SAM 3D : Turn your 2D image to 3d model in one click
How to Use SAM 3D (SAM-ED): A Complete Step-by-Step Guide
If you’re looking for a powerful tool to convert 2D images into clean, accurate 3D reconstructions, SAM 3D (also known as SAM-ED) is one of the most advanced solutions available today. This guide will walk you through everything you need to know—from installation, setup, and running the commands, all the way to exporting and downloading your 3D models.
Whether you're a beginner or already familiar with AI tools, this tutorial will help you use SAM 3D with maximum efficiency.
What Is SAM 3D (SAM-ED)?
SAM 3D is an advanced extension of Meta’s Segment Anything Model (SAM). It generates high-quality 3D point clouds and depth maps from standard 2D images.
Creators use it for:
- 3D modeling
- Game development
- AR/VR projects
- Scientific visualization
- Object scanning
Its biggest strength is the ability to convert simple images into structured 3D data with minimal effort.
1. System Requirements
Before using SAM 3D, make sure your computer meets the following requirements.
✔ Hardware
- NVIDIA GPU (8GB VRAM minimum — 16GB or more recommended)
- At least 16GB RAM
✔ Software
- Python 3.9+
- PyTorch with CUDA
- Git
- FFmpeg (optional but helpful)
If you are using Google Colab, most of these requirements are already available.
2. Download and Install SAM 3D
Step 1 — Clone the Repository
Open Terminal (Linux/Mac) or Command Prompt (Windows) and run:
git clone https://github.com/facebookresearch/sam3d.git
cd sam3d
Step 2 — Install Dependencies
Run the following command to install the required Python packages:
pip install -r requirements.txt
Make sure PyTorch is installed with GPU support (CUDA):
pip install torch torchvision torchaudio --index-url https://download.pytorch.org/whl/cu118
3. Prepare Your Input Images
Before running the model, create a folder named input_images inside the project directory:
sam3d/
└── input_images/
└── your_photo.jpg
You can add:
- JPEG files
- PNG files
- Multiple images at once
SAM 3D will automatically process all images inside this folder.
4. Run the 3D Reconstruction Command
Use the official command to generate the 3D output:
python tools/reconstruct_3d.py --input_dir input_images --output_dir output_3d
What this command does:
- Reads all images in
input_images - Generates:
- 3D Point Cloud (.ply)
- Depth maps
- Segmentation
- Visualizations
- Saves everything in
output_3d
After completion, you’ll see a message similar to:
3D Reconstruction Completed Successfully
Files saved in: output_3d/
5. How to Download or Save Your 3D Files
After running the reconstruction, your 3D files are created automatically.
Folder Structure:
output_3d/
├── model_1.ply
├── model_1_depth.png
├── model_1_preview.jpg
└── ...
If you’re using a computer:
You can open the folder normally in your file explorer and move the files wherever you want.
If you’re using Google Colab:
Use this code to download the 3D model to your device:
from google.colab import files
files.download('output_3d/model_1.ply')
6. Improving 3D Quality (Pro Tips)
To get the best results from SAM 3D, follow these tips:
- Use high-resolution images (1080p–4K).
- Ensure good lighting and avoid strong shadows.
- Center the main subject in the image.
- Avoid blurry or noisy images.
- Use images with a clean background and good contrast.
The quality of your 3D output depends heavily on the clarity of your original 2D photo.
7. Optional: Visualize Your 3D Model
You can view your .ply file using:
Desktop Tools
- CloudCompare (Free)
- MeshLab (Free)
- Blender (Free)
Python Visualization Example
import open3d as o3d
pc = o3d.io.read_point_cloud("output_3d/model_1.ply")
o3d.visualization.draw_geometries([pc])
8. Advanced Options (Optional Use)
SAM 3D includes additional settings you can use to fine-tune your results.
Change Resolution
--resolution 1024
Use Multi-Image Reconstruction
--multi_view
Enable Smoothing
--smooth
These options can dramatically improve the 3D output if you’re working on professional or high-precision projects.
SAM 3D (SAM-ED) is one of the most powerful 3D reconstruction tools available today—and with just a few commands, you can convert any 2D image into a usable 3D model.
After following this tutorial, you now know how to:
- Install SAM 3D
- Prepare your input images
- Run the reconstruction command
- Download your 3D output
- Visualize and enhance your results
Whether you’re creating 3D assets for games, animation, AR/VR, or research, SAM 3D gives you a fast and efficient workflow.
No comments: