System and method of 3D print modelling

A non-transitory, computer readable medium having computer executable instructions stored thereon, and which when executed by a computer system, cause the computer system to generate a model for 3D printing, by carrying out actions, comprising:

• selecting a target object within a virtual environment;
• sampling the target object to form a point cloud, the point cloud comprising points corresponding to an outer surface of the target object and also one or more internal features of the target object;
• rendering the point cloud from a plurality of viewpoints using voxels in place of the points in the point cloud;
• detecting which voxels and hence which points of the cloud were rendered over the plurality of renders;
• forming a surface-only point cloud comprising those points of the cloud that were rendered;
• and
• generating a model for 3D printing based on the surface-only point cloud.

An entertainment device, comprising:

• an image processor adapted to generate a virtual environment;
• a selection processor adapted to select a target object within the virtual environment;
• a sampling processor adapted to sample the target object to form a point cloud, the point cloud comprising points corresponding to an outer surface of the target object and also one or more internal features of the target object;
• a rendering processor adapted to render the point cloud from a plurality of viewpoints using voxels in place of the points in the point cloud;
• a detection processor adapted to detect which voxels and hence which points of the cloud were rendered over the plurality of renders;
• a re-sampling processor adapted to form surface-only point cloud comprising those points of the cloud that were rendered;
• and
• a modelling processor adapted to generate a model for 3D printing based on the surface-only point cloud.

A server, comprising:

• a receiver adapted to receive from an entertainment device a point cloud, the point cloud comprising points corresponding to an outer surface of a target object and also one or more internal features of the target object, the target object having been selected from within a virtual environment generated by the entertainment device;
• a rendering processor adapted to render the point cloud from a plurality of viewpoints using voxels in place of the points in the point cloud;
• a detection processor adapted to detect which voxels and hence which points of the cloud were rendered over the plurality of renders;
• a re-sampling processor adapted to form surface-only point cloud comprising those points of the cloud that were rendered;
• and
• a modelling processor adapted to generate a model for 3D printing based on the surface-only point cloud.