Phase 6 — Integration with Stratigraphic Annotation

This final phase shows how to integrate the Reality-Based file produced in Phase 5 — Final Reality-Based File into a stratigraphic annotation project, including Extended Matrix proxy modelling and downstream documentation exports.

6.1 Create Extended Matrix Project

The RB file serves as a base for stratigraphic documentation in the Source-Based models folder:

  1. Create new Blender file

  2. Save in the EM project structure:

    07_SB/[ModelName]_EM.blend

    Example: 07_SB/SeriePola_EM.blend

  3. The complete EM annotation structure:

    06_EM/                           # Extended Matrix data
├── [site].graphml              # Stratigraphic relationships
├── sources_list.xlsx           # Source documentation
├── palette_yed.graphml         # yEd palette for editing
└── docu_comparativi/           # Comparative documentation folder

07_SB/                           # Source-Based reconstruction
└── [ModelName]_EM.blend        # ★ Annotation project (this file)

  4. File > Link (not Import!) the RB file

  5. In Link dialog:

    • Navigate to: 05_RB/03_Model_Library/[ModelName]/[ModelName]_RB.blend

    • Open the .blend file

    • Go to Collection

    • Select RB collection (contains all LODs)

    • Select LOD2 collections for initial modeling performance

    • Click Link

img/link_rb_file.png

Fig. 31 [SCREENSHOT: Blender Link dialog showing RB file in EM structure with collections]

Important

Link, Don’t Import: Linking keeps the RB file as an external reference. This means:

  • Changes to the RB file automatically update in the EM project

  • Multiple EM projects can reference the same RB file

  • The EM file stays lightweight (no duplicate geometry)

  • You can’t accidentally modify the reality-based reference data

See also

For complete instructions on setting up Extended Matrix projects, refer to the Extended Matrix User Guide at: https://extendedmatrix.readthedocs.io

6.2 Switch LODs for Modeling

When creating stratigraphic proxies:

  1. Select linked RB object

  2. Use 3DSC > LOD Manager

  3. Set to LOD 1 or LOD 0 for detail work

  4. Set to LOD 2 for overview/performance

6.3 Proxy Modeling Workflow

Create stratigraphic unit proxies:

  1. Create new collection: Proxy

  2. Add geometric primitives (cubes, planes) as needed

  3. Model approximate shapes of stratigraphic units (US/USM)

  4. Assign colors based on period/phase

  5. Link to Extended Matrix graphml data

Proxy vs Reality-Based

  • Reality-Based (RB): Reference geometry, read-only, high detail

  • Proxy: Interpretation layer, editable, simplified volumes

6.4 Export and Documentation

The completed annotation project can be exported to:

  • PyArchInit: SQLite database with 3D linkage

  • Extended Matrix: GraphML with 3D proxy references

  • XLSX tables: Spreadsheet documentation

  • Archaeological reports: Images, metadata, analysis

img/stratigraphic_project.png

Fig. 32 [SCREENSHOT: Complete EM project with RB model and proxy US overlays]

See also