🛸 JamesDo's Scan Aligner — LiDAR Prep Tool

Author: JamesDo | Field: VFX & Matchmove |

Simple and intuitive interface to help you process batch scan files quickly.

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🤔 What is this tool?

JamesDo's Scan Aligner is a Blender addon designed for Matchmove artists to process raw LiDAR scans (commonly from iPhones or specialized scanners). Instead of tedious manual repositioning and re-pivoting, this tool automates the workflow to ensure your models are perfectly placed at the World Origin with accurate scaling before being exported to software like 3DEqualizer, PFTrack, or Syntheyes.

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✨ Key Features

Feature	Details
📂 Batch Import	Import multiple .fbx files simultaneously with Shot/Sequence naming structures.
📍 Smart Registration	Tools to snap Object Origins to the 3D Cursor instantly.
📐 Apply Transforms	Automatically reset Location/Rotation to 0 and Scale to 1 to prevent tracking errors.
📏 Matchmove Scale	Export options with x100 scaling specifically for Matchmove software.
🚀 Export Ready	Export clean meshes with industry-standard coordinate alignment.

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🚀 Installation Guide

1. Download the addon .zip file from the Releases section.
2. Open Blender, go to Edit > Preferences > Add-ons.
3. Click Install... and select the downloaded .zip file.
4. Check the box for JamesDo's Scan Aligner to activate it.

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🕹️ Usage Workflow

The tool is designed to be used from top to bottom in 3 easy steps:

Step 1: Import Raw LiDAR Scan

• Click Batch Import Scan to select your raw scan files.
• The addon will automatically organize them into your Scene.

Step 2: Scene Registration (Crucial Step)

To ensure Matchmove software interprets the space correctly, you need to clean the data:

1. Identify a matching feature on both scans.
2. Set Origin to Cursor at that point for the source object.
3. Place the 3D Cursor on the same corresponding point of the target object.
4. Use Selection to Cursor to snap them together perfectly.

Step 3: Export Aligned Model

1. Check the Scale 100 (For MatchMove Software) box if you are heading into 3DEqualizer or PFTrack.
2. Click Export Mesh.

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🛠️ Troubleshooting

Issue	Cause	Solution
Model appears too small in 3DE	Scale 100 was not selected	Re-export and ensure the Scale 100 checkbox is ticked.
Heavy scan files, Blender freezes	High polygon count	Use a Decimate modifier to reduce the mesh before exporting.
Axis orientation is flipped	Different axis standards	Ensure the ground plane is on the XY axis before Applying Transforms.

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📄 License

Released under the MIT License — See the LICENSE file for more details.

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