Getting started with LUMA Capture

Draw your site on a Google map, download 3D buildings to your PC, then open the result in 3ds Max. Start with Luma Helper on Windows - it connects this page to Blender and can install the Max / Blender plugins.

Install Luma Helper (Windows)

Download the companion ZIP (not an EXE — antivirus blocks unsigned installers). Extract, run install_helper.bat, then complete the wizard: optional Windows startup, and tick each 3ds Max / Blender version for plugins. After install, Helper auto-updates from LUMA Capture — no manual reinstall.

Download Luma Helper (ZIP) Current: v0.2.101

Download luma-helper-v*.zip and extract to %LOCALAPPDATA%\LUMA\google-capture-companion\ (the zip contains a google-capture-companion folder — move its contents there, or extract so install_helper.bat ends up in that path).
Double-click install_helper.bat (or run install_luma_helper.ps1 in PowerShell).
In the wizard: enable Run at Windows startup if you want, tick Max/Blender versions, click Install.
Look for the Luma Helper tray icon. Return to LUMA Capture and click Start if needed.

Browser download blocked? Chrome’s “Check internet connection” usually means antivirus web protection (Bitdefender, etc.) is blocking the save — use PowerShell instead (bypasses the browser):

Open PowerShell (not CMD), paste, press Enter:

$ExplorerBase = "/luma-explorer_v2/"
$Script = "/luma-explorer_v2/luma-capture/install_helper_remote.ps1"
$Tmp = Join-Path $env:TEMP "luma_install_helper_remote.ps1"
Invoke-WebRequest -Uri $Script -OutFile $Tmp -UseBasicParsing
powershell.exe -NoProfile -STA -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -File $Tmp -ExplorerBase $ExplorerBase

This downloads the same ZIP, installs to %LOCALAPPDATA%\LUMA\, and opens the wizard. If LumaHelper.exe is quarantined after install, restore it from your AV and add an exclusion for %LOCALAPPDATA%\LUMA\.

3ds Max plugins — auto-update: after Helper install, also run Max Online Installer Current: v0.1.186 in Max (Scripting → Run Script). Syncs on every Max launch. Blender: enable Luma Tools in Preferences → Add-ons; updates are notified in-panel (manual reinstall from Latest zip).

One-time setup (about 10 minutes)

Install Blender - blender.org (default location is fine).
Install Luma Helper — Download the companion ZIP and follow the steps above. In the wizard enable Run at Windows startup if you want, and tick each 3ds Max / Blender version for LUMA plugins.
Antivirus — Luma Helper is unsigned. ZIP avoids most browser blocks. If LumaHelper.exe is quarantined after extract: restore it, add an exclusion for %LOCALAPPDATA%\LUMA\, then run install_helper.bat again. Firewall: allow on Private networks if asked (Helper only uses localhost).
Blender - Preferences - Add-ons - enable Luma Tools (if you installed the plugin via Helper).
3ds Max - restart Max once so the LUMA menu loads (if you installed the plugin via Helper). Prefer the Latest LUMA Max Online Installer Current: v0.1.186 later if you want CDN auto-updates on each Max launch.

Max / Blender toolkit zips remain available under Downloads for offline or advanced installs. Enabling those toolkits also refreshes Luma Helper on Windows.

Downloads

Stable Latest links (URLs do not change when we bump versions). No login required.

Blender
Free 3D app — runs in the background during capture.
Latest LUMA 3ds Max tools (zip)
Current: v0.1.186

Luma_Tools_3dsMax_Installer-v0.1.186.zip

Unzip → Max → Scripting → Run Script → install.ms. Prefer the Online Installer below for auto-updates on Max launch.
Latest LUMA Max Online Installer
Current: v0.1.186

Luma_Tools_3dsMax_Online_Installer.ms

Download Luma_Tools_3dsMax_Online_Installer.ms → Max → Scripting → Run Script. Syncs tools on each launch (firewall-safe).
Latest LUMA Blender Installer
Current: v0.3.72

Luma_Tools_Blender_Installer-v0.3.72.zip

Download Luma_Tools_Blender_Installer zip → Blender Preferences → Add-ons → Install from Disk. Checks for updates on open (notify only).
Luma Helper (Windows ZIP)
Current: v0.2.101

luma-helper-v0.2.101.zip

Recommended install — download zip, extract, run install_helper.bat. Wizard: startup + Max/Blender version checkboxes. Auto-updates after install (no manual reinstall).
Luma Helper Setup EXE (legacy)
Current: v0.2.101

LumaHelperSetup-v0.2.101.exe

Legacy self-extracting installer. Prefer the ZIP above — unsigned EXEs are often blocked by antivirus.

Start with Luma Helper above - Max / Blender toolkit zips are optional if you already installed plugins via the Helper wizard.

These files are served from this site - you do not need Explorer Admin access to download them.

What you need on your PC

Windows 10 or 11 - Luma Helper runs on Windows.
A modern browser - Chrome or Edge recommended.
Python 3.12 for harvest — mesh download and bake run on your PC via Luma Helper. On first capture, Helper can install Python with winget (Windows 10/11). If winget is blocked, install from python.org then use Retry venv in the Helper tray. Blender is an optional fallback only — not required for Max-only machines.
Luma Helper - Luma Helper (Windows ZIP) Current: v0.2.101
3ds Max 2020+ (for import) - plugins installable from the Helper wizard, or Latest LUMA Max Online Installer Current: v0.1.186
Internet - for the map and 3D download.

You do not need your own Google API key - LUMA Explorer supplies it when you open this page.

Using the web page

Open a project folder — Capture asks for one on load (New project folder… for an empty folder, Open project folder… to continue an existing project, or pick one from the recent list). Everything Capture writes — the .lumasite, panorama and mesh packs, and its own settings — stays inside that folder. Reopening a recent folder asks for permission once.
Find your site in the browser (top-left Search). LUMA Capture uses a hybrid satellite map for drawing outlines, zones, and Street View stations.
Draw outline — click corners around your property, then click the first corner again (or Draw outline again) to close the shape. Closing it writes the .lumasite into your project folder — no Save dialog.
Adjust zones — coloured rings show how far out 3D detail is captured. Drag the small handles on the map, or edit widths and LOD in the left panel. Hold Ctrl while dragging a handle to resize that ring alone (outer rings stay put; you can only expand as far as the next outer limit).
Choose an output folder — type a path like C:\Users\You\Documents\MyCapture or use Locate… (Windows folder dialog).
Run capture - the page starts Luma Helper if needed, then Python harvest builds the 3D package in your folder. This can take several minutes.
Import in Max — LUMA Explorer menu → Import Site Package… → browse to your output folder or the luma_site.lumasite file inside it.

Send outline & cameras (no mesh)

Recreate in Explorer by saving the site folder, then importing .lumasite / .lumapano in the Editor. Use File → Send outline + cameras to Max… or Send outline + cameras to Blender… to push the site boundary and/or Street View cameras without running a 3D harvest. For mesh, use Luma Helper → Import mesh into Max/Blender or the harvest complete panel after Run capture.

Explorer recreate — File → Save project writes .lumasite plus sibling .lumapano. Import those files in Explorer (not a live GSV Send).
Send outline + cameras to Max… — needs Luma Helper online and Luma Tools installed. Writes a session to the Helper inbox (boundary + cameras only, no mesh). If Max is closed you can launch a year or queue; in Max use Receive from LUMA Capture… (boundary spline + CoronaCam / FreeCamera).
Send outline + cameras to Blender… — same inbox session via Helper /blender/import-capture (no mesh). If Blender is closed you can launch or queue; in Blender use Luma Tools → Receive from LUMA Capture (boundary curve + cameras). Mesh uses Helper Import mesh into Blender or harvest complete.
Street View history — in the panorama preview, tick the dates you want; Send summaries count selected dates (multi-date → multi-camera).

Optional shortcuts

Ctrl + drag zone edge — resize that capture ring without moving outer rings; expansion stops at the next outer limit.
Download site boundary only — saves the outline and zone settings as files, without downloading 3D buildings (useful to share or capture later in Max).
Edit outline — move corner points after drawing; click again to finish.
Settings - only if Blender was not found automatically, or Helper will not start. Use Start Luma Helper there.

If something goes wrong

Luma Helper offline: On the Capture page, use the yellow banner: Install Luma Helper (downloads the companion ZIP) or Start if already installed. Or run %LOCALAPPDATA%\LUMA\google-capture-companion\install_helper.bat after restoring LumaHelper.exe from antivirus quarantine if needed. See Installation for the PowerShell one-liner.
“Python required for harvest”: Click Install Python on the prompt (needs winget on Windows 10/11). Corporate PCs without winget: install Python 3.12 from python.org, then Luma Helper tray → Install Python for harvest… → Retry venv. To use Blender instead, choose Use Blender on the prompt (opt-in — Helper no longer falls back silently).
“Blender not found”: Install Blender, or set the path under Settings → Blender.exe → Locate….
Capture never finishes: Check disk space and your output folder path. Look for log files in that folder.
Max import fails: Point Import Site Package at the folder that contains luma_site.lumasite.