3D scan

3d body scan

Een snelle verzameling van opties en tips die ik ben tegengekomen online, bevindingen moeten hier nog aan toegevoed worden. Dit book is dus niet compleet.

3d body scan

Tips van gebruikers in mode industrie

 

True to Form

Luma Al

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Photogrammetry

Photogrammetry is a technique through which you can extract 3D information from photographs. By extensively photographing an object from all sides, you can use software like Polycam or Abound to create a 3D mesh from these photo's. This mesh can then be imported into 3D software like Blender, and can be rendered using the photo's as textures. 

Photogrammetry

Polycam

Polycam is an app that can use photogrammetry, gaussian splatting and LiDaR (with apple iPad/iPhone Pro models) to make 3D captures. It can be used for free and paid. The free version offers 20 object scans with a maximum of 100 images per capture. It also offers a free gaussian splatting tool. The paid version has unlimited scans and images per capture. Here's an overview of functions, both free and paid: https://poly.cam/pricing

Unlike in other software, the Polycam app helps you make scans. While you are circling around an object, the app takes photos for you and tells you when to slow down. It also shows you how much photos you have left. When in LiDaR mode, it overlays and previews the mesh that its building in real time. After you're done capturing, it uploads your images to Polycam where it builds your scans. You can view and download them online.

In general, use LiDaR when scanning spaces or environments and use photogrammetry for objects. Gaussian splats may work in scenarios where the object you're scanning has specular, fuzzy or translucent qualities. It is harder to convert into a mesh, however. A short description of when to use LiDaR vs Photogrammetry can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gZ6AWrzIx6c&list=PLqnRz-4Awhm7MXTpkgq9paJLC3ONJEBUX&index=1

Working with LiDaR, photogrammetry and guanssian splatting in Polycam:

Here's a tutorial detailing how to work with LiDaR in Polycam: https://learn.poly.cam/hc/en-us/articles/27419935601940-Creating-LiDAR-Captures

For photogrammetry, see this tutorial: https://learn.poly.cam/hc/en-us/articles/27425185907348-Creating-Photogrammetry-Captures-in-Object-Mode

And for Gaussian splatting: https://learn.poly.cam/hc/en-us/articles/27740818315668-How-to-Create-Gaussian-splats-on-Polycam-mobile

Taking your scans into other software

If you want to process your scans into software like blender or unity, Polycam has great tutorials on these topics on YouTube.

Blender: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1HxJiwihi6g&list=PLqnRz-4Awhm7MXTpkgq9paJLC3ONJEBUX&index=9&t=105s

Unity: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DEbDsxETQuE&list=PLqnRz-4Awhm7MXTpkgq9paJLC3ONJEBUX&index=14

Find more software use cases here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLqnRz-4Awhm7MXTpkgq9paJLC3ONJEBUX

Photogrammetry

Abound

Abound werkt in browser (dus beschikbaar voor mac & windows) met een limiet van 20 Photo Scans & 100 images per scan. 

Photogrammetry

RealityScan

RealityScan (previously Reality Capture) is software used for photogrammetry. RealityScan offers a mobile app for iPhone and Android and software for desktop that’s only available for Windows. Both are free to use.

Pros and cons of mobile vs desktop

Mobile:


Desktop:

 

To start using the desktop app you have to download the Epic Games Launcher.  From there, navigate to RealityScan, and download and install.

Photogrammetry

Tools to aid in photogrammetry

Circular polarisation filters

Anti-reflective coating spray

Photogrammetry

Gaussian Splatting: online and local

This is an experiment in progress. Current status: We've succeeded in fully generating the splat from the Blender interface, on Windows. See option 1 Sky Splat below.

Gaussian splatting offers an interesting alternative to photogrammetry for specific use cases, particularly where real-time rendering, photorealistic results, and the ability to capture reflective and transparent surfaces are necessary. There are lots of online options for Gaussian splatting, both paid and unpaid. Kiri Engine seems to be a very complete suite and now has the option to make meshes out of splats, for use in for instance Blender in the paid version.

If you don't want to rely on external systems, you can make Gaussian splats (and photogrammetry) yourself on a somewhat beefy computer. The main difference between splats and photogrammetry is that splats make point clouds, no meshes. This makes the renders lighter but harder to manipulate. Also see the Tested video for this discussion.

For all online platforms (paid or unpaid), please be aware of your data and privacy! 

Gaussian Splatting locally 1: with Sky Splat

Full workflow from video to splat runs from within Blender, uses the Colmap tool for making the splats. Tried on Windows.

Additional notes to the video above:

Install the skysplat plugin. Plugin appears in the plugin bar on the right (press N).

Tab 1: open video. This will extract stills from the video.

Tab 2: Colmap. First under Colmap settings, enter the location of the Colmap folder (Colmap.exe in the Bin map). Then:

Tab 3: run brush training. When opening the brush training on Windows, this only works when Blender is opened with Administrator rights. If it's not this step will result in an error, or hangs on starting the training.

2: with LichtFeld

Open source splatting tool, not yet tested

https://lichtfeld.io/ 

https://github.com/MrNeRF/LichtFeld-Studio

LichtFeld needs a more detailed dataset than 'just' the images, it requires "undistorted images + pointcloud + camera locations". The pointcloud and camera locations can be generated using the Colmap process above, or from Reality Scan.

3: with PostShot (tried first, no longer free)

March 2026 Update: Can't export to .ply in the free version of Postshot anymore...

Workflow in Postshot:

There are plugins for

Below: the same chair model in Postshot and Blender

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Postshot

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.ply in Blender

Compared to local photogrammetry (RealityCapture)

We've used the same source video for a render in RealityCapture. This render took about three minutes and shows one of the problems with photogrammetry: shiny objects become invisible. You can fix this by using a polarizing filter over your lens.

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In RealityCapture

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.obj imported in Blender

Full workflow: filming->After Effects->Reality Scan->Postshot->Octane (Cinema4D)

This vid has a full workflow with great tips on every step. After effects is used for extracting photos from the video, Reality scan for aligning the photos, Postshot for generating the splats, and Octane for rendering them in Cinema4D.

Re-lighting the scene starts here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OzUxL_UDMTk&t=3436s 

Thoughts on using Gaussian Splatting

As long as Gaussian splatting does not easily convert to meshes, it's use in live 3d engines might be limited. It might be more applicable to pre-rendered applications, where you have can re-edit the camera from the original recording. Change angles, change camera movement, etc. With the newer options to change lighting this will become even more relevant.

More Splatting stuff

Turning a Gaussian Splat into a game

Playcanvas is an open-source online splat viewer. It can clearly do more than just view them, as you can walk through them as if it's a game environment. And of course: you can turn it into a game: https://blog.playcanvas.com/turning-a-gaussian-splat-into-a-videogame 

Editing splats with SplatShop

Open source, with VR editor.

Edit splats, remove parts, move parts, clone parts, etc.

https://github.com/m-schuetz/Splatshop

Re-lighting Splats

Apparent you can re-light Splatted scenes. One option menioned is in the Octane rendering engine, another is using a UE5-plugin called Volinga

Re-lighting in Blender

Using the Kiri Engine plugin from here: https://github.com/Kiri-Innovation/3dgs-render-blender-addon

Manual and quick guides for Kiri Engine: https://www.kiriengine.app/blender-addon/3dgs-render

Various tutorials on Gaussian Splatting

importing .ply gaussian splat in Blender

Photogrammetry

Core principles of photogrammetry

Image quality, Information overlap, Subject coverage

Very good guide: Photogrammetry Basics

Screenshots below were taken from this Unreal Engine YouTube seminar

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LiDAR

Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) is a technique that uses lasers to measure distance to an object. 

LiDAR

What is Lidar scanning?

LiDAR stands for Light Detection and Ranging.

LiDAR captures the shape of real objects in 3D, with depth and scale, not just flat photos.

Artists use LiDAR scanning to:

It’s not about photorealistic color but about geometry—a solid spatial “skeleton” you can texture, render, or transform artistically.





LiDAR

Depth camera's on Apple iPad and iPhone Pro models

Apple uses both depth cameras and LiDAR in different products, and while they sound similar (both measure distance), they work in different ways and are suited for different use cases.
TrueDepth = short range, detailed face/hand depth → Face ID & AR effects.
LiDAR = room-scale, larger depth sensing → AR, scanning, 3D modeling.

You can think of it like this:

Depth Camera
(TrueDepth system – e.g. Face ID on iPhone/iPad)

  • How it works:

    • Uses infrared (IR) structured light.

    • The projector shines ~30,000 tiny IR dots on your face.

    • An IR camera captures how those dots are distorted by the 3D shape of your face.

    • Software reconstructs a depth map.

  • Range: Short — typically 0.3 to ~1 meter, optimized for faces and selfies.

  • Use cases on Apple devices:

    • Face ID (unlocking and Apple Pay).

    • Animoji / Memoji face tracking.

    • Portrait selfies with depth.

    • AR effects at arm’s length.

  • Strengths:

    • Very accurate at close range.

    • Compact — fits in the notch of iPhones/iPads.

    • Works in total darkness (IR).

  • Limitations:

    • Not designed for room-scale scanning.

    • Limited depth resolution past ~1m.

LiDAR Scanner
(on iPad Pro, iPhone Pro models since 2020)

  • How it works:

    • Uses time-of-flight LiDAR.

    • Shoots pulses of infrared laser light.

    • Measures how long they take to return → direct distance measurement.

  • Range: Much longer — up to ~5 meters indoors.

  • Use cases on Apple devices:

    • Room and object scanning.

    • AR apps that need instant, accurate scene mapping.

    • Faster autofocus in low light (because it knows the distance to objects).

    • 3D scanning (e.g., for art, furniture, architecture).

  • Strengths:

    • Works at room scale.

    • Very fast: instant AR scene setup.

    • Great for 3D modeling & scanning.

  • Limitations:

    • Lower resolution than cameras (you don’t get a detailed point cloud like pro LiDAR sensors).

    • Still consumer-grade, not survey-grade accuracy.

 

Here's a nice blog on how to use Apple Lidar & integrate with Touchdesigner:
https://interactiveimmersive.io/blog/touchdesigner-3d/3d-scanning-with-apples-lidar/ 

Stereo vision

two aligned cameras plus neural depth perception—to determine 3D depth and spatial structure.  Proces depth through software algorithms rather than laser-based sensing.

Stereo vision

Stereo Vision Basics

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Stereo vision

Zed 2i

ZED 2i is an IP66-rated Rolling Shutter camera built for spatial analytics and immersive experiences, powered by Neural Depth Engine 2. Ready to deploy, it has a robust aluminum enclosure, high-performance IMU and USB 3.1 connection.
ALL the info on ZED camera's

Works on PC only
How to install: https://www.stereolabs.com/docs/installation/windows 

Main Features

  1. Dual-Lens Stereo Vision: Provides advanced depth perception and 3D mapping capabilities.
  2. Spatial Understanding: Offers a detailed understanding of the surrounding environment.
  3. Motion Tracking: Tracks objects and people in real-time with high accuracy.
  4. High-Resolution Imaging: Captures high-quality images, essential for detailed visual work.
  5. Robust Build: Designed for a variety of environments, enhancing versatility.
  6. Integrated Sensors: Includes IMU, barometer, and magnetometer for comprehensive data collection.
  7. Flexible Connectivity: USB 3.1 connection for easy integration with various systems.

TOP: https://docs.derivative.ca/ZED_TOP

CHOP: https://docs.derivative.ca/ZED_CHOP

SOP: https://docs.derivative.ca/ZED_SOP

Also, if this is a topic of your interest, it might come in handy to have a look at the official ZED documentation:

https://www.stereolabs.com/docs

 


more info on https://interactiveimmersive.io/blog/touchdesigner-integrations/updated-zed-camera-features-in-touchdesigner/

Skeleton tracking keypoints (there are various options)

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https://interactiveimmersive.io/blog/touchdesigner-integrations/updated-zed-camera-features-in-touchdesigner/ 

Stereo vision

OAK-D (Lite)

A small depth camera that combines stereo vision with an onboard AI processor.
The OAK-D can be used for 3D scanning because it produces RGB + depth maps that you can turn into a point cloud and mesh. You move the camera around an object or space, capture overlapping frames, and then stitch them together with software (e.g. Open3D, MeshLab, or ROS).

But: it’s not the preferred tool for 3D scanning.

It’s great for real-time depth perception and robotics, but for high-quality 3D models you’d usually go with photogrammetry or LiDAR.

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Here's info on how to use it in Touchdesigner: https://derivative.ca/UserGuide/OAK-D
The example file is OAKExamples.toe. Instructions and tips are inside the file. The file is located in C:/Program Files/Derivative/TouchDesigner.2023.xxxxx/Samples/OAK.


 

3D scan Quickstart & tips

Photogrammetry

Je kunt met je de camera van je telefoon of tablet foto's maken en deze inladen in software die vervolgens deze foto's omzet naar een scan. Dit heet photogrammetry.
Je kunt daarvoor je camera app gebruiken of een 3Dscan app die je kunnen helpen als guide om de juiste strategie/route (opeenvolgende foto's of overlap) te volgen voor het fotograferen. Deze foto's zet je vervolgens op de computer waarmee je ze kunt omzetten(processen of renderen) met software zoals Abound of RealityScan) naar een 3D model met texture.

Software

Abound werkt in browser (dus beschikbaar voor mac & windows) met een limiet van 20 Photo Scans & 100 images per scan. Processing in cloud. Weinig informatie over resultaat of aanpas mogelijkheden.

Reality Scan is beschikbaar op windows en heeft (vooralsnog) geen limiet. Veel mogelijkheden en informatie over het resultaat.
Als je Reality Scan wilt gebruiken: download de Epic Games launcher en installeer > links > Unreal Engine > Bovenin rechts > Reality Scan (niet beschikbaar voor Mac)

Apps

Je kunt in de meeste apps ook je scan processen maar dan heb je minder controle over het resultaat en het is onhandig in geval van slecht internet. Let op je bundel, gebruik WIFI! De bestanden worden eerst geupload naar een cloud service, aldaar geprocessed en vervolgens weer gedownload. Daarom zijn deze apps meestal niet gratis.

3DScannerApp (ios) of Scaniverse (iOs of android), Abound, RealityScan.
Polycam is bekend en heeft goede reviews maar ook beperkt gratis te gebruiken.
De Abound app is alleen voor iOS telefoon of ipad. De process functie maakt gebruik van cloud. 
Reality Scan heeft ook een app (iphone & android) die goede tips geeft tijdens het maken van je photogrammetry.

Tips

Afhankelijk van waar je je 3D scan voor wilt gebruiken is het handig om rekening te houden met de hoeveelheid polygonen die de scan heeft. Dit zou je kunnen uitleggen als de resolutie van de scan en details die de scan heeft. Hoe meer hoe groter het bestand en hoe zwaarder om in te laden in sommige toepassingen. Voor 3D printen zou je een hoge polygon dichtheid willen. Voor VR juiste en lage want VR wordt continu live gerenderd. Dan zorgt minder polygonen voor een snelle weergave. (lowpoly)


Deze website is heel uitgebreid en leerzaam: https://dev.epicgames.com/community/learning/courses/blA/unreal-engine-capturing-reality-photogrammetry-basics-by-quixel/r222/unreal-engine-capturing-reality-an-introduction-to-photogrammetry