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From: jlong@tamu.edu (James Long)
Newsgroups: comp.graphics.visualization
Subject: Re: Wanted: Info on 3-D reconstruction packages
Keywords: Silicon Graphics, Voxel View
Message-ID: <17901@helios.TAMU.EDU>
Date: 27 Jun 91 18:26:24 GMT
References: <1991Jun23.214817.13956@ccu1.aukuni.ac.nz>
Sender: usenet@helios.TAMU.EDU
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In article <1991Jun23.214817.13956@ccu1.aukuni.ac.nz> phl01@ccu1.aukuni.ac.nz  
(Prof. Peter H Lovell) writes:
> One of the researchers in my department is interested in software and
> hardware for 3-D reconstruction, where a series of images taken at
> successive depths through a specimen are "reconstructed" into a 3-D
> model of the specimen, so that it may be rotated and viewed from
> various different angles to reveal structures that might not have been
> visible in the original sections.
> 
> I'd like to find out what software/hardware other people are
> using for this sort of work, and whether they have any recommendations.
> We'd prefer to use a high-end Macintosh for the job, although I'm also
> interested in hearing about solutions that use unix machines running
> X-windows, and PC-based solutions. (Is a high-end Mac powerful enough
> for this sort of work?)
> 
> We're mainly interested in using 3-D reconstruction to study plant organs
> (i.e. images with lots of cells in them), though it would be a bonus if
> we could use it on larger structures (the sort people look at through
> stereo microscopes) and smaller structures such as cell organelles
> viewed via an electron microscope.

If the mac + NIH Image are not powerful enough to do your reconstructions, you   
might consider a Silicon Graphics (Unix Workstation) and a software package  
called Voxel View from Vital Images. It does both 3-D reconstruction and volume  
redering.  We are using it at this time to reconstruct data sets from a Zeiss  
Laser Scanning Confocal Microscope.  It is a very nice package, but does  
represent a more sustantial investment - it depends on your needs and  
requirements for speed.  I have seen it used to reconstruct slices of a  
paramecium in ice with striking results.  I have more info if you need it,

James Long
jlong@emcnext2.tamu.edu (may bounce)
snail mail:
Electron Microscopy Center
Texas A&M University
College Station, Texas 77843-2257
USA