What it does
3DF Zephyr turns photographs into point clouds and textured meshes. Free, Lite and professional editions differ in input limits, GPU use, editing and export tools.
Start a reconstruction with clear, overlapping photographs that have not been heavily edited. In Workflow > New Project, add the images and choose Sparse for camera orientation, Model for geometry or Texture for the complete textured result. Select a subject category and processing preset, then review the stages and click Run.
The completion report identifies cameras that aligned successfully. Inspect the result and use Export > Export Textured Mesh to choose a format and its associated options. The official example exports OBJ with an MTL material file. High-detail presets take more processing time, and available options depend on the edition.
| Edition | Access, price and limits |
|---|---|
| Free | No time limit; personal use only, up to 50 photos and one GPU. Texture export is limited to JPEG, and ZEP projects from other editions can be opened for viewing |
| Lite | EUR 199 plus VAT as a one-time purchase, with 12 months of updates and two GPUs. Image count is unlimited, subject to available memory |
| Professional | EUR 4,200 plus VAT perpetually or EUR 250 plus VAT per 30-day subscription period |
Perpetual update renewal is optional and costs 20% of the licence price for another year.
Zephyr runs on Windows 10 or 11. Paid licences ordinarily obtain and release seats online; exceptional offline activation requires arranging it with the vendor.
Strengths
- The reconstruction wizard can produce camera alignment, geometry and textures in sequence.
- Free can open ZEP projects from other editions for viewing.
- Lite removes the photo-count cap while retaining a perpetual purchase option.
Watch out for
- Free is restricted to personal use, 50 photos and JPEG texture export.
- Large photo sets still depend on available memory and processing capacity.
- Ordinary paid-licence activation and seat leasing require internet access.
Best for
- Photo sets needing camera-alignment checks before mesh delivery
- Personal photogrammetry experiments within Free's limits
Sources
- 3DF Zephyr Free | Continuing Personal Use and Project Viewing (Oct 28, 2026)
- 3DF Zephyr | Current Edition Cards and EUR Prices (Oct 28, 2026)
- 3DF Zephyr | Professional Purchase and Renewal Scope (Oct 28, 2026)
- 3DF Zephyr | Optional Update Renewal and Subscription Period (Oct 28, 2026)
- 3DF Zephyr | Photo Input, Wizard Stages and Presets (Oct 28, 2026)
- 3DF Zephyr | Run, Camera Report and OBJ/MTL Export (Oct 28, 2026)
- 3DF Zephyr | Windows, Memory and Seat-Leasing Requirements (Oct 28, 2026)
- 3DF Zephyr | Activation and Floating Licence Procedure (Oct 28, 2026)
- Where can I download Zephyr End User License Agreement (EULA)? (Oct 28, 2026)