Maya, a 3D animation software by Autodesk, is no doubt a popular application amongst professional animators, artists, and even 3D medical animation professionals.
You may have noticed that Trax Editor and Time Editor are tools that can be used within the program for animation editing, but this leaves you wondering: What is the difference?
Continue reading “Trax Editor Vs. Time Editor: Whats the Difference?”
Whether maintaining a top-notch medical practice, dominating pharmaceutical sales, or educating students and patients, having the most current medical animation is necessary to remain on top of the medical and scientific field.
With so many choices for medical animation firms, deciding which one to hire can be a daunting task. The following list highlights 13 of the top medical animation firms in the US, explains what they can do for you, and why you need them.
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Continue reading “These Are The Top Medical Animation Firms In The US”
ZBrush is the most advanced 3D sculpting software in the world of digital animation. Artists and game designers use this software to create characters that will eventually be part of an animated production.
It is no secret that animations and other forms of visual art are some of the best educational tools you can use in the sciences, especially in the medical field. But not all medical professionals are graced with artistic talents, so you must often look elsewhere for this media.
More often than not, purchasing the rights to medical animation videos is an expensive endeavor. Fortunately, many sites provide such media either for free or royalty-free or give unlimited access to millions of digital assets for a low-cost subscription. This article discusses nine of the best places to find medical animation videos.
Videvo is an official recommendation for sourcing medical animated media by the U.S. National Library of Medicine (NLM). You can choose from 1,500 clips of medical stock video footage, both live-action and animated. Remember that not all of it is free, so you must be mindful when attempting to download your selected clips. (Source: NLM)
When using Videvo stock footage and motion graphics, the following guidelines and protections apply:
If you want a full video production available at low- or no-cost, Videvo also provides music and sound effects that you can add to your medical animation as needed.
Nucleus Medical Media is associated with one of the largest scientific content producers in the world, EBSCO (Elton B. Stephens Company, now EBSCO Industries, Inc.). Their media library is overflowing with more than 18,000 medical animations and other visual arts, all designed to assist in public education.
There are two main ways to get access to Nucleus’ free medical animations (Source: Nucleus Medical Media):
All their content is kept current and up-to-date, so you can go back to the site as often as you like without worrying whether they’ll have what you need. Currently, they have just stocked the library with over seven hours of brand-new content in Biology, Anatomy, and Physiology. (Source: SMART Imagebase)
As an international leader in written and visual educational content, you can rely on Nucleus and EBSCO to continually supply you with top-notch freely downloadable medical animations.
DNAtube is stocked with over 20,000 medical videos, both live-action and animated. Implied by the name, this platform operates similarly to YouTube. By uploading their content, users automatically agree that other DNAtube users may download their videos, although the possible downloaded content applications are severely limited.
Restrictions to downloaded DNAtube content are as follows (Source: DNAtube)
If you plan to use any content you source from DNAtube on your company’s website or any other online projects in the allotted 24-hour period, you are prohibited from linking to their website. You can only do so if they give explicit permission for linking. Further, this website does not guarantee that the uploaded videos are accurate or factual, so anything you use is at your own risk and discretion.
Those who decide to use media from this website should contact the video authors directly before downloading anything. Since there are so many restrictions and no guarantee of factually correct information, you’ll want to do everything you can to ensure you’re downloading high-quality, trustworthy content.
Pond5 is one of the world’s leading visual media producers. They supply members with tens of millions of stock videos, photos, audio tracks, and so much more, with over 64,000 medical animation videos included in that total. All the available stock footage is royalty-free, so whether you’re a member or not, you don’t have to worry about paying a fee with each download or play of your published videos.
However, further benefits vary according to your membership (or lack thereof) with Pond5. On the one hand, non-members only reap the benefits of the royalty-free attributes, while on the other, members can download any of the 13 million Pond5 media files for free. Of course, you will need to pay either a monthly or annual membership fee to gain access to these advantages.
Once you are registered, you can enjoy the following benefits (Source: Pond5):
Upon download, Pond5 extends you the “non-exclusive, perpetual right” to modify, copy, and publish your footage under the All Media License. However, you must only use the downloaded media in a single project and publish or stream it on permitted platforms to maintain these rights. (Source: Pond5)
Not only does Pond5 offer live-action and animated media, but they also provide free video editing software and AI visual search software. With this support, you can compose a beautifully edited promotional, educational, or any other type of video using the latest software.
Available tools include (Source: Pond5):
iStock is a property of Getty Images, so you can be confident that this well of animations and stock videos will never run dry. One of the tricky things about using iStock’s media is that their content is “royalty-free,” which does not equate to “free” pricing.
As iStock explains, royalty-free does not mean that users will not have to pay for the content they use. Instead, it means that they are expected to make a one-time license purchase, and after that, they can download and use the video whenever they need to, without paying royalty fees.
Apart from the royalty-free animations and footage, iStock offers three complimentary video clips when you join for free and one free monthly clip after that. There is no guarantee that you will receive free medical animations, but there are over 26,500 files of medical stock footage in their collection, so don’t write off the possibility.
All of iStock’s free media comes with the following benefits (Source: iStock):
Most of Storyblocks’ free downloadable stock video footage contains live-action acting. However, they do have plenty of animated media available as well. To access Storyblocks’ free downloadable medical animations (meaning you do not pay per download), you must sign up for one of the following subscription plans.
Note that these plans all include royalty-free licensing (Source: Storyblocks):
If you need help putting the video together, Storyblocks also provides Maker, an intuitive video editing program. By default, it includes access to their content and gives you an option to upload your content for use alongside the stock footage.
You can add your company’s logo and integrate subtitles and other text, as well as video transitions, for a more professional look. You can also secure a full Storyblocks media package that guarantees professional yet informative animated medical content for low monthly rates.
Videezy is a platform that offers a vast array of medical stock footage and animated illustrations. While some of their videos are available for free download, the entire collection is made up of animated media under the following licenses:
Videezy is one of the world’s leading video production companies in the world. Their media is kept up-to-date with current events, so you never have to worry about your footage being stale or irrelevant. Plus, if you ever need to customize your videos after download, they provide post-production templates, in addition to Animation and After Effects.
Videezy is just one part of the Eezy media network, which also includes Brusheezy, Vecteezy, and Themeezy. So, if you feel that your video is lackluster on its own, they’ll provide you with even more tools to ensure that your animation is visually pleasing, informative, and engaging.
While Videoplasty does not have too many free videos to choose from at the moment, there is a chance they’ll grow their collection in the future, especially given that they have an entire category dedicated to free stock animations. In total, they have more than 240 medical stock animations, but only a handful of them are free.
Fortunately, much of their content is available at extremely low prices, offered with discounts as large as 69% off if you need more than those 240+ files. To narrow your search down to the free files, all you have to do is open the site filter and select “Free.” The content will be updated as they add more over time.
One of the best things about sourcing your animations from Videoplasty is that you can control an incredible amount of detail in your selected media. For example, the filter options allow you to choose the following:
All their clips are available in HD, 4K, or 1080p, so you can be sure that your viewers will be receiving the sharpest, highest-quality content possible. Once you download the file, the watermarks will be removed so you can use them in any project you have planned. Essentially, their main restriction, like most other platforms, is that you do not resell the animations without their explicit permission. (Source: Videoplasty)
Envato allows users unlimited access to downloadable stock motion graphics when they make a free account or subscribe to a monthly plan. When you sign up for a free account, you will receive twelve free files every single month.
Although it’s not guaranteed that these will be medical motion graphics videos, there is a high chance that such media will be included since there are over 6,130 files in this category. All files are covered by the Envato Elements License, which still applies to your regular assets, even if you unsubscribe from one of their monthly plans.
The license allows you to use the registered file for a single commercial or non-commercial use in perpetuity and prohibits the following actions (Source: Envato):
For those who want (or need) access to more footage, Envato offers three different subscription plans that provide unlimited access to medical motion graphics. You can download all these files at no cost, apart from the monthly subscription fee (Source: Envato Elements):
It can be challenging to find high-quality animated medical videos free of charge. Fortunately, many platforms recognize the need for such media and do everything they can to supply you with such videos. Still, they cannot all offer free animated videos in the same capacity.
To make up for this, these sources provide freely accessible content at purely no cost, royalty-free (no pay per video), or as unlimited free downloads with an account or subscription. Be careful to read the licensing terms and conditions with all free downloads to prevent any negative legal repercussions for accidental improper media use.
Click the following link to learn how much medical animation costs.
The advent of 3D printing has been a boon in the medical field, with individuals being able to quickly and affordably create customized objects that can help them fill specific needs. However, to make effective 3D prints, the healthcare professional must first have an appropriate model so that the printer has instructions on what to create.
The practices in modeling for 3D printing will change based on the printing process used. However, 3D modeling for medical purposes will initially require some sort of reference which unlike in 3d modeling for movies etc, is often not a sketch from imagination but rather accurate medical data. This can include medical imaging data such as CT or MRI, the measurements of body anatomy such as a hand, or a 3D scan of something like a mouth cavity.
Even if the reference is just a photograph, care must be taken to make sure all the dimensions are correctly recorded since the 3d print must be accurate before exporting the finalized image into 3D editing software.
There are rules involved in 3D modeling for any type of project where the final output will be 3D printed. Much like 3D modeling for animation, 3D modeling for 3D printing has its own constraints and requirements.
In addition, any data which is brought into the process from the real world such as 3D scan data or medical imaging data will likely be very heavy in geometry and requiring a lot of clean up and simplification for a printer to be able to print the model.
While the various printing processes will require different tips and best practices when manufacturing an object on its platform, there are some general steps that 3D printing requires to bring a prospective model to life.
Like any invention, 3D printers rose to prominence as a means of solving problems and satisfying needs. This is especially true in the medical field, as each patient will have specific needs that may not be able to be met by the existing market.
Sometimes, practitioners may want more of an object, such as a replica of a knee joint, or have an idea for an item that does not currently exist but would help them in a unique case, such as a specialized brace joint for an overweight patient.
Whatever the scenario, the user must have a clear idea of the object they want to create to continue with the modeling process.
In this step, the conceptualized object will be given a tangible form. Think of this step as the creation of the blueprint.
If you are trying to replicate an existing macro object, you will need to have some high-quality images of the piece to be printed. For example, if an additional ankle sheath were required for a patient, the practitioner would use pictures of the current sheath as the reference to create the 3D print.
If photographing objects to be replicated, it is vital to use a quality camera and capture the object from all angles. Also, make sure that you have a photo of the object against a consistent background (preferably grid paper) to be sure that you are correctly scaling the item when it is uploaded to the software. Multiple photographs from all angles can also be used in macro scale 3D reconstruction software, where the program will actually create a 3D model based just on 2D photographs of the object.
MRI, CT and microscopy data can be used to model and print structures as well as devices. These modalities will need an extra step in the process called 3D reconstruction, where the medical data, usually two dimensional, is selectively converted to a virtual polygonal 3d object. This object will need simplification and geometry cleanup.
There are many software packages which allow use of real data through reconstruction, such as 3D Doctor, Amira, Imaris, Osirix and others.
If you are trying to create an object that does not currently exist to fill a unique need, you will have to make the item’s image; this is common for 3D modeling in the medical field because there are times that patients will require a specialized piece, such as a plate for an irregular bone fracture, that cannot be effectively created by medical device manufacturers.
When this is the case, a detailed image of the desired piece must be sketched. Using a piece of graph paper or software, capture the item from all angles to form your design’s blueprint. If the object you have planned is intricate, you may need to solicit professional help from artists or graphic designers.
If your reference is a drawing or photo, you will need to digitize your pictures to continue with the process. As such, you must upload them to a photo editing suite. Using the photo editor, you can extrude a 3D model from a 2D picture and further prepare your image for print using basic 3D modeling tools in software such as Photoshop. This works for very simple 3D objects only.
Depending on the quality of your images, the amount of time working in the photo editing software will vary. The important part is that you get all the minute details down to build the object in the modeling software effectively.
After you have the image the way you want it in the photo editing suite, it is time to export it to the actual modeling software, which will be used to build a virtual 3D version of your object and provide the printing instructions.
Keep in mind that you will most likely want to build your 3D model for 3D printing in polygons, and not another modeling method such as NURBS. Polygon models are made up of thousands of faces (polygons) and they are easier to edit, smooth, simplify and output to printing. When you import medical data such as 3D scans or 3D reconstructions, this is where the existing polygons will need to be simplified and cleaned up.
There are many modeling software options on the market, such as Maya, 3D Studio Max, Rhino, Morphi, BlocksCAD, Leopoly, and 3D Slash, some of which are favorites among 3D creators (Source: Sculpteo).
Another program is Within Medical, a modeling software from Autodesk. This is the same company that created the vanguard TinkerCAD software on which most 3D models are made. Within Medical is a specialized product that offers several optimized features that make it ideal for modeling bone fusions and implants.
Among the tasks you will complete in the modeling software you choose include:
If these steps seem daunting, it will be beneficial to go through some test runs, making simple objects so that you know how to use all the features of your modeling software. Most packages have shapes and primitives that users can use to block their model together. I cannot cover 3D modeling in detail here as this in itself is a course of study.
While the steps mentioned above are a general process for creating 3D models for 3D printing and will serve you well across the various 3D modeling platforms, there are some special considerations based on whether you are using FDM, SLA, or SLS manufacturing processes to complete your print.
Fused deposition modeling (FDM) is the most common type of 3D printing thanks mostly to its affordability and relative simplicity of the process, making it a favorite in high school engineering classes and at home with everyday hobbyists. However, this printing method can definitely have its utility for medical purposes if used with the appropriate print compounds.
FDM printers use thermoplastic filaments as a building material. This filament is melted and extruded through a nozzle that runs along the three dimensions (X, Y, and Z axes), forming layers that will cool and harden into the completed 3D object.
With this in mind, this specific process works best when the following factors are taken into consideration when designing your model:
Using this manufacturing method, the initial layer of filament must adhere to the base plate. For this reason, the model should have a base plate that is large and flat and oriented downward to increase the chances of adhesion.
If the model does not adhere, it could shift during production and require the creator to go back and redesign the model. If your model’s flat side does not cover enough surface area, it is a good idea to include a raft, brim, or support into your model, all of which can be detached from the final print but increase surface area during manufacture.
FDM printers layer from the base plate up, so it is essential that all parts of the model are connected to the initial layer. 3D objects cannot be printed in air, so all aspects of your model must be connected to the base surface.
One of the most challenging aspects of printing with FDM is the problem created by overhangs, as unsupported overhangs can melt and become deformed before hardening into place.
Therefore, when building your model, it is best to support overhangs on both sides or, if you must include them, make them less than 45-degrees to the vertical. If your model requires an overhang sharper than this, try to keep it small, with a length of five millimeters or less protrusion into thin air.
Stereolithography (SLA) uses a bath of resin to create the object and solidifies the finished model with a laser. This manufacturing process is inverted from that used in FDM, with a build plate dipped down into the resin below, and the model printed upside down.
SLA printing produces a far better resolution than FDM, although the final object is not quite as strong or durable, making this an excellent process for highly intricate items. With this in mind, there are some critical points to remember when modeling for this process:
This process selectively solidifies a photopolymer resin, allowing for the creation of hollow objects. However, if this is not done correctly, the final item will be sealed shut with an uncured resin trapped inside.
Therefore, when modeling an object using this process, it is a good idea to include small holes in the design that allow the resin to drain so that the final item does not have a liquid trapped inside.
While printing, SLA continuously pulls the cured layers off the film at the resin vat base. Due to the force incurred during this process, the print’s cured part can become detached from the build plate.
Therefore, when modeling your object, make sure that the base is wide so that there is more adhered surface area against the base plate, reducing the likelihood of the item detaching while the cured layers are being pulled from the resin.
Because SLA can produce more intricate prints than FDM, you may model fine details into your design, such as small holes and threads. While the print process will take longer, you can capture the precision you are looking for, so make sure your model reflects as much. For example, the overhangs that are problematic in FDM printing can be more effectively rendered using SLA.
The last common type of object manufacturing in 3D printing is selective laser sintering (SLS). This process uses a print area full of material throughout the printing process, using a laser to solidify a selective layer model.
While this process is like SLA manufacturing, instead of using a laser to solidify the resin, the laser forms the object from a powdered plastic bed. While SLS avoids some of the issues that can undermine SLA prints, such as uncured resin deposits, there are still some considerations you must plan for when modeling for this print process:
Due to this process’s nature, the unsintered powder around the model automatically supports the printed object, meaning that any number of intricate designs can be attempted without the need for extra support. Therefore, if you have small hinges or steeply angled overhangs, be sure to include them when printing using this method.
Like SLA, this process can also print hollow objects, which means that powdery residue can get trapped in the finalized item. Since powder is more difficult to drain than resin, it is best to model solid objects or objects with a built-in drainage aperture when using this printing process.
There must always be a gap when constructing the two opposite mating ends of an interlocking part. However, when this gap is filled with powder, the female end can get dusted with granules, creating a rough joint that needs to be cleared out.
There is also concern that the sintering process may cause the grains separating the mating parts to be melted, resulting in a fused object with an unmoving joint. Therefore, when modeling objects for SLS printing, you must consider this and take measures to ensure that the tolerance is not too sensitive.
Now that you know the necessary steps for creating a 3D model and the specific guidelines that each of the three main manufacturing processes requires, it is essential to look into the following factors that will determine your final 3D models’ quality.
You can have the best design idea in the world and have every minute detail edited down to perfection, but if you are working with a printer that will not render the model effectively, then your efforts have been in vain.
For example, if your object will require many thin threads and sharp, intricate angles, but you only have access to an FDM printer, then there is very little chance that you will be able to print your model successfully.
While there are three primary methods used to manufacture 3D objects, the possibilities for manufacturing compounds are much more extensive. Filaments and resins can produce items that are brittle or strong, flexible or solid, heavy or light, etc.
Therefore, objects should be modeled with a particular material in mind. If you are trying to make a simple, low-impact piece with ABS plastic filament, then your model will work out to perfection; if you are trying to design a custom knee joint with the same material, you will likely be sorely disappointed.
While you will probably consider wall thickness when choosing the material you want to print with, it is essential to verify that the thickness of the walls in your model will be sufficient to withstand the printing process.
Issues with wall thickness are a common reason some 3D models are not printable. Walls that are too thin make it impossible to print specific sections of the model, while extremely thick walls create significant internal stress that can cause the model to crack.
When dealing with 3D modeling, the software you use will likely create an STL (standard triangle language) model. Even if it does not make this file type by default, there is likely to be an option to export the model to an STL file so that the printer can read it.
When examining the STL file resolution, be aware of a model whose resolution is too low. This will cause the print to come out “pixelated.” On the other hand, STL files with a very high resolution may require a specific level of detail that some printers, such as basic FDM versions, are simply not capable of printing.
Below is a useful video on 3D modeling specifically for 3D printing. Its in the software Blender but the rules apply to others:
While the use of 3D printers has allowed an entire generation of people to become at-home engineers, the solutions it has provided in the medical field are inspiring and potentially revolutionary.
However, to ensure a successful print, a quality model must first be created. From the basic steps of planning, designing, and editing to using techniques that will increase the chances of success for a specific manufacturing process, there are many factors that creators must consider to make the perfect model for 3D printing.
Click the following link to learn about the best software for medical 3d animation.
Those that deal with graphics and medical imaging often have to work with various types of data and files. This makes the work even more demanding because you also have to focus on working with the numerous file extensions. And converting between them can become confusing.
This article will help you understand how to perform image conversions of JPEG to DICOM and explain why it can benefit your work.
