Autodesk Memento Graduates from Beta Phase with Very Promising Start & New Name–ReMake

It’s been a while since we’ve checked in on Autodesk Memento, previously in its beta phase but already playing an integral role in some very important projects, from allowing Dr. Louise Leakey to make 3D printed replicas of artifacts found in North Kenya to helping a designer in his unique efforts to make a 3D printed statue of Christ in Peru. Released as a free public download in beta early last year after graduating from technology preview status, this reality capture software has certainly had an auspicious beginning. And now, along with being released as a commercial product, it has a promising new name as ReMake.

Offering substantial power matched with a user-friendly platform, users around the world have already used the program to translate images and items they wished to render in high quality 3D prints, whether via uploading and converting photos or images captured through hand-held or traditional 3D scanners. Autodesk’s goal has been to redefine reality computing and open doors across a range of industries—although their target sector for ReMake has seemed to be that of moviemaking and gaming due to its ability to produce 3D models with stunning realism, thanks to a ‘smart toolset’ that allows users to clean, repair, and optimize substantial meshes for engineering design, digital archiving, interactive AR/VR experiences, and 3D printing. The choice is yours, thanks to this all-inclusive software package.

“We are amazed by the creativity of our beta community and the variety of industries using ReMake software,” said Tatjana Dzambazova, Senior Product Manager at Autodesk. “The positive feedback we’ve received on how simple ReMake is to use is very encouraging, as making complex technology easy-to-use was our main driver.”

A number of new features are included with the commercial release, to include:

• Local computing with control parameters and 50Gigapixel image input.
• Powerful differential analysis, reference points, scale and units
• Smart export templates for direct workflows with design, modeling and storytelling tools
• New Play publish for online sharing

Autodesk shared some user comments with us, demonstrating what the public is finding valuable about the software, from the studio to the classroom:

“The clarity of the user interface and the simple workflow make ReMake (formerly Memento) a real pleasure to use. As a photographer creating complex 3D designs, the cloud processing and intuitive surface tools are real time-savers, and make this a compact, yet powerful and comprehensive solution,” said Henry Reicholds, a photographer and beta user of ReMake.

 

“I teach an Introductory Digital Tools class at the California College of the Arts. ReMake (formerly Memento) was by far everyone’s favorite tool to experiment with. Many of my students came into this class with no experience and feeling very intimidated,” relays Mia Feuer, another beta user, and an instructor at California College of the Arts. “For such power, ReMake is extremely easy to navigate, and my students were able to grasp it right away and able to apply it to their own creative practice almost immediately.”

While using ReMake requires no previous experience in CAD or 3D modeling, it is able to visualize and edit up to one billion polygon mesh models, handling dense data that would present challenges in other programs. With both desktop and cloud-based capabilities, users can convert 2D photos into 3D.

“ReMake is unique in offering cloud computation, eliminating the need for powerful desktop machines and thus making digitization of reality computing accessible to a vast number of users,” states the Autodesk ReMake team in a recent press release.

It’s really quite amazing how much contribution ReMake has played in the world of 3D innovation previous to even being released commercially. Other cases we’ve enjoyed following immensely were that of Hardshell Labs, as they worked to help save desert tortoises with 3D printed models and ongoing conservation efforts, and ongoing projects at the Smithsonian with their interactive website, Smithsonian X 3D. Users can also check out africanfossils.org to inspect fossils from the National Museum of Kenya and the Turkana Basin Institute field stations.

Even Made In Space integrated a 3D scanning system in their 3D printer on the International Space Station, using ReMake to gather data and make a 3D model later used to verify the dimensions of the printed part.

We also reported on the use of the integrated Autodesk ReCap 360 as it was used in a project with The Hydrous to create detailed 3D models of coral reefs. This reality capture software complements ReMake as it also cleans up and fixes data for improved future workflow. Autodesk also reported a recent scanning project using ReCap 360 at the famed Colorado Red Rocks Amphitheater, where they worked to help produce a digital map of the also famously challenging terrain, showing even the tiniest of details, like a crack on a rock, to a one-half inch of accuracy.

Launching on Windows initially, ReMake will also be available for the Mac soon. Visit Autodesk to learn even more about this useful tool that continues to grow in popularity and make useful contributions to the world. Discuss more over in the ReMake 3D Software Now Available Commercially forum at 3DPB.com.