1.3 Installing LixelStudio
LixelStudio converts your raw scan data into a point cloud. Getting the installation right, path, activation, project location, and storage, prevents the most common processing failures before they happen.
System Requirements
Verify your processing machine before downloading. Running LixelStudio on hardware below the minimum will cause mid-run failures, not slow processing. The failures are not always obvious, the software may appear to be working and then crash, losing the work done up to that point.
AMD GPUs are not supported. This is not a compatibility issue that can be resolved with a driver update. LixelStudio requires NVIDIA GPU architecture. There is no workaround. If your processing machine has an AMD GPU, it cannot run LixelStudio.
RAM is the tightest constraint. LixelStudio uses approximately 2 GB of RAM per minute of scan duration during SLAM optimization. A 64 GB machine supports scans of approximately 30 minutes before running out of headroom. A 128 GB machine supports approximately 60 minutes. Scans longer than your RAM supports must be split and processed separately using Map Fusion.
Installation Steps
The LixelStudio installer is approximately 2.8 GB. Download it from xgrids.com/support/download. Do not download from third-party sources.
Run the Installer as Administrator
Right-click the installer file and select "Run as administrator." Installing without administrator rights causes activation failures on some Windows configurations.
Choose an Installation Path With No Spaces or Special Characters
The default path (C:\Program Files\LixelStudio) works for the installation itself, but a shorter custom path is better for performance. Prefer something like D:\LixelStudio. Long paths cause CUDA compilation failures and can break data import from some source drives. Whatever path you choose, it must contain no spaces and no non-ASCII characters. A path like D:\LixelStudio is valid. A path like D:\My Software\Lixel Studio is not and will cause processing errors.
Accept the EULA and Complete Installation
Installation takes 3 to 5 minutes on an SSD. An activation dialog will appear when installation completes.
Enter Your License Key When Prompted
See the Activation section below. Have your activation card ready before starting the installation so you can complete this step without interruption.
License Activation
From version 3.0 onward, LixelStudio requires a license key tied to the device serial number. Each device serial number is entitled to three permanent activation keys. Activation can be completed online (recommended) or offline.
Online Activation
Enter the license key in the activation dialog at first launch. The machine must be connected to the internet and have its system clock synchronized correctly. Activation failure with a valid key is almost always caused by an unsynchronized system clock or a network firewall blocking the activation server.
Offline Activation
For machines without internet access, generate a license file at xgrids.com/licensefile using the device serial number and machine fingerprint. Copy the license file to the processing machine and load it through the activation dialog's offline activation option.
Do not attempt to use a second activation key if the first one fails. You have three keys per device serial number. If a valid, unused key fails with an error, contact XGRIDS support before using another key. Common entry errors include confusing "0" (zero) with "O" (letter) and "1" (one) with "l" (letter). Do not use OCR or image-to-text tools to extract serial numbers from photos, they introduce errors that cannot be detected until the activation fails.
Common Activation Failures and Causes
- Device is a loan or demo unit, demo units do not qualify for license activation
- Software version and device region mismatch (a device sold in China attempting to activate with an overseas software version)
- Serial number is incomplete, retrieve the full serial number by connecting the device to LixelGO
- Activation code has already been used on another machine
- Temporary activation code has expired, contact XGRIDS support, do not use a second code
Project Path Configuration
The project path is where LixelStudio writes all processing output. This is one of the most important configuration decisions you will make. The wrong location causes processing failures and dramatically slows processing speed.
- Use an SSD. LixelStudio writes and reads large files continuously during processing. An HDD will slow processing significantly and may cause timeouts
- Do not use the C: drive (OS drive) for project files. Running low on space on the OS drive causes Windows to fail mid-process. Use a separate data SSD
- Keep the project path separate from the installation folder. Installing and running projects on the same drive fills it faster and creates unnecessary risk
- No spaces or non-ASCII characters in the project path, same restriction as the installation path
Set the project path in LixelStudio Settings before importing any data. Changing it after projects have been created does not move existing project files.
Storage Planning
Underestimating storage is one of the most reliable ways to cause a mid-processing failure. Plan storage before you scan, not after you transfer data.
Raw scan data from the K1 or L2 Pro generates approximately 60 to 80 GB per hour of scanning. That is before processing. The processing workspace requires additional space that scales with the workflow used.
The 465× multiplier for 1 mm enhancement is not a typo. If your map.las file is 10 GB, the 1 mm enhancement workflow requires approximately 4.65 TB of free space. Do not start 1 mm enhancement processing without confirming available space first. The process will fail mid-run if space runs out, and the partial output is not recoverable as a usable point cloud.
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