
Getting Started with Photogrammetry & Proximap
This guide is designed to help you succeed with your first 3D reconstruction using Proximap, even if you have never worked with 3D models or photogrammetry before.
Proximap is a free, open-source local photogrammetry software. Package complex Structure-from-Motion (COLMAP) and multi-view stereo texturing (OpenMVS) pipelines into a simple, high-performance desktop wizard. Zero cloud fees.

This guide is designed to help you succeed with your first 3D reconstruction using Proximap, even if you have never worked with 3D models or photogrammetry before.

A hands-on guide comparing top open source photogrammetry GUI tools from lightweight, GPU agnostic software like Proximap to powerful, CUDA dependent suites.
Introducing Proximap.
A suite of powerful photogrammetry tools, packed into a single offline-first desktop application.

Proximap is built for creators, hobbyists, and digital archivists who need powerful photogrammetry without the enterprise price tag. No monthly subscriptions, no restrictive licensing, and no cloud-tokens to buy. Just capture your photos, load them in, and reconstruct high-fidelity 3D assets locally on your machine—without spending a dime.

Proximap features a robust hardware fallback system. While it leverages discrete GPUs where available, it is specifically engineered to utilize multi-threaded CPU architectures and integrated graphics (iGPU), bringing photogrammetry to standard laptops.

Proximap dynamically monitors your available RAM at runtime. If your system is under heavy load, the orchestrator automatically activates intelligent asset downscaling and caps concurrent background threads to ensure your reconstruction finishes smoothly without frozen apps or OS crashes.

Built specifically for offline workflow, the entire pipeline executes completely on your local machine. Your dataset, processing cycles, and generated 3D meshes never leave your local drive, ensuring complete data ownership and zero reliance on expensive internet data plans.

Simplicity on the outside, powerhouse on the inside. Proximap orchestrates highly respected open-source C++ core libraries, including a strictly locked integration of COLMAP for robust Structure-from-Motion (SfM) camera tracking, and OpenMVS for dense point cloud generation, meshing, and high-fidelity texturing.
