Canvas.io warning. Output verry verry verry bad. Then they ripped me off on the price

[divreig]

I just had the worse experience with canvas, the output was bad, verry verry bad. Then they ripped me off on the price. 

 

The scan is completely unusable the measurements are off by about 10%, my 1 story house is now 2 stores, strange objects and errors everywhere within in the CA file (attached). Simple thigs like stucco are showing up as siding. Walls form nonexistent first floor to through the second floor. Just garbage. 

 

The home is about 1400 Sqft. As per the website the price was $0.20 + 0.05(extra .05 for exterior). Maby if we include the deck another 200 Sqft. Yet they charged me for 3600 Sqft. They made up a whole floor then charged me based on that. 

 

When I contacted canvas, they blamed my scanning technique and offered to fix the file if is sent them the correct measurements. So they expect me to waste time to sending correct measurement ??

 

So far they have not responded to the price issue, but since the file is complete garbage I want my money back.  Lets see where it goes will keep you posted. 

Mar 4, 2022 at 11-45-27 AM.plan

[Renerabbitt]

Here is a link to a video where I explain the caveats of the canvas scan.

FYI I am in the Bay Area as well, and even though it may feel like a rip off, the going rate for an as built is nearly triple the cost of a canvas scan for an accurate as built. So though I find it to be frustrating to fix the scans, it still offer a value service to some. I personally did away with my scan rigs as it is easier for me to draft it in the field with a helper.
FYI A matter port scan and conversion costs even more. For a home like this I charge roughly $1700 with a PDF and dwg. For what it's worth as a comparator. It would be a perfect model.

[CharlesVolz]

Thanks for the alert...and info.

[divreig]

3 hours ago, Renerabbitt said:

Here is a link to a video where I explain the caveats of the canvas scan.

FYI I am in the Bay Area as well, and even though it may feel like a rip off, the going rate for an as built is nearly triple the cost of a canvas scan for an accurate as built. So though I find it to be frustrating to fix the scans, it still offer a value service to some. I personally did away with my scan rigs as it is easier for me to draft it in the field with a helper.
FYI A matter port scan and conversion costs even more. For a home like this I charge roughly $1700 with a PDF and dwg. For what it's worth as a comparator. It would be a perfect model.

YP that's why I have been looking to switching. And its only 1700 if you are not paying them to come out and do it, if you buy the Equpment much cheaper. Will give it a shot on the next one. Cant use as builts that are 10% per room. 

[Renerabbitt]

34 minutes ago, divreig said:

YP that's why I have been looking to switching. And its only 1700 if you are not paying them to come out and do it, if you buy the Equpment much cheaper. Will give it a shot on the next one. Cant use as builts that are 10% per room. 

Thats not canvas per se btw, your phone or ipads lidar is terribly inaccurate.

[divreig]

Ok after a lot of back and forth canvas refunded me for that file. So that's in there favor. i think if the technology becomes better I can see my self using it more .  As is its ok for some basic 2d floor plans that dont need to be spot on like realtors floor plans. 

[GregFromCanvas]

Hi Divreig, 

 

Greg from Canvas here. We monitor this forum from time to time and saw your issue come up. First off, I'm glad to see the refund was given to you. We have a money back guarantee on first jobs that is about to go live, but we are honoring that now with all of our customers who run into an issue on their first scan. Also, with 10% measurements off, almost certainly something strange happened with the scan. We do know that the more people learn about how to scan, the less error there tends to be in the scan (especially if using a LiDAR device). I can tell you, we have 10,000's of remodelers, interior designers and architects who use Canvas on every project. However, if you need 1/8th of an inch accuracy on your first visit, Canvas may not be the right solution for you. We do get within 1-2% of measurements when scanned correctly with an iPhone with LiDAR. 

 

That said, if you email me greg@canvas.io I'd be happy to give you a code for $100 off your next scan so you can try it again risk free. I'm confident we can help you save time scanning and creating the Chief Architect model. I'd also be happy to give you a 1 on 1 training call. With a little bit of upfront work you'll be able to save hours and sometimes days creating your as builts. Sorry again for the frustrating first experience. We have a lot of new features coming in the next couple months to hopefully improve this for all of our customers. 

Greg

[tpeck23]

On 3/17/2022 at 4:26 PM, Renerabbitt said:

Thats not canvas per se btw, your phone or ipads lidar is terribly inaccurate.

While Apple uses LiDAR technology that works on the same principles as those who use it for mapping, it has certain limitations. The range of the LiDAR sensor in Apple devices is only around 5 meters, which isn’t enough for accurate 3D mapping of a large room or area.

 

Is there a commercially available LiDAR option that is accurate and maybe not 5k? I'd love to give it a go but seems not stellar

[Renerabbitt]

17 hours ago, tpeck23 said:

 

Is there a commercially available LiDAR option that is accurate and maybe not 5k? I'd love to give it a go but seems not stellar

The intel realsense line of products, but the softwares available right now dont have the photogrammetry algos that canvas has, so you will lose tracking more often.
Ultimately matterport is the best bang for the buck if you can charge your clients and then use it for finished walkthrough tours. Just a high initial cost

 

[RDWMattB]

Just tried Canvas for the first time.   A firm that I used to work for used it for a project, and I read their promotional posts on this forum, so I thought I’d give it a try because my developer client needed as-builts quickly.   I scanned the first floor of a 5,000SF apartment building for 4 hours with an assistant and was very exited watching the point cloud reconstruct the scanned areas on- screen, which looked correct.   I sent the 3 connected scans in with instructions and waited a couple of weeks.  My account was charged, and then got an email saying the scan could not be completed, - no further explanation given.   
I got a subsequent email stating I would be refunded the charges, which has happened.  
 

If my scanning technique needed to change, I would have liked to know how.  The service seems like a great idea, but at this point I’m out my time and the assistant’s, and am now 2 weeks behind schedule.  We will have to field survey the old-fashioned way, which will cost quite a bit.   My client’s not happy, and I’m pretty disappointed.   I’ve sent an email to customer service asking for more information, and am frustrated that there is no phone number to call.   So far, no response.
 

At this point,  I can’t recommend Canvas at all.   It seems like a great idea, but they’ve had years to develop a system, and I still don’t think it’s ready for its marketed use.  

 

Matthew Bancroft

Renaissance DesignWorks.

Portland, ME
 

 

[SHCanada2]

2 hours ago, RDWMattB said:

If my scanning technique needed to change, I would have liked to know how

I've been looking for apps that tell you once you are done scanning if the scan is successful (cubicasa does this). I typically draw the plans onsite with CA. I find its worth the couple hours to ensure it is correct. But I also scan using cubicasa as it is only $10 and you get the floor plan the next day. I will also use cubicasa for floors that are not actually being renoed, as no one cares if the dimensions are out by a few inches. But I do ensure the outside walls are correct, so that I can do correct elevations.

 

Polycam supposedly does the floor plan as soon as you are done scanning, but I have not been able to get it to work on my phone. 

 

What I would really like is as soon as I am done scanning, I get the floor plan, and the 3D model (so I can see other things like furnaces, hot water tanks, etc). Today I take a video.

 

If you find something that works, please do post it. For me, I can draw over a floor plan provided by these apps and pay myself $100/hr, vs paying 20c/sq ft for a CA file. i.e. for a 2000 sq ft house, I can draw onsite in CA in max 3 hours, vs paying $400.   The largest variable for me is roof lines and split levels, and I dont know if you actually get proper roof lines with canvas?

[Renerabbitt]

3 hours ago, RDWMattB said:

Just tried Canvas for the first time.   A firm that I used to work for used it for a project, and I read their promotional posts on this forum, so I thought I’d give it a try because my developer client needed as-builts quickly.   I scanned the first floor of a 5,000SF apartment building for 4 hours with an assistant and was very exited watching the point cloud reconstruct the scanned areas on- screen, which looked correct.   I sent the 3 connected scans in with instructions and waited a couple of weeks.  My account was charged, and then got an email saying the scan could not be completed, - no further explanation given.   
I got a subsequent email stating I would be refunded the charges, which has happened.  
 

If my scanning technique needed to change, I would have liked to know how.  The service seems like a great idea, but at this point I’m out my time and the assistant’s, and am now 2 weeks behind schedule.  We will have to field survey the old-fashioned way, which will cost quite a bit.   My client’s not happy, and I’m pretty disappointed.   I’ve sent an email to customer service asking for more information, and am frustrated that there is no phone number to call.   So far, no response.
 

At this point,  I can’t recommend Canvas at all.   It seems like a great idea, but they’ve had years to develop a system, and I still don’t think it’s ready for its marketed use.  

 

Matthew Bancroft

Renaissance DesignWorks.

Portland, ME
 

 

send me the scan and I can take a look. click on the link that says "colorized" which will download a sizable zip file. Upload it to the cloud and kick it over to renerabbitt@gmail.com and I will post a video here to illustrate why it may not have worked.
If it is workable I will give you a fair price on converting it or you can of course get some other pricing in the seeking services