HP Unveils $299 3D Capture Stage For The Sprout PC

HP recently unveiled the $299 3D Capture Stage, which is one step closer to making 3D imaging affordable in the market. While a number of products, such as the Oculus Rift and the HoloLens of Microsoft, give a quick look into 3D imaging through virtual reality, these products are mainly in the perspective of special applications like gaming and collaborative work.

The new product of HP complements its Sprout PC, which features a number of applications that facilitate the creation of refined images by artists and ordinary people.

Sprout allows users to digitize objects using a scanner and overhead cameras. The Touch Mat application on Sprout allows users to manipulate images, which is expected to promote more artistic work compared to using a keyboard and a mouse.

3D Capture Stage Unveiled - image credit: pcmag.com

However, it is not easy to capture 3D images using Sprout alone since the 3D Snapshot application is limited to one side of an object. The $299 3D Capture Stage features the 3D Capture application, which is essentially an upgraded version of the 3D Snapshot software. A video shows the software scanning an object from several angles before it weaves them together to create a 3D rendering of the object. While it requires going through a number of steps, it is expected to create better results compared to using the older software installed on Sprout.

The new device may cost only $299, Sprout has a price tag of $1899, which means it will require a big investment to acquire the equipment necessary for a good 3D image. Despite the increasing popularity of reasonably-priced laptops in the market, Sprout has remained beyond the reach of ordinary people.

HP revealed that a number of Sprout units were given to a number of users to evaluate as well as start a small market for the device. The 3D Capture application can be exported through an OBI format to allow its use on third-party hardware. The software is expected to be released to Sprout PC users by July, which is also around the same time the $299 3D Capture Stage will be released into the market.
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Posted by Melanie Mendoza on Friday June 12 2015, 4:07 PM EST. All trademarks acknowledged. Filed under Shopping. Comments and Trackbacks closed. Follow responses: RSS 2.0