If your device is an iPhone 12 Pro or newer, let me share with you something impressive I learned just today. It involves using your phone for 3D scanning through LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) technology, which comes standard in these models. best iPhones for photography , it can allow you to create highly detailed models in just a few minutes.
I've been dedicating some time to the iPhone 16 Pro Max Recently, as someone who doesn’t use an iPhone, I discovered many features I was unaware of. While looking into methods to scan my nephew’s head for a 3D cosplay project, I stumbled upon an application named Polycam. It is known as the top 3D scanning tool designed exclusively for iPhones and iPads because of their LiDAR technology. I doubted that it would perform as well as dedicated scanners. best 3D scanners , right?
I installed the free Polycam app on my iPhone 16 Pro Max and started taking pictures of a miniature bonsai tree in my home office. To be honest, it performed exceptionally well at generating a 3D mesh. Another approach for achieving this is called photogrammetry, which I learned about previously. I attended Autodesk University It includes capturing numerous overlapping photographs of an object, which can then be utilized to generate a detailed 3D map. However, utilizing an iPhone application for 3D scanning offers a simpler and more streamlined approach for beginners.
You may be questioning why you would ever choose to utilize this iPhone function. At its core, however, 3D scanning is incredibly entertaining. Beyond just being enjoyable, it offers boundless possibilities for aiding your creativity in various fields such as interior design, obtaining accurate measurements of irregular or hard-to-measure objects, and generating digital elements for games. 3D printing too when exported into 3D modelling software .
Polycam’s LiDAR scanning functions by emitting light onto an object and then gauging the distance based on how long it takes for the light to bounce back. Therefore, it's advisable to steer clear of reflective surfaces during scans. While some believe that LiDAR performs optimally when mapping large items like rooms or vehicles, my experience showed that it also handled smaller household objects quite effectively.
I was quite pleased with Polycam’s free features until I decided to try their free seven-day trial of Polycam Pro, which typically costs £119.99 annually. During the trial period, I noticed a significant improvement in the quality. However, once the trial concludes, I likely won’t continue with the paid version since it seems better suited for professional users who frequently engage in 3D scanning tasks. For an illustration of what the application can do, check out the video beneath; you’ll observe how effectively it captured each intricate part during the scan of my Apollo statue, including fine details like the nipples.
From the results shown, I managed to 3D scan one of my decorative home items using Polycam Pro. This application allows me to export the scanned object as either an OBJ or STL file for potential 3D printing if desired. While the cost of the Pro version might seem high for a smartphone app, comparing it to professional 3D scanners priced at over $999 / £999 reveals just how economical it actually is.
I must admit that employing the free edition of Polycam produced rather dubious outcomes, akin to a jittery-looking bonsai tree and an unsteady Balloon Dog sculpture; however, after upgrading and conducting another scan of my Apollo statue, I was thoroughly impressed by the enhanced quality.
If you wish to attempt this on your own, make certain to Download Polycam from the App Store For free. Alternatively, if you’re an Android user like myself, I experimented with Epic Games’ Reality Scan app, which surprisingly provided excellent outcomes as well.
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