

#MESHLAB FOR MAC OS PDF#
We have described a relatively simple and affordable process for embedding a 3D radiology model into a sharable PDF file. Generating visually aesthetic surface-shaded models requires high-contrast interfaces (e.g., air and bone are best) and source data that is thin and unmodified (e.g., no edge-enhancing bone algorithm). In comparison, a 3D airway model of the chest consisting of 1,821,038 vertices requires a 4.4-MB PDF file however, when this same airway model is sculpted into a coronal thick slab and redundant vertices are filtered out, the vertex count drops to 121,100 and the PDF size to 1.2 MB. As an example of a simple shape, a 3D bone model of the pisiform consisting of 1293 vertices requires a 0.14-MB PDF file. Complex shapes, such as airways and tortuous vessels, increase the number of vertices (the geometric “corners” of the 3D model), which can be reduced by sculpting and filtering. Loading the models in Adobe Reader for viewing takes up to 30 seconds.Ī final PDF file with an embedded 3D model ranges in size from less than 1 MB up to several MB, depending on the complexity of the 3D model. When a user is first learning these steps or if significant sculpting or filtering is performed with MeshLab, more time may be required. The minimum time required to complete the steps outlined in Appendix 2 is approximately 10 minutes, determined by creating a 3D model of the skull using standard head CT with 276 images. A sample screen shot is shown in Figure 1. MeshLab can also be used for sculpting and refinement of the 3D model, if desired however, these details are beyond the scope of this article.Ī sample PDF file containing embedded 3D models can be downloaded from the last link provided in Appendix 1 and viewed with Adobe Reader (a free downloadable program). MeshLab is therefore used as the intermediary program to create an Acrobat-compatible file. OsiriX cannot directly export a 3D file format compatible with Acrobat nor does it provide any 3D sculpting tools. Removing patient identifying information should be performed at the outset when exporting the DICOM images from the PACS the process for doing this will vary depending on the PACS vendor. The basic instructions are outlined in Appendix 2 and are suitable for Mac users (OsiriX, the DICOM viewer described in this article is limited to that operating system).
#MESHLAB FOR MAC OS MAC OS#
Minimum computer requirements for using all of these programs are Mac OS 10.6 or higher with 1 GB of RAM and 1.5 GB of hard-disk space.
#MESHLAB FOR MAC OS PRO#
Adobe Acrobat X Pro (Mac and PC) is a PDF editing program. Microsoft PowerPoint (Mac and PC) is a presentation program and is used here to create the initial PDF file, although any presentation or word processor program can substitute for this role. MeshLab (Mac and PC, free) is a 3D model editing and converting program. OsiriX (Mac only, free ) is a DICOM viewer that can export 3D models. The Websites for downloading these programs are listed in Appendix 1. Four programs are used: OsiriX (version 4.0, 32-bit, open source), MeshLab (version 1.3.0, open source), Microsoft PowerPoint (version 14.1.3), and Adobe Acrobat X Pro (version 10.1.2).
