Dragonfly 3D World is a 3D image analysis program from Comet Technologies Canada (formerly Object Research Systems) for visualising, segmenting and measuring CT, micro-CT and microscopy volumes. In dentistry it is a research and teaching tool, used in university labs to study teeth, bone and biomaterials. It is not chairside software and the vendor states plainly that it is not a medical device.
People searching for a Dragonfly 3D World download should know it is shareware (conditionally free): a commercial product with a trial version, plus a free academic licence for qualified university users. A private dental clinic does not qualify for the free licence.
Dragonfly 3D World at a glance
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Latest version | 2027.1, marketed as Dragonfly 3D World 2027 (release notes dated September 2026) |
| Licence | Shareware (conditionally free): paid full licences, a trial version, and free academic licences for non-commercial university use |
| Platforms | Windows 10 and 11 (64-bit) and 64-bit Linux, starting from Ubuntu 22.04. No macOS version. |
| Developer | Comet Technologies Canada Inc., Montréal (the Dragonfly brand of Comet; formerly Object Research Systems, ORS) |
| Official website | dragonfly.comet.tech |
| Best for | Dental and craniofacial research groups working with micro-CT, CBCT research data and deep-learning segmentation |
What it does
- Loads DICOM series through a dedicated DICOM loader, plus image stacks, RAW volumes, Analyze, NIfTI, MRC, ZEISS CZI and Amira/Avizo .am files. Loading some proprietary scanner formats is reserved for full licences in version 2027.1.
- 2D, 3D and 4D views in a multi-scene workspace, with volume rendering, clipping boxes, calipers, rulers and annotations.
- Segmentation with thresholding and watershed, one-click selection based on the Segment Anything Model, and regions of interest that can be split into labelled objects.
- Deep learning: the Segmentation Wizard and Deep Learning Tool train and apply neural networks for segmentation, including pre-built U-Net architectures.
- Meshes: contour meshes generated from regions of interest, with smoothing, decimation and export to common mesh formats such as STL for 3D printing.
- Measurements such as volume, thickness mapping, porosity and particle statistics, exported as CSV.
- A Bone Analysis module for evaluating high-resolution micro-CT images of bone specimens. The vendor describes it as a pre-clinical research application.
- Automation with the Macro Builder and Python scripting, a Movie Maker for animations, and a Report Builder added in 2027.1.
How dental teams use it
Segment enamel, dentin and cracks on micro-CT scans
- Import the reconstructed micro-CT stack of an extracted tooth and set the voxel size.
- Paint a few slices by hand to label enamel, dentin and the feature of interest.
- Train a model in the Segmentation Wizard, apply it to the whole volume and correct the result.
- Measure the volumes or thickness and export the table as CSV.
A 2021 study in Scientific Reports used Dragonfly’s deep learning toolkit with a pre-built U-Net in this way to separate enamel, dentin and microcracks in micro-CT scans of teeth, after simple thresholding failed because of density variation in dentin.
Turn a research CBCT dataset into a printable teaching model
- Open the DICOM series with the DICOM loader.
- Threshold the bone and teeth, clean the region of interest and split it into separate objects if needed.
- Generate a contour mesh, smooth and decimate it, and export it as STL.
Keep this to research and teaching material. The software is not a medical device, and the academic licence does not allow clinical diagnostic or patient-care work.
Analyse bone specimens
For animal or cadaver studies around implants and grafts, the Bone Analysis wizard evaluates micro-CT images of bone specimens and produces a report. For commercial users it is one of the separately licensed options, together with Deep Learning.
Install and first run
- Getting the installer: request the trial version on the official website. The download link and licence keys arrive by email.
- Windows: run the installer with administrator rights. Installation has two parts: a private Python distribution is installed first, then Dragonfly itself. The last step, adjusting write permissions, can take a long time; that is normal.
- Linux: 64-bit distributions from Ubuntu 22.04 are supported.
- Minimum hardware: an AVX-capable CPU, 8 GB of RAM, a GPU with at least 1 GB of video memory and more than 10 GB of disk space. Recommended: 32 GB of RAM or more and a dedicated GPU with at least 6 GB of video memory.
- Deep learning: needs a dedicated NVIDIA GPU with CUDA and at least 6 GB of video memory.
- Academic licence: after installing the trial, choose Help > Request Non-Commercial License, complete the survey and attach a photo of your institutional ID. The vendor reviews every request. Licences are issued for one year and can be renewed at no charge.
Limitations
- Not a medical device and not cleared for diagnosis. It has no patient database, PACS workflow or dental reformatting such as panoramic curves.
- The free licence is restricted: the vendor lists universities and colleges, accredited museums and university-affiliated teaching hospitals, and excludes government labs, for-profit organisations and contract research.
- From version 2027.1 academic licences (previously called FreeD) show a watermark in the scene views, and several new features are reserved for full licences.
- No macOS version, and the hardware demands are high for large micro-CT volumes.
- Work published with an academic licence must cite Dragonfly.
Dragonfly 3D World vs alternatives
| Tool | Best at | Licence |
|---|---|---|
| Dragonfly 3D World | Deep-learning segmentation and quantification of micro-CT volumes | Shareware; free academic licence |
| Amira Software | Multi-modal life-science image analysis with many specialised extensions | Shareware; research use only |
| ImageJ / Fiji | Free 2D and stack measurements, histology, BoneJ plugin | Free, open source |
| ParaView | Free visualisation of very large volumes and meshes | Free, open source |
FAQ
Is Dragonfly software free?
Only for qualified academic users, who can apply for a free non-commercial licence. Everyone else can evaluate the trial version and then needs a paid licence.
Where can I get the Dragonfly 3D World download?
Fill in the trial form on the official website; the vendor emails the installer link and licence keys. Existing users update with the Check for Updates button inside the program.
What are the Dragonfly 3D World system requirements?
Windows 10 or 11 (64-bit) or 64-bit Linux from Ubuntu 22.04, an AVX-capable CPU, at least 8 GB of RAM and a GPU with 1 GB of video memory. Deep learning needs a dedicated NVIDIA GPU.
What is new in Dragonfly 3D World 2027?
Version 2027.1 adds labelled multi-meshes with sub-voxel measurements, surface roughness metrics, CAD import and mesh registration, instance segmentation with SAM-based tools and a Report Builder. Licences were also renamed to Full and Academic.
How much does Dragonfly 3D World cost?
Comet does not publish a price list, and we do not quote prices. Annual and perpetual full licences are sold by quote through the Dragonfly sales team.
What is Dragonfly 3D World ZEISS edition?
It is a separate edition named in the official release notes alongside the standard product and distributed through ZEISS for users of its imaging systems. Ask ZEISS or Comet which edition your instrument licence covers.
Is Dragonfly the same as Dragonfly ORS?
Yes. The software was created by Object Research Systems (ORS) in Montréal, which is now Comet Technologies Canada. Older papers cite it as “Dragonfly, Object Research Systems”.
Last checked against official sources: 2 October 2026 (developer website: dragonfly.comet.tech). Versions and licence terms change — confirm on the developer's site before deploying in a clinic.
