such as scans, photos, or meshes. You can also use the project navigator to access the properties and settings of your project.
Viewport: The viewport is located at the center of the screen and shows the visual representation of your reality data. You can use the viewport to interact with your reality data using various tools such as zoom, pan, orbit, measure, annotate, etc. You can also use the viewport to switch between different views such as perspective, orthographic, elevation, etc.
Status Bar: The status bar is located at the bottom of the screen and shows information and messages related to your current project. You can use the status bar to see the progress and status of your tasks such as processing, meshing, exporting, etc. You can also use the status bar to access some options such as units, coordinate system, display mode, etc.
To use ReCap Pro 2018 for your reality capture projects, you will need to follow these general steps:
Create or open a project: You can create a new project by clicking on the New Project button on the ribbon or by pressing Ctrl+N on your keyboard. You can open an existing project by clicking on the Open Project button on the ribbon or by pressing Ctrl+O on your keyboard. You can also access your recent projects by clicking on the Recent Projects button on the ribbon.
Import your reality data: You can import your reality data files such as scans, photos, or meshes by clicking on the Import button on the ribbon or by pressing Ctrl+I on your keyboard. You can also drag and drop your files from your computer to the viewport. You can import various formats such as E57, PTS, LAS, RCS, RCP, OBJ, STL, FBX, etc.
Edit your reality data: You can edit your reality data using various tools and commands on the ribbon or on the right-click menu. You can edit your reality data in different ways such as meshing , filtering, regioning, aligning, registering, cleaning, etc. You can also undo or redo your edits by clicking on the Undo or Redo buttons on the ribbon or by pressing Ctrl+Z or Ctrl+Y on your keyboard.
View your reality data: You can view your reality data using various tools and commands on the ribbon or on the right-click menu. You can view your reality data in different ways such as zooming, panning, orbiting, rotating, tilting, etc. You can also switch between different views such as perspective, orthographic, elevation, etc. You can also change the display mode of your reality data such as shaded, wireframe, points, etc.
Analyze your reality data: You can analyze your reality data using various tools and commands on the ribbon or on the right-click menu. You can analyze your reality data in different ways such as measuring, annotating, tagging, comparing, etc. You can also use the cloud services of ReCap Photo or ReCap Pro to perform advanced analysis such as geolocation, orthographic view, elevation map, volume calculation, etc.
Export your reality data: You can export your reality data to other formats or products by clicking on the Export button on the ribbon or by pressing Ctrl+E on your keyboard. You can export your reality data in various formats such as RCM, OBJ, STL, FBX, RCS, RCP, etc. You can also export your reality data to other Autodesk products such as Revit, AutoCAD, Civil 3D, InfraWorks, etc.
Share your reality data: You can share your reality data with others by clicking on the Share button on the ribbon or by pressing Ctrl+S on your keyboard. You can share your reality data in different ways such as emailing, uploading to cloud storage, publishing to web viewer, etc. You can also collaborate with others on your reality data using the cloud services of ReCap Photo or ReCap Pro.
These are the general steps for using ReCap Pro 2018 for your reality capture projects. Of course, depending on your specific project and needs, you may need to use different tools and commands or follow a different workflow. ReCap Pro 2018 is a versatile and flexible software that can adapt to various scenarios and requirements.
Tips and tricks for ReCap Pro 2018
To help you get the most out of ReCap Pro 2018, here are some tips and tricks that you may find useful:
Use keyboard shortcuts
ReCap Pro 2018 has many keyboard shortcuts that can help you perform tasks faster and easier. For example, you can use the following keyboard shortcuts to navigate and interact with your reality data in the viewport:
Keyboard shortcut
Action
Ctrl+mouse wheel
Zoom in or out
Middle mouse button
Pan
Shift+middle mouse button
Orbit
Ctrl+middle mouse button
Rotate
Alt+middle mouse button
Tilt
F11
Full screen mode
F12
Screenshot mode
F1
Help mode
You can find more keyboard shortcuts by clicking on the Keyboard Shortcuts button on the ribbon or by pressing Ctrl+K on your keyboard.
Use filters and regions
ReCap Pro 2018 has various filters and regions that can help you edit and clean your reality data. Filters are tools that allow you to remove unwanted or noisy data from your scans or meshes. Regions are tools that allow you to isolate or group specific parts of your scans or meshes. You can use filters and regions in different ways such as:
Limit box: A limit box is a filter that allows you to crop your reality data to a rectangular shape. You can use a limit box to remove unwanted data outside the area of interest. You can adjust the size and position of the limit box using the handles or the properties panel.
Plane filter: A plane filter is a filter that allows you to remove data above or below a plane. You can use a plane filter to remove data that is not relevant to your project, such as the sky, the ground, or the ceiling. You can adjust the orientation and position of the plane using the handles or the properties panel.
Noise filter: A noise filter is a filter that allows you to remove data that is too sparse or too dense. You can use a noise filter to remove data that is caused by errors, reflections, or movements in the scanning process. You can adjust the threshold and mode of the noise filter using the properties panel.
Region group: A region group is a region that allows you to group data based on color, intensity, or elevation. You can use a region group to separate different parts of your reality data, such as walls, floors, furniture, etc. You can adjust the criteria and mode of the region group using the properties panel.
Region selection: A region selection is a region that allows you to select data manually using various tools such as rectangle, polygon, lasso, brush, etc. You can use a region selection to isolate specific parts of your reality data, such as objects, features, or areas of interest. You can adjust the size and shape of the region selection using the handles or the properties panel.
You can access filters and regions by clicking on the Edit tab on the ribbon or by right-clicking on your reality data in