Water bodies are difficult to model accurately because it is hard to identify and match features due to the uniformity and non-static nature of water. In order to enable PhotoMesh to model and texture a water body successfully, you can use the Manual Retouch tool to draw or import a corresponding water body polygon. Water bodies can be either of the following:
- Smart Water – Detects and flattens water surfaces by analyzing texture colors within the drawn polygon. Even a rough outline is often sufficient. Smart Water also identifies and preserves above-water features such as boats and bridges. To apply this process, PhotoMesh downgrades the affected tiles back to the Point Cloud phase. The polygon must be drawn at an elevation as close as possible to the actual water surface. If the elevation is inaccurate, too high or too low, the water detection may fail or produce incorrect results.
- Flat Water – Begins with the Smart Water detection process but then overrides the entire polygon area, flattening it completely, regardless of whether water was detected. This ensures a uniform, artifact-free surface, even in areas where water detection may have failed.
Polygon data can be viewed and modified in the Manual Retouch list. More about: Working with water body polygons >
See Water Bodies - Advanced Workflow for tips and pointers on creating maximally accurate water body polygons.