1. Introduction

When you launch a photogrammetry, it's possible to use the “recommended settings”. But sometimes, they are not adequate to your use-cases. That's why it's also possible to set “Custom settings”. This article presents both recommended and custom settings for Pix4D engine V2. 

2. Pix4Dengine V2 recommended settings

This paragraph describes the default settings for Pix4D engine V2. 

• Calibration template:
  • RGB: LARGE
  • Multispectral: FLAT
• Point cloud densification template: NADIR
• Mesh templates: LARGE
• Mesh textures templates: DEGHOST
• Orthomosaic pipeline: FAST
• DSM settings: 
  • RGB: Urban
  • Multispectral: Rural 
• Weather settings (for Multispectral only): Unknown

3. Pix4Dengine V2 Custom Settings

Selecting both “Pix4Dengine v2” and “Custom” allows you to set below parameters:

• Calibration templates

      LARGE: Optimized for use with aerial non-multispectral image captures of large scenes.  
      FLAT: Optimized for aerial nadir data sets of flat, possibly low-texture, scenes. Well suited for multispectral cameras (rigs).  
      MAPS_3D: Optimized for small (less than 500 images) aerial nadir or oblique data sets with high image overlap acquired in a grid flight plan.  
      MODELS_3D: Optimized for aerial oblique or terrestrial data sets with high image overlap.  
      CATCH: Specifically designed for data sets captured by PIX4Dcatch. 

• Point cloud densification templates

      NADIR: Optimized for aerial nadir image capture.
      OBLIQUE: Optimized for aerial oblique or terrestrial image capture

• Mesh templates

      LARGE: Optimized for large scenes and aerial nadir image capture.  
      SMALL: Optimized for small scenes and aerial oblique or terrestrial image capture.  
      TOWER: Optimized for tower-like structures.  

• Mesh textures templates

      STANDARD: Optimized for well-reconstructed geometries and image captures with no or few occluding or moving features.  
      DEGHOS: Optimized for imperfect geometries and image captures with many occluding or moving features. 

• Orthomosaic pipeline

      FAST: Speed-oriented algorithmic pipeline.  
      FULL: Quality-oriented algorithmic pipeline.  
      DEGHOST: Algorithmic pipeline targeted at removal of moving objects. 

• DSM settings

      URBAN: Optimized DSM for urban areas, construction sites and buildings.
      RURAL: Optimized DSM for rural areas, agriculture or low texture captures.

• Weather settings

      UNKNOWN: when the weather conditions are not known. 
      CLEAR SKY: Optimized for images taken with sunny environment
      OVERCAST: Optimized for images taken with cloudy environment

Setting recommendations by use case:

According to your use case, you may use the settings as recommended below. 

• RGB Nadir for orthomosaic
  • Calibration template: LARGE
  • Point cloud densification template: NADIR
  • Mesh templates: SMALL
  • Mesh textures templates: STANDARD or DEGHOST
  • Orthomosaic pipeline: FULL or DEGHOST
     
• RGB Nadir for 3D Modeling
  • Calibration template: LARGE
  • Point cloud densification template: NADIR
  • Mesh templates: LARGE
  • Mesh textures templates: STANDARD or DEGHOST
  • Orthomosaic pipeline: FAST
     
• RGB Oblique for 3D Modeling
  • Calibration template: LARGE
  • Point cloud densification template: OBLIQUE
  • Mesh templates: LARGE
  • Mesh textures templates: STANDARD
  • Orthomosaic pipeline: FAST
     
• Agriculture (Multispectral or RGB)
  • Calibration template: 
    • Multispectral: FLAT
    • RGB: LARGE
  • Point cloud densification template: NADIR
  • Mesh templates: LARGE
  • Mesh textures templates: STANDARD or DEGHOST
  • Orthomosaic pipeline: FAST
  • DSM settings: RURAL
  • Weather settings (for Multispectral only): depending on the flight conditions