AIMS The 3D model of the face, obtained with 3D photogrammetric method, make possible a qualitative and quantitative evaluation of surface characteristics of soft tissues for a particular application, such as three-dimensional analysis of the lower cheek and upper lip, and distribution soft tissue in relation to the characteristics of hard tissue (dental-alveolar structure). MATERIALS AND METHODS A female normo-facial subject, considered very attractive in a National Beauty Competition, has been subjected to clinical analysis of orofacial features and to a photogrammetric capture of the face . On the obtained 3D model was made (by a qualitative and quantitative computer-assisted analysis) a comparison between the variations in the distribution of the soft tissues of the lower cheek and upper lip of the two face sides, considering also the characteristics of its dental and alveolar structure. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS The color map analysis of the 3D digital model shows small differences between the left and the right side: the slight asymmetry observed is reflected in the dento-alveolar arch, due to the impacted permanent canine and the retention of the deciduos canine on the right side, resepct to the left side.

L’estetica del viso è fondamentale per la comunicazione e l’interazione con la società circostante [3–6–37]; il volto fornisce informazioni che permettono l’identificazione di ogni singola persona [38]. La definizione dei canoni estetici coinvolge ricercatori, artisti e clinici, che hanno già provato a codificare quali proporzioni, angoli e rapporti del viso rendano una persona più attraente di un’altra. In ogni caso non sembrano esserci canoni universali e le caratteristiche estetiche di attrattività sono spesso peculiari a singoli contesti socio–culturali ed etnici [2–11–18]. Quanto sopra, peraltro, trova forte necessità di applicazione nello studio qualitativo e quantitativo della morfologia del distretto craniofacciale anche del singolo individuo cui necessitano, ad esempio, interventi estetici conseguenti anche a traumi. Si pensi, ad esempio, al danno fisionomico causato da cicatrici al volto, soprattutto se questo è quello di una Miss ovvero di un presentatore televisivo o di un attore. Questi personaggi fanno del volto una componente fondamentale della loro professione e non solo, la dove si sostiene che le menomazioni estetiche comportano diminuzioni della validità psico-fisica [71]. Pertanto, il suo confronto con un riferimento alla “norma”, rappresenta il primo passo nella diagnosi di qualunque processo patologico, nonché nella valutazione degli esiti della terapia effettuata [5].

3D scanning is a potential technology for creating individualized products. It is used in various fields such as medicine, clothing manufacture, footwear manufacture, etc. The last mentioned field has gained a growing interest in recent years. The foot is regarded as an important part of human body. Footwear fit, is one of the main factors for consumer on purchasing shoes in the daily life decisions. Designing footwear is a very complex process. Traditional footwear design begins with a plan to sketch patterns and designs in scale drawings. The paper sketches are done by hand, or on computer-aided software, but it can be a mix of both technologies. In this paper we are going to present a full cycle of footwear production, starting from 3D foot scanning, to 3D shoes designing, 2D patterns extraction, till the production of the custom shoes. The system, explained in these work will give the opportunity to individual clients to produce their own shoes prototype. We are going to use the 3D printing technology to produce custom shoes. These will help people, which have feet problems with standard shoes available in the market creating their own shoe last. Also, it will be possible to create sample prototypes and refining the same for both functionality and aesthetics.

The diffusion of Digital Additive Manufacturing technologies is leading to new needs by industrial research and development sectors. For instance mating additive manufactured parts is not a simple task, due to low accuracy typical of several additive technologies, such as Fused Deposition Modeling. Several papers report studies on how Fused Deposition Modeling accuracy is affected by process parameters. One of the most important aspects is the role of shrinkage during the transition from a semi-liquid state to solid and cooling at solid state. To avoid this drawback a Shrinkage Compensation Factor (SCF), an operator-controlled variable that affects the overall accuracy of the product, is embedded in the control software of FDM machines. In this paper the authors report a study on the influence of working parameters on FDM dimensional accuracy, focusing their attention on the validity of the Shrinkage Compensation Factor, especially when applied to cave parts and proposing a method to improve the accuracy of parts.

L’analisi della morfologia superficiale dei tessuti molli del volto è estremamente importante in campo medico, in particolar modo per l’ortodonzia, la medicina e chirurgia estetica, la chirurgia maxillo-facciale, la chirurgia plastica e ricostruttiva. Tutte queste branche hanno estrema necessità di potersi avvalere di una metodologia di raccolta dati precisa, affidabile e possibilmente non invasiva, non basata su Rx, nelle diverse fasi diagnostiche e terapeutiche: per supportare e arricchire la fase diagnostica, ad esempio consentendo di rilevare con precisione la buona simmetria del paziente o la presenza di lievi asimmetrie, così come la presenza di malformazioni cranio-facciali anche di modesta entità; per il monitoraggio della crescita spontanea normale o patologica; inoltre per supportare il clinico nel monitoraggio delle terapie in atto, consentendo la verifica periodica e non invasiva dei risultati ottenuti terapeuticamente. Per acquisire i dati tridimensionali relativi alla forma di un oggetto inanimato o di parti del corpo umano, esistono varie metodiche, che sfruttano meccanismi o fenomeni diversi per interagire con la superficie o con il volume dell’oggetto in esame. Le metodiche ottiche 3D sono molto utili per il rilievo e la misura di precisione delle caratteristiche di superficie dei volti; hanno in comune la caratteristica fondamentale di essere non invasive poiché non utilizzano le radiazioni ionizzanti, e possono essere suddivise in due categorie principali: 1. Scanner 3D: l’acquisizione dell’immagine avviene per mezzo di uno o più Laser; 2. Sistemi di 3D Imaging: possono essere basati sulla proiezione di luce strutturata o sull’analisi di frange moirè; o possono essere Sistemi di imaging 3D istantanei basati sulla fotogrammetria (in cui le informazioni 3D si ottengono attraverso l’acquisizione ed il confronto di più immagini fotografiche specifiche.

In the literature several papers report studies on mathematical models used to describe facial features and to predict female facial beauty based on 3D human face data. Many authors have proposed the Principal Component Analysis method that permits modeling of the entire human face using a limited number of parameters. In some cases, these models have been correlated with beauty classifications obtaining good attractiveness predictability using wrapped 2D or 3D models. To verify these results, in this paper the authors conducted a three-dimensional digitization study of 66 very attractive female subjects using a computerized non-invasive tool known as 3D digital photogrammetry. The sample consisted of the 64 contestants of the final phase of the Miss Italy 2010 beauty contest, plus the two highest ranked contestants in the 2009 competition. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was conducted on this real faces sample to verify if there is a correlation between ranking and the principal components of the face models. There was no correlation and therefore this hypothesis is not confirmed for our sample. Considering that the results of the contest are not only solely a function of facial attractiveness, but undoubtedly are significantly impacted by it, the authors based on their experience and real faces conclude that PCA analysis is not a valid prediction tool for attractiveness. The database of the features belonging to the sample analyzed are downloadable online and further contributions are welcome.

In the last years close-range photogrammetric scanning systems, are acquiring a larger market share. This is due to low-cost hardware, components and to new user-friendly software. The ultimate, photogrammetric 3D scanning systems are very accurate and precise because, of the high-resolution cameras (over 10 Mpixels) they are equipped of and, the more precise algorithms of their software. The calibration phase is the primary step for the development of a, precise photogrammetric scanner. Through a good calibration it is indeed, possible to eliminate optical aberration issues and to obtain precise and, accurate three-dimensional measurements. In this study a powerful, calibration method, named full-field calibration, was implemented to, obtain high-precision values, using an original three-dimensional, calibrator, developed so as to increase the performance of this type of, calibration. Prior to using any measurement or 3D scanning system, precision and, accuracy have to be assessed. In this study a robust validation method, for photogrammetric scanning systems has been proposed. The validation, procedure consisted in: (1) operator error analysis, (2) reproducibility, error-analysis, (3) control-system error analysis, (4) scanning system, error analysis., The measurements taken using the "control system" (certified equipment in, terms of precision and accuracy) were considered as "gold standard". The, photogrammetric measurements, subsequently obtained by the scanning, system, were aligned to the "gold standard" using Procrustes, registration. The system error was expressed as the displacement between, these two sets of measurements.

Objectives: To define an acquisition protocol that is clear, precise, repeatable, simple and fast, and that is useful for analysis of the anthropometric characteristics of the soft tissue of the face. Materials and Methods: The analysis was carried out according to a new clinical-instrumental protocol that comprises four distinct phases: 1) set up of the portable equipment in the space in which the field analysis will be performed, 2) preparation of the subject, spatial positioning, 3) scanning of the subject with different facial expressions, 4) treatment and processing of the data. The protocol was tested on a sample comprised 66 female subjects (64 Caucasian, one Ethiopian, one Brazilian) who were the finalists in an Italian national beauty contest in 2010. To illustrate the potential of the method, we report here on the measurements and the full analysis that was carried out on the facial model of one of the subjects who was scanned. Results: This new protocol for the acquisition of faces is shown to be fast (phase 1 of about 1 h; phase 2, about 1.5 min; phase 3, about 1.5 min; phase 4, about 15 min), simple (phases 1-3 requiring a short operator training period; only phase 4 requires expert operators), repeatable (with direct palpation of the anatomical landmarks and marking of their positions on the face, the problem of identification of these same landmarks on the digital model is solved), reliable and precise (average precision of measurements, 0.5-0.6 mm over the entire surface of the face). Conclusions: This standardization allows the mapping of the subjects to be carried out following the same conditions in a reliable and fast process for all of the subjects scanned.

Progettazione, realizzazione e fornitura di sistemi di scansione low-cost e sistemi di rilievo e di misura per qualsiasi tipo di applicazione sia in campo medico che biomedico. Sviluppo e consulenza nel campo della fabbricazione additiva e della prototipazione rapida con tecniche quali la Fused Deposition Modeling o con altre metodologie di fabbricazione. Consulenza e service per autofinanziare le attività di ricerca della società.