VistaSculpt v1.0.0

1. Choose Your Creation Mode

Located at the top of the Right Panel, this dropdown menu determines the fundamental engine the software uses to interpret your files. It is the first and most important choice you make.

2. Image Preparation & AI Tools

The quality of your final relief depends entirely on the input. Use the "⚙️ Edit Image" window to fix issues before generating the 3D model.

• Texture Boost Slider Controls surface sharpness vs. smoothness.
  Positive (+): Enhances micro-details. Use this if your subject has fur, scales, or rough stone textures that you want to emphasize.
  Negative (-): Smooths the image. Use this to remove "noise" or grain from low-quality JPEGs, or to make skin look polished.
• Remove Background 🏕️ Cuts the subject out.
  Uses AI to identify the main subject and makes the background transparent. In the 3D generator, transparent pixels act as "Zero Height", meaning the software will automatically cut the background away.
• Enhance Image ✨ Fixes low-resolution and blurry faces.
  When to use: If your source image is small, pixelated, or the face is blurry. The AI will upscale the image and reconstruct facial features (eyes, nose, mouth) to be sharp and defined.
• Expand Image 🖼️ Fills in missing edges.
  When to use: If your photo crops off the top of a head or the side of a shoulder. You can add empty space, and the AI will invent new pixels to complete the subject so you don't have a flat cut-off line.

3. Generation Settings

These sliders control the mathematical parameters used during the conversion from grayscale pixel data to 3D vertex geometry.

• Depth Scale Overall Volume / Thickness.
  This controls the distance between the lowest point and the highest point of the model.
  Low Value: Creates a subtle, coin-like relief.
  High Value: Creates a dramatic, deep relief. Warning: Too high can cause "spiking" artifacts.
• Details Scale Surface Texture Intensity.
  This works independently of the main volume. It acts like a stamp. Increasing this makes pores, wrinkles, and fabric weave deeper and more visible without changing the overall shape of the head/body.
• Simplification Factor Polygon Count Reduction.
  Value 1 (Left): Maximum detail. Keeps every polygon. Use this for CNC machining where smooth curves are essential. File size will be large.
  Value 10+ (Right): Low Poly. Merges triangles to create a faceted look. Use this for game assets or if you need a very small file size.
• Z Limit Bottom Threshold Clipping.
  A "Floor Cut". Any part of the model below this percentage height is sliced off flat. Use this if your image has a noisy background; increasing Z Limit raises the "sea level" to submerge that noise.
• Quality Dropdown Resolution Grid Density.
  Determines the pixel resolution of the depth map used for generation.
  Fast: Low resolution grid. Quick generation, soft edges.
  Ultra (Pro): Maximum resolution grid. Use this for final production files. It creates sharper edges but requires more computer memory (RAM).

4. Sculpting Tools

Click 🖌️ Sculpting to enter manual edit mode. While in this mode, the software optimizes the mesh for real-time interaction.

5. Advanced Modelling Tools

These tools perform global mathematical operations on the entire mesh structure at once. They are located in the grid on the Left Panel.

• 🌟 AI Relief Enhancer Generative Geometry Resynthesis.
  This is a creative AI tool for the 3D model itself (not the source photo).
  How it works: It captures a snapshot of your current relief and asks an AI to "re-dream" the details.
  Prompting: You can leave the prompt empty to simply sharpen and denoise the existing shapes, OR you can type a prompt (e.g., "Make it look like carved wood") to change the aesthetic style completely.
  Use when: Your relief looks "mushy" or lacks definition, and standard smoothing isn't helping. It hallucinates realistic high-frequency details.
• 🧩 Solidify Watertight Volume Generation.
  Reliefs are naturally "open shells" (sheets) with zero thickness. You cannot 3D print them directly. This tool detects the boundary edges, extrudes them downwards to a calculated Z-plane, and generates a flat bottom cap. This makes the mesh "Manifold" (solid).
• ➰ Spherical Bend Geometric Warping Kernel.
  Maps the linear X/Y coordinates of the mesh onto a sphere equation.
  Positive Values (+): Domes the center upwards (Convex). Great for shields, helmets, shoulder pads.
  Negative Values (-): Dishes the center downwards (Concave). Great for creating molds or bowls.
• 🔲 Frame Generator Procedural Geometry.
  Creates a new mesh border around your relief.
  Rectangle/Rounded: Parametric generation. "Profile Round" controls the cross-section (Flat, Convex D-shape, or Concave Cove).
  Library: Loads an external .STL file to use as a custom frame.
  Auto-Crop: Can automatically slice the relief geometry to fit perfectly inside the generated frame.
• 🪓 Crop With Offset Perimeter Erosion via PyClipper.
  Calculates the 2D silhouette of your model and shrinks it inwards by a set distance (e.g., 2mm). It then creates a new cutting mask and slices the 3D mesh vertically. Essential for removing "ragged edges" or artifacts left by AI generation at the borders of a shape.
• 📐 Depth Optimization Smart Non-Linear Compression.
  Standard scaling squashes everything equally. This algorithm separates "Base Volume" from "Surface Detail". It aggressively compresses the large, low-frequency shapes (like the roundness of a head) while preserving the high-frequency details (texture, eyes). Allows deep subjects to fit onto thin coins without looking washed out.
• 〰️ Smooth Outline Draft Angle Generator.
  CNC bits cannot cut 90° vertical walls without vibrating or breaking. This tool detects the outer vertical wall and applies a relaxation algorithm to slope it (e.g., to 80°). Includes a visual heatmap (Orange) to show exactly which pixels will be modified.
• 🩹 Fill Holes Topology Analysis.
  Scans the mesh for "Non-Manifold Edges" (holes). It calculates the area of each hole. The slider allows you to fill holes smaller than a specific size (errors) while keeping large intentional holes (like the gap in a donut handle) open.
• 📈 Height Curve Gradient Remapping.
  Provides a visual graph to remap Z-heights. You can make the background flatter and the foreground pop out more by adjusting the curve handles.

6. Scene Management & Export

Working with Multiple Objects

• Merge Selected 🔗: This is the most powerful scene tool. It does not just "group" objects; it mathematically fuses their geometry. It re-calculates a single, seamless skin over all combined objects.
  Why use it? Overlapping meshes confuse CNC software and 3D printers. Merging ensures the machine sees one single, solid object.
• Copy/Paste: Works like standard text editors (Ctrl+C / Ctrl+V). Useful for creating patterns or arrays of the same object.

Export Formats - Which one to choose?

• STL (Stereolithography)
  The universal standard. Contains geometry only (no color).
  Best for: 3D Printing, CNC Software.
• OBJ / GLB
  These formats support Color and Texture.
  Best for: Digital rendering or Game Development. Use this if you want to see the photo texture on top of the 3D shape.
• Depth Map (PNG-16)
  Exports the height data as a grayscale image. Crucial: This is a 16-bit image (65,536 shades of gray), vastly superior to standard 8-bit images.
  Best for: High-end CNC micro-machining or laser engraving. It provides the smoothest possible gradients without "stepping" artifacts.

7. Credit System

Some features run on powerful cloud servers, which incur costs per use. Credits are only deducted if the process completes successfully. If it fails, you are automatically refunded.