The quality of your final piece depends entirely on your input.
Overlap: Ensure at least 60% side overlap and 80% forward overlap between photos.
Consistency: Use a fixed focal length (no zooming) and maintain even lighting to avoid harsh shadows that can confuse the software. 2. The Core Workflow
Following the standard photogrammetry pipeline in Metashape Professional 2 involves these sequential steps:
Align Photos: The software identifies tie points between images to create a sparse point cloud and determine camera positions.
Build Dense Cloud: This step fills in the gaps from the sparse cloud, creating a high-density set of points representing the object's surface.
Build Mesh: Metashape connects the points in the dense cloud to create a continuous 3D surface (wireframe).
Build Texture: The software projects the original photographic data onto the mesh to provide realistic color and detail. 3. Professional-Grade Features
Since you are using the Professional version, you have access to advanced tools that distinguish it from the Standard edition:
Georeferencing: Import GPS data or Ground Control Points (GCPs) for high-accuracy surveying.
GIS Outputs: Generate and export Digital Elevation Models (DEMs) and Orthomosaics.
Automation: Use Python scripting to automate repetitive processing tasks and customize your workflow. 4. Hardware Optimization
To process large "pieces" efficiently, ensure your workstation meets these recommended specs for 2025/2026:
GPU: Metashape relies heavily on the GPU for alignment and dense cloud generation. An NVIDIA RTX 4060 Ti Go to product viewer dialog for this item. or better is recommended.
RAM: 32GB to 64GB is standard for professional projects, though larger datasets may require more. 5. Final Export
Once your piece is complete, you can export it in various formats depending on your end goal: Visuals: Use STL or OBJ for 3D modeling and rendering.
Measurement: Export as E57 (Lidar) or high-res Orthophotos for GIS applications. agisoft metashape professional 2
Are you focusing on a specific type of object (like a building, a landscape, or a small artifact) for this piece?
Overview
Agisoft Metashape Professional 2 is a powerful and versatile photogrammetry software that enables users to create accurate 3D models and orthomosaics from overlapping images. As a leading solution in the field, Metashape Professional 2 offers a comprehensive set of tools for processing and analyzing aerial and close-range imagery.
Key Features and Improvements
The latest version of Metashape Professional 2 comes with several significant updates and enhancements, including:
User Experience
The software's interface remains intuitive and user-friendly, making it accessible to both experienced professionals and those new to photogrammetry. The workflow is well-structured, guiding users through the various stages of processing, from importing images to exporting the final 3D model.
Strengths
Weaknesses
Conclusion
Agisoft Metashape Professional 2 is an exceptional photogrammetry software that delivers high-quality results and meets the demands of various industries. Its robust feature set, improved processing speed, and enhanced accuracy make it an essential tool for professionals seeking to create accurate 3D models and orthomosaics. While it may require a significant investment in computational resources and time to master advanced features, the benefits and results provided by Metashape Professional 2 make it a worthwhile investment.
Rating: 4.8/5
Recommendation: Metashape Professional 2 is highly recommended for:
System Requirements:
Agisoft Metashape Professional 2 represents a major evolution in photogrammetric software, transitioning from the 1.x series with a focus on LiDAR fusion, AI-driven automation, and improved large-scale data management. It remains a high-end tool for surveyors and enterprise users, distinguished by its georeferencing, multispectral processing, and Python automation. Key Features and Improvements in Version 2.x
LiDAR and Laser Scan Integration: A core focus of the 2.x series is the improved handling of laser data. The quality of your final piece depends entirely
Aerial LiDAR Boresight Calibration: Refines the orientation of LiDAR data by analyzing common features between adjacent flight paths, reducing misalignments.
LiDAR Separation Imagery: New report options allow users to visualize alignment quality and scan-to-scan consistency for QA.
Match Depth Maps: An added option for aligning laser scans that utilizes dense depth information to improve registration stability. Advanced Texturing and Imagery:
Natural Blending Mode: Introduced in version 2.3, this mode reduces visible seams and lighting variations while maintaining sharp edges by working on frequency components of photos.
Pansharpening: Fuses high-resolution panchromatic bands with multispectral data to produce sharper, more detailed orthomosaics.
AI-Based Masking: Automatic background removal using AI helps speed up the masking process, which is especially useful for complex subjects. Workflow and Hardware Support:
Block Models: Supports city-scale projects by dividing massive mesh models into manageable blocks.
Fisheye Lens Support: Added Equidistant and Equisolid fisheye models to reduce systematic distortions in wide-angle imaging.
Power Failure Resilience: New ability to restart or resume processing after a power failure. Professional vs. Standard Edition (2.x)
While both editions share core photogrammetry functions like mesh generation, the Professional edition is required for advanced outputs and industrial applications. Professional Georeferencing (GCPs, RTK/PPK) DEM & Orthomosaic Outputs Multispectral & Thermal Processing Python Scripting API Network & Cloud Processing LiDAR Data Support Comparison and Value for Existing Users Agisoft Metashape Change Log
Agisoft Metashape Professional 2.0 (and its subsequent 2.x updates) represents a major leap in photogrammetry software, transitioning from the original "PhotoScan" roots into a powerhouse for high-end geospatial data processing. 0 series a benchmark for industry professionals. 1. Key Features & Capabilities
While the Standard version focuses on basic 3D model creation, the Professional version is built for surveying and GIS workflows.
Geospatial Outputs: It allows for the generation of georeferenced Orthomosaics and Digital Elevation Models (DEMs), which are essential for mapping.
LiDAR Integration: One of the hallmark updates in the 2.x series is the improved support for LiDAR point cloud processing, allowing users to combine laser scanning data with photogrammetric data for better accuracy.
Satellite Imagery: Professional users can process panchromatic and multispectral satellite imagery, expanding its use from drones to large-scale orbital data. 2. Performance and Automation
The software is heavily optimized for modern hardware to handle massive datasets. Improved Processing Speed : Agisoft has optimized the
GPU Acceleration: Metashape leverages your graphics card (GPU) for the most demanding tasks like image alignment and dense cloud generation, significantly cutting down processing time.
Python Scripting: For enterprise workflows, the software supports extensive Python automation. You can even set scripts to run automatically on startup to standardize your processing pipeline. 3. Accuracy Standards
For surveying and engineering, Metashape Pro offers various levels of precision based on your equipment:
RTK/PPK workflows: Achieve 2–5 cm horizontal accuracy without ground control points.
GCP Integration: By adding Ground Control Points (GCPs), you can reach sub-2 cm absolute accuracy, suitable for cadastral or civil engineering work. 4. Licensing and Support
Agisoft uses a permanent license model rather than a monthly subscription.
One-Time Purchase: Buying a license entitles you to free updates for all versions within the 2.x cycle.
Agisoft Viewer: For those who only need to inspect and measure existing data without processing it, the Agisoft Viewer is available as a free tool.
Are you planning to use Metashape for a specific industry, such as archaeology, construction, or environmental mapping? Installer - Agisoft Metashape
Agisoft has integrated a lightweight neural network for semantic segmentation. Version 2 can automatically classify points into categories: ground, vegetation, buildings, and water. This is a game-changer for GIS professionals who previously spent hours manually cleaning point clouds. Additionally, the mesh reconstruction algorithm now produces smoother surfaces on organic shapes while preserving hard edges for man-made structures—all without additional post-processing.
Objective: To automatically classify high-density point cloud data into "Vegetation" and "Ground" classes using a multi-stage algorithm (Progressive Morphological Filter combined with Point Density analysis), and subsequently generate a clean Digital Terrain Model (DTM) without vegetation artifacts.
Target Audience: Surveyors, Forestry Managers, and GIS Professionals using Metashape Professional 2.
Key Improvements over Standard Workflow:
Agisoft redesigned the toolbar to reflect the modern photogrammetry pipeline:
The Reference pane (ground control points) has been streamlined. You can now drag-and-drop a CSV file directly onto the pane, and Metashape auto-detects column headers (Lat/Lon/Alt, Accuracy).
This feature utilizes the Metashape Python API (v2.0+). It executes the following pipeline: