The Rigsters Journey
Back in 2015, a group of students embarked on a project that would eventually become Rigsters, a company specializing in 3D scanning and photogrammetry. The initial focus was on the service work oriented toward museums and creatives seeking photorealistic scans. The process at that time was both slow and labor-intensive, primarily performed using handheld image capture. The desire to overcome these inefficiencies led to early attempts at automation, including the use of rudimentary turntables to speed things up. As demand grew, it became clear that more sophisticated technology was necessary, leading to the development of more complex hardware prototypes.
Arago
After many iterations, Rigsters refined their approach to photogrammetry, culminating in a flexible system that they named Arago. It was designed to streamline the photogrammetry process, automating the tedious task of capturing images. This system caught the attention of industry professionals following the release of an online video that showcased its capabilities. This surge in interest prompted the transition of Arago from an in-house tool to a consumer-ready product. Over the following years, Rigsters focused on enhancing the system’s user-friendliness and reliability, conducting beta tests with major clients such as Activision Blizzard, and refining the technology to improve its performance.
Arago starts by generating a rough 3D scan of your object, capturing its basic shape and structure. With this initial scan, it can automatically determine the most effective angles and positions for photogrammetry, ensuring the collection of optimal images for 3D reconstruction. This approach streamlines the entire process, speeding up the capture and computation. The result is a more efficient and accurate process, leading to better quality 3D models and less trial and error during reconstruction.
Use Cases and What’s Next for Rigsters
Arago has found a home in a wide range of industries, from gaming and VFX to cultural heritage and fashion e-commerce. Developers for Call of Duty have used Arago to digitize game assets, bringing a high level of detail to their work. Museums have embraced the technology to preserve artifacts digitally, and fashion retailers are using it to create realistic 3D representations of their products for online shoppers. Despite the success of Arago, the studio continues its innovation streak, recently introducing a lighting module that supports photometric-stereo. This new feature automates the 3D shading process, facilitating the generation of accurate physically based rendering materials. With these ongoing developments, Rigsters is committed to making photogrammetry more efficient and accessible for everyone, and they are excited to see where the journey leads.
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