MetaShape reprocessing question

[ryanenorth]

I have been using PhotoScan/MetaShape for a long time (at least ten years) so I should probably know the answer to this question, but I'm not sure.

When I want to explore multiple processing workflows on a single dataset without overwriting my previous processing steps, what is the best approach? In the past I usually just save the project after importing the images and make a copy with a different name, but I'm sure this isn't the most effective way.

I usually don't change much on the alignment step, it is often playing with how many GCP to select or some settings when generating the DEM or ortho.

Thanks.

[Alexey Pasumansky]

Hello Ryan,

You can duplicate the chunk in the same project workspace and work with each chunk independently, as with different projects.

In case you want to preserve the alignment results and experiment only with the further processing steps (building point cloud, model, DEM, orthomosaic, etc), then you can work in the same chunk: uncheck "set as default" option from the context menu of the corresponding asset in the workspace pane and then build the new asset of the same type. Thus you can have multiple point clouds, elevation models, orthomosaics in the same chunk, based on the same alignment.