In general, photogrammetry is fastest with the lowest barrier to entry structured light and laser triangulation often provide the highest resolution and detail and RGB-D and ToF offer a good mix of high speed and low barrier to entry, albeit with limited resolution. Naturally, each type of technology has its own pluses and minuses. Most consumer-based 3D scanning solutions rely on one of five approaches: photogrammetry, structured light, laser triangulation, RGB-D, or Time-of-Flight (ToF) technology.

Once an object is digital, all kinds of possibilities for manipulation, usage, and 3D printing open up. Of course, even if a virtual recreation is only approximate, there’s still an advantage in having a rough digital model. While this is good for capturing the general shape of an object, fine details get lost and either need to be manually recreated or done without. Whatever the price range, most 3D scanning solutions targeted at hobbyists are limited to capturing features no smaller than 2 to 10 millimeters, or about 0.08 to 0.4 inches. While professional 3D scanners can easily reach into the tens of thousands of dollars and beyond, the price for the hobbyist user generally ranges from free (if you already have a good smartphone, tablet, or other camera) to a few thousand dollars for more purpose-built solutions.įurther Reading Open sourcing Lucy, the world’s most famous fossil The basicsģD scanning is broadly defined as using a combination of hardware and software to analyze a real-world object or environment, collect usable data on its shape and other attributes, and then convert it into a digital model. While it's impossible to provide an exhaustive look at the ever-growing number of 3D scanning products, this selection of solutions should provide a solid overview of what's currently possible and where this technology might be headed next. As a bonus, we'll also look at services where you can view and store 3D models, as well as ways to turn your 3D models back into physical objects. So let's look closer at two of the main personal 3D scanning categories available: software- or hardware-based solutions that work with equipment you may already have and hardware-based solutions that are mostly self-contained. And though it continues to take a backseat (in market- and mind-share) to 3D printing, 3D scanning has grown into a technological revolution worth exploring all on its own. Still, personal 3D scanning has made great strides in recent years. Generally, current consumer versions of 3D scanners produce decidedly modest results. The odd documentary, feature article, or typical marketing hype may make you think that today's 3D scanning can perfectly capture the real world, but that's only true with expensive, professional equipment (not to mention considerable editing and post-processing).

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