Explore Dragonfly 3D World’s Core Capabilities
Each feature in Dragonfly 3D World is designed to push the boundaries of what's possible in image-based analysis. Dive into tools that simplify workflows, enhance precision, and unlock deeper insights - from data import to automation and beyond.
Image Processing
Dragonfly 3D World offers an advanced image processing environment optimized for handling multi-dimensional datasets in an intuitive graphical user interface. Its multi-scene workspace empowers users to easily visualize 2D slices and 3D renderings side-by-side, enabling interactive exploration of multiple overlaid images, segmented structures, annotations, and meshes in real time. Image filter options include all the popular smoothing, sharpening, convolution or entropy-based filters, or arithmetic image operations, amongst many more.
Deep learning de-noising and regression models allow to enhance image quality with noise reduction while keeping all important details visible. 3D World’s deep learning features for image enhancement meet the demands of modern image science. Users can apply models using "Filter with AI" feature directly within an analysis workflow. A remote library of ready-to-use models is available.
3D World’s full compatibility with common file types (from the best imaging vendors) and all imaging modalities ensures it integrates smoothly into diverse research and industrial workflows. Integrated tools such as the Histogram and Line Profile tools enable precise examination of intensity distributions and trends across datasets.
Image Segmentation
Dragonfly 3D World empowers users with a comprehensive suite of image segmentation tools. For fast solutions, automated thresholding segmentation is available for porosity / void segmentation. Manual and Otsu thresholding operations can be applied in sequence for multiple materials or to custom selected grey value ranges. Watershed algorithms allow to separate touching objects, while process-islands allow to easily select segmentation islands to remove or to keep for further processing (for removing segmented noise or to remove background, for example). Various other 2D and 3D segmentation tools allow to manually select the regions of interest, with color overlay to easy visualization and further operations.
The Segmentation Wizard offers an intuitive, guided interface for training both classical and deep learning models, with interactive visual feedback and the ability to modify and adjust the model to fit the challenge on hand.
This flexible approach balances automation with precision, making it suitable for both simple and complex semantic segmentation tasks. The Deep Learning tool expands the capabilities further and allows expert AI users to get into the finer details of their models. 3D World offers the largest number of models, automatic data augmentation, the largest number of segmentation class options, deep learning model parameters and highest flexibility for training, which makes 3D World best-in-class on the market for deep learning of image datasets.
Material, Structure & Defect Analysis
Dragonfly 3D World excels at the in-depth analysis of material composition, microstructure, and defects within volumetric datasets. Users can make use of automated porosity segmentation for porosity evaluations, powder / particle size distribution analysis, or fiber orientation measurements, all using the “Compute Measurements” option. For connected pore spaces, or for analyzing the local structure thickness, the “volume thickness mapping” allows to fit spheres into the region of interest and report the local thickness, including the pore sizes of open connected pores.
All of 3D World’s analysis functions can be applied in either 2D or 3D, and cross referencing among analysis objects is possible to better understand relationships in your data.
Whether it’s studying cracks in aerospace components or mapping grain boundaries in advanced materials, 3D World provides a powerful platform for structural insight and defect quantification.
Geometric Analysis
3D World’s geometric analysis feature set delivers easy-to-use tools for geometric evaluation and part validation - essential for engineering teams working in aerospace, automotive and additive manufacturing sectors. Users can generate contour-based surface meshes for structural analysis, easily inspect wall thickness, and conduct detailed design-to-scan comparisons. Color-coded deviation maps offer immediate visual cues about structural mismatches or manufacturing anomalies.
As an added benefit, the Porous Microstructure Analysis (PuMA) software developed by NASA is included as a plug-in in 3D World allowing engineers to simulate thermal conductivity or fluid dynamics directly on realistic datasets.
Additionally, the integration of Netgen/NGSolve introduces true tetrahedral meshing, the most important first step in finite element analysis. These tools not only reduce design iteration cycles but also help ensure compliance with strict engineering standards.
Visualization
Dragonfly 3D World offers the best-in-class 3D visualization, offering a dynamic environment for immersive, high-clarity exploration and presentation of volumetric data. Users can render and manipulate 2D/3D/4D datasets across synchronized scene views, with support for image datasets, regions of interest (ROIs), meshes, graphs, and vector fields. Colormap assignment, real-time opacity tuning, and 3D presets tailored to material types make it easy to optimize visual output. Lighting controls and focus settings enhance depth perception, revealing fine structures and enabling high-quality presentation.
To communicate results visually, 3D World includes an intuitive Movie Maker tool for scripting animation sequences with camera effects, transitions, and rendering changes. Visualizations can include overlays and measurements.
For workflows requiring precision, Measurement Inspector supports live interrogation of visualized components, while clipping tools let users isolate regions of interest easily in 3D. With a strong focus on clarity, customizability, and compatibility, 3D World Dragonfly transforms complex datasets into compelling visual narratives that support better decision-making.
Automation & Customization
Dragonfly 3D World empowers users to streamline and automate repetitive processes and tailor the software to match specific scientific or industrial workflows. Customization of the workspace is possible to make visible only those functions used on a daily basis. Users can manage preferences at a granular level—controlling units, display precision, LUTs, and even UI components and saving these to local system preference settings.
Automation is possible by creating macro’s – automated sequences of operations encoded using the Macro Builder or Macro Player tools, or scripted in Python inside of 3D World. Advanced users can go further with Python scripting and develop their own plug-ins. From custom measurements to deep learning integrations, extensibility is virtually limitless.
Whether scaling up automation of daily work or developing specialized research utilities, 3D World’s automation and customization tools adapts to evolving needs making it a true powerhouse for data-driven innovation. For workflows requiring precision, Measurement Inspector supports live interrogation of visualized components, while clipping tools let users isolate regions of interest easily in 3D.