Theatre Design & Technology - Fall 2020 - 44

is a 3D model perfect to its real-life counterpart, and the desire to perfect details
can be overpowering. For instance, photogrammetry has trouble recreating thin
and small features, such as chair legs and
glassware. One must choose between the
most satisfactory three-dimensional representation and the time willing to spend
editing or creating any missing aspects.
Once finished, the model can be uploaded to a platform that supports viewing, such as SketchFab. The set of And
Then There Were None took less than
three hours to complete (ignoring the
initial image alignment process) from
photographs to publication (https://skfb.
ly/6OuwP). With the 3D reconstruction
finished, a moment in time has been
captured, and it is now that the model
can achieve its full interactive potential
(Image 7).

Preserving Artistry

From top to bottom: Image 5: Optimized Dense Point Cloud; Image 6: Completed Set Model; Image 7: Alternate
Angle of Completed Set Model

it will be to view on multiple media platforms. Much of the size of three-dimensional models is focused on the number
of faces the model contains. When building the mesh, it is best to reduce that
number as low as possible without affecting the model itself. Metashape provides
a suggested quality setting of " Low. " This
is a quick process, less than 10 minutes.
However, to bring the model to life, a surface must be added over the mesh where
the photographs collected are stitched
into a texture, giving the final product a
realistic character. The larger the model,
the more image files that must be created
so the detail of the photographs can be

44 | THEATRE DESIGN & TECHNOLOGY | FALL 2020

realized; here, a few image files suffice.
This last step produces the final product,
taking 30 minutes to complete, and the
model is all but finished.
Nuanced edits are required before
any model can be published. This is to
eliminate any remaining unnecessary
features (like floating objects unable to
be completely reproduced) and alter any
objects to a finer detail. This process is
done in a secondary software program;
for this project, Blender (an open-source
software) was used. After exporting from
Metashape and importing to Blender,
these final edits can take mere minutes to
complete (Image 6). Unfortunately, rarely

With the model complete, this virtual
tool can serve multiple purposes before,
during, and after the show's production
run. Prior to opening night, once the set
is constructed, the 3D reconstruction
can be placed on the theatre's website
to enhance advertising, such as an especially compelling set in a long-running
performance. The production team, cast
list, and show synopsis all serve to entice
members of the public, yet the model
provides the first glimpse into the performance itself. Through virtual interaction
or a programmed walk-through, viewers
get a preview of what they should expect
to see if they buy a ticket.
During the performance's run on
stage, the virtual set gathers additional
importance as an advertising tool. For
those that have already attended the
show, they can return to the stage and
view the model with the performance
in mind. This creates a connection with
the play, and by extension the theatre, increasing audiences' enjoyment of the experience and enticing them to return. As
theatregoers share their experience with
others, the model becomes a novelty and
a part of the discussion, pushing more
traffic to the theatre's website.
It is perhaps after the production
has completed that the model of the set
becomes most significant. Those who did
not see the show can get an idea of the
production value to which the theatre adheres, while those who who did see the

https://skfb.ly/6OuwP https://skfb.ly/6OuwP

Theatre Design & Technology - Fall 2020

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