Can I 3D Scan With My Phone?

You want to create a 3D scan, but you don’t have a professional scanner. Investing £1000’s in a 3D scanner is not really an option. You can’t splash out and hire a professional, but you want the item 3D scanned? The smartphone that you carry around in your pocket every day could help you 3D scan your model. Better still; you can use a free app! So the answer is yes you can 3d scan with your phone!!! What is a 3D Scan? There are two types of 3D scan: structured light 3D scanning and photogrammetry 3D scanning. Most 3D scanning apps use the photogrammetry method. The photogrammetry method is when you take lots of lots of photos of an object or person at various angles. These photos are ‘stitched’ together to create a 3d Model. Easy right? Well, it sounds effortless, but there is a complex photogrammetry algorithm that makes it all work at the click of a button. Luckily someone has already worked that out for us! How do I use my phone as a 3d scanner? Well as the saying goes… there’s an app for that! Of course, you do need a phone with a pretty good camera. The best Apps for 3D scanning at the moment are Trino and Qlone. Most of the app’s you download are free or cheap. You can download from the Playstore or the App Store. Once your app’s installed, you’re ready to start your 3D scan! How do I 3D scan the object with my phone? Place your object in a central location; you will need to be able to walk around the item while holding your phone. You will need to do this comfortably, creating a smooth and even motion. If your 3d scanning a person you will need to ask them to stand very still. If you’re scanning just their face, scan them from ear to ear. If it is a full-body scan, you’ll need to be able to walk around them comfortably. You will then need to slowly walk around the object or person in a 360-degree circle. It is best to keep the camera the same distance away from the item or person at all times. Once you have done several rotations, your scan data is complete. Your app should do the rest.

For more information on Can I 3D Scan With My Phone? talk to Surface Scan