Masking: What produces the best results?

[brum]

Hey!

I've recently started using photoscan and i got to a point where all my models had the background trees or sky bleed into it, so naturally i tried to process a model with masking.

My results were nice, so i started to mask my next model as well.

I'm currently 3 hours into masking my next model because i have ~100 images, and according to my estimates it'll take 5 hours to finish making. So here i am, asking about masking because I'm trying to make sure that my work isn't going to waste.

What produces the best results while making? Specifically, where do you tend to mask the edges of objects? Here is an example of what I'm masking, and what i think the options are:

Unmasked: http://puu.sh/lVkEb/03e4941df1.jpg
Mask edge accurately: http://puu.sh/lVkLN/0d26e889ca.jpg
Mask edge accurately, mask out (fresnel?) reflection: http://puu.sh/lVkNv/3e848bb4b4.jpg
Mask all edges out: http://puu.sh/lVkQF/5ee9f1a1fc.jpg

Which of these would produce the best results? Because i figure for sparse cloud the program will still use the edges even if it's masked and the options are set that way, but you wouldn't necessarily want it to generate the model and textures based on the edge of the model, but rather when that edge part "rotates" into view.

In closing this is a pretty weird dilemma. The more images you take the better your result is, but the more images you have the more time you have to spend on masking, and it's not trivial at all. Most of the time you can't really pick or choose what your backdrop is, as 80% of the objects worth scanning are usually outside, in open environments.

[FoodMan]

you don't need to mask in your case.. only if using a turntable.. 

[brum]

you don't need to mask in your case.. only if using a turntable.. 

I tried to not mask, but it produced a lot of artifacts on my model. look at the head of the statue: http://puu.sh/lVnaw/148c29b61d.jpg

What you're talking about is a separate process, no? Where if you use a turntable you import an image of the turntable without your scan object in it, so that the program knows what isn't the model.

[stihl]

Did you do any gradual selection on the tie points to filter out the ones with higher errors? Such as image count < 3 and reprojection error etc.

[brum]

Did you do any gradual selection on the tie points to filter out the ones with higher errors? Such as image count < 3 and reprojection error etc.

I'm looking at it now, it's really hard to tell what should or shouldn't be there, based on on the point cloud. http://puu.sh/lVrdy/8a42eebc33.png