Have you ever wondered if you can perform a 3D scan from your phone or tablet? The answer to your question is yes. You don’t have to go through all the hustle of purchasing 3D scanners whenever you need a 3D render of something or a volumetric video.
Volumetric video capture technology is a technique that digitizes a 3D space, object or environment in real time using an array of cameras around a target. The cameras in question have to have 3D capabilities and that is where 3D scanning comes in.
Using Your Phone as a 3D Scanner
Technology has made it so some phones come with 3D enabled cameras – which is just fascinating. If you are not lucky enough to own one, worry not because there is a plethora of 3D smartphone software in the market to choose from. For the latter, all you need to do is download one of these 3D scanning apps. How to go about it is more or less the same with each 3D scanner for android.
First take whatever you want to scan and place it so you have the freedom to walk around the object or person. Follow the instructions on the software you are using for the scanning procedure. The sensors in the camera of your phone will collect all the necessary data. After the scan is finished and data is collected, the 3D smartphone software converts it into a digital 3D model.
3D Scanning on a Tablet
Making 3D scans on a tablet is fairly easy with the only thing you need to do being downloading a tablet scanning tool which is the equivalent of a 3D scanner for android when using your mobile phone and then follow the automated steps.
The basic blueprint of the entire procedure consists of firstly 3D scanning the actual face or object. Then the software automatically renders your 3D scan into a 3D file through an automatic optimized process. The output is now a high-quality scan ready for 3D printing.
How it Works
The whole process is rather simple – even for inexperienced users. All you have to do is follow the instructions as described by the application and voila! You have yourself a perfect 3D scan of anything you want.
The first step is scanning the person or object in question by walking around it or them with your tablet. If you don’t want to move around, you can use a turntable.
The second step is previewing the result of your 3D scan on your tablet screen and then sending it to the cloud where the good stuff happens. The result is further processed to get the best quality 3D model.
The final stop is downloading the 3D file so you can edit it and add some extra features to it if you want to. You can use it for whatever you want, like avatars in virtual reality games or share it with friends and family.
Tips to Get It Right
Regardless of how easy a procedure it is, it still takes some time and practice to achieve the best results. It’s made particularly easy by the automation done by the application. Don’t be disappointed if you don’t nail it on your first or second attempt. Here are some tips you can employ to better your odds at success;
Do not scan from very long distances
You have to adjust the distance from which you are scanning depending on the size of whatever you are scanning. The important thing is that the whole object should be visible in the screen’s frame. Make sure it appears perfectly adjusted on your tablet’s screen. Ensure it is not too close that parts of it exceed from your screen and not to far either that some details are missed.
Keep an equal distance as you move around the object
As you move and scan, it is important to move equally around it. What I mean by this is, if you are scanning say 50 cm away, make sure that distance remains constant as you move around the object. By keeping the distance equal, you get uniform results.
Differentiate it from its background
Results from a 3D scan may be faulty because the 3D scanning application fails to differentiate the object from its background. To get past this, ensure that the background of your scan is a neutral and bright color which contrasts whatever it is you are scanning.
