There’s a huge difference in pricing between 3D scanners, which is affected by factors including:

1. Size and complexity of the object you want to scan
2. The scanner type and technology
3. 3D scan quality (accuracy, resolution)
4. Time the project takes (for renting a 3D scanner)
5. The ability to 3D scan in color
6. Shipping costs
7. Software and post-processing

Fortunately, there are scanners for all budgets and applications, and we’ll explain in more detail what specs and uses you can expect in each price range.

Here’s How Much Each Type of 3D Scanner Costs

To better understand the cost associated with 3D scanners, we’re diving into the different types of 3D scanners you can buy.

Entry-Level 3D Scanners: Under $1,000

3D scanners priced under $1,000 are considered entry-level and are aimed at hobbyists and small businesses with modest needs.

Though we have a dedicated guide to the best cheap 3D scanners, here are some of the top-rated scanners in this price range:

These low-cost scanners work well for applications like 3D printing, basic digital archiving, product modeling for e-commerce, basic design work, and simple AR/VR. They rarely capture with accuracy below 0.1 mm, limiting the detail level they can reproduce in scan results. This limits their applications beyond hobbyist fun projects.

They are by no means geared to professional or industrial applications like reverse engineering, that demand uncompromising dimensional accuracy and scan quality.

For the lower price, you also sacrifice usability. While professional-grade scanners allow you to scan an entire object with a single press of a button, scanning with low-cost models is time-consuming, and scan times tend to be much longer due to slower capture speeds, which rarely go higher than 30 FPS.

That said, for under $1,000, you can still expect features like full-color scanning, robust post-processing software, handheld/static scan modes, anti-shake technology to improve scan quality, and Wi-Fi 6 connectivity to speed up data transfer speeds after scanning an object.

We cover a number of scanners in this price range in our top 3D scanners buying guide.

You can even use your phone as a 3D scanner. Even more basic Android models and older iPhones can use photogrammetry 3D scanning apps to create 3D models, and the newer iPhones have LiDAR sensors for better quality 3D scanning. However, these are still not as high quality as specialist 3D laser scanners.

Handheld 3D Scanners: $2,000 to $30,000

Handheld 3D scanners are designed for portability and mobility – without sacrificing quality. Prices for professional handheld 3D scanners range anywhere from $2,000 to $30,000. Many jewelry scanners also fall into this category.

Typically, handheld and professional 3D scanners are used for reverse engineering, conservation work, digital archiving, jewelry design and repair, floor plans, interior design, and product design in the automotive and aerospace fields.

Professional scanners offer much better accuracy than lower-cost options. Expect around 0.5 mm as standard, dropping as low as 0.04 mm for the pricier options. With this level of detail, you can capture the intricacies of both large and small objects, such as engine parts, intricate jewelry, and subtle facial details. They also excel in use cases like inspection and quality control.

Here’s a selection of the most popular handheld 3D scanners on the market:

Industrial 3D Scanners: $10,000+

Industrial 3D scanners are top-of-the-range scanners that cost upwards of $10,000. 

Due to their price, industrial scanners are typically reserved for larger businesses specializing in specific fields where extreme accuracies and tight tolerances are essential. These include:

• Reverse engineering
• Product design
• Architecture
• Rapid prototyping
• CGI, and AR/VR
• Scientific measurements
• Automobile and aerospace applications

These commercial 3D scanners have the highest accuracy, resolution, and resolution. Expect an accuracy below as low as (or even lower than) 0.009 mm, which will bring out the smallest surface details with almost flawless dimensional accuracy.

Many also offer larger maximum scan volumes for car, human body, and room scanning. Most also come with commercial software that improves workflow and makes scanning easy, while offering various advanced options to refine and export 3D models.

Here’s a selection of the most popular industrial 3D scanners on the market today:

3D Scanning Service Costs – To Rent

3D scanner services cost anywhere from around $200 for a simple scan of a small object, up to more than $2,000 for large, complex objects. Per-hour costs fall roughly around $150-200/hour in the majority of cases. 

However, these are ballpark figures and prices can vary greatly depending on several factors. For this reason, most 3D scanning services will offer you a specific price based on the project, rather than set pricing.

Here are the factors that affect the cost of 3D scanning:

1. Size and complexity of the object

Larger objects typically take longer to scan than smaller ones, which costs more. 3D scans are made using individually captured frames that are then stitched together to create a finished model. Larger objects involve more frames and time to capture.

However, the complexity of the object also affects the price. For example, an ornate heirloom ring with intricate details, edges, gaps, and a reflective surface will take longer to scan (around 20-30 minutes) than a large object with flat, featureless surfaces like a hammer or wrench (5-10 minutes). 

It’s not just the scanning time that affects cost, either. It will also take longer to process and post-process the ring 3D model, which adds to the cost.

2. Time the project takes

Because 3D scanning services typically work on an hourly basis, projects that require more hours to complete will cost more than fast scans. 

For example, if you’re scanning an entire house for a real estate listing, expect to pay upwards of $3,000, while if you want to scan a single part, for example a radiator grill, budget for between $500 to $800.

3. Color scanning

A full-color scan with texture and surface details typically adds to the overall price. Color is generally needed for applications like digital media, e-commerce, VR/AR, and game design. 

The extra cost comes from the extra time needed to set up suitable lighting for the scanning process and the more demanding post-processing of scan data.

4. Shipping costs

It’s important to factor in the cost of sending an object to the service if you cannot deliver it in person. 

Larger objects incur higher shipping fees, as do multi-object projects. For example, shipping a 50lb object in an extra large box with Fedex from New York to Boston costs around $200.

5. Software, post-processing, and additional services

Though some services will give customers the raw scan data, most factor software and post-processing into their costs to finish the 3D model. 

Many also offer additional services such as CAD modeling, color texturing, and texture mapping, which add to the cost. Expect to pay an additional $100-$200 for these, though the complexity and size of the part factor here as well.

6. Scanner type, quality, and resolution

The better quality and more expensive the scanner costs, the more expensive the service will be. Pricier scanners offer better dimensional accuracy and precision, so you get what you pay for.

A hobbyist using a budget scanner like the CR-Scan Ferret may charge $15 per object, while an established service running a Artec Micro II may charge $300 for the same scan.

7. Service fees

3D scanning costs are also affected by what we’ll call “service fees,” which include:

• Manual labor costs
• The expertise of the operator and the cost put into their training
• Maintenance and running costs, such as repairs, utility costs, unforeseen issues, and the depreciation of the 3D scanner

Should You Buy Or Rent a 3D Scanner?

Given the cost of hiring a 3D scanning service, there is a point where it becomes more cost-effective to buy one outright. You need to evaluate how often you need to use the 3D scanner, and how complex the objects are, to gauge whether it’s better value to rent or buy.

For example, if you were to scan two fairly large and complex car parts a week at $800 each, this would cost $1,600 per week, or $6,400 a month. 

If you were to buy an industrial-grade scanner like the Einscan Pro HD for $5,000, you’d recoup the cost in less than a month. If you opted for a more precise model like the Artec Eva for $16,000, you would pay off the cost in less than three months.

Of course, this requires the skill to operate the 3D scanner (or training costs to gain this expertise). It’s hard to pin an exact number on these, but setting aside $500 a month for repairs is sensible. The scanner will also depreciate and lose value over time, but overall, for heavy users even with these costs factored in, buying a 3D scanner is cheaper than renting.

If you need to scan lots of objects within a short period of time, and then have months where you don’t need to scan at all, renting a 3D scanner is better. For example, Artec offers a rental service, which costs roughly $300 a day for the Artec Eva.

If you’re looking to buy a 3D scanner, I recommend reading our reviews and recommendations. We’ve broken these down into different categories:

• The best professional and industrial 3D scanners
• The best lower-cost 3D scanners

This practice eventually came to the modern age with selfies, and the step beyond that is finally here: 3D printing yourself!

Making a 3D model of yourself for printing is a fun and exciting prospect, from making mini tableaus of your friends and family to even making workable 3D action figures of yourself. I guarantee even your best selfie won’t be as cool as having a mini model of you!

There are a few ways to get a little 3D you up and printing, and here we’re going to look over a few of the best ways to make a 3D model of you and your friends.

We’re also going to look at some of the coolest uses and ideas for 3D printing yourself to maximize the fun of being mini!

Why Make a 3D Model of Yourself?

Let’s be honest, all of us are at least a little vain, I know I am. This is why self-portraits have been a staple of just about any art form since time immemorial.

When it comes to 3D printing yourself, there are a few fun and creative uses for having a tiny plastic you.

Making a small scene of you and your family to decorate the mantlepiece is a simple yet novel way to keep treasured memories close. Think of it as a 3D family photo.

Wedding Cake Toppers

An even sweeter way to use a 3D model of yourself is on a wedding day or similar occasion.

Having the figures on top of the cake that are the actual likeness of the newlyweds is a really nice way to make the day a little bit more special.

Action Figures and Toys

For more fun reasons, you can even make 3D printed action figures of yourself. With a little extra work, you can print a 3D model of yourself with posable limbs like a real action figure.

With fun and games in mind, tabletop and board games that use figurines like Monopoly and Arkham Horror will be made all the more fun by using 3D printed models of you and your friends as the game pieces.

Before You Start Printing

There are a couple of ways to make a 3D model of yourself, and which method you choose will depend on both what equipment you have access to as well as just how artistically experienced you are.

The most common, easiest, and most accurate way to get a model of yourself to 3D print is through 3D scanning.

3D Scanning Yourself

We’ve already discussed 3D scanning and its uses, from dental practices to full-body 3D scanners and their uses. In the latter, we’ve even briefly discussed 3D selfies.

3D scanning is the process of using structured light or lasers to scan a 3D object ready for upload to rendering and modeling software. Think of it like scanning a document or photo onto a computer, but in full 3D.

Handheld scanners work great for this, but you will need another person to help you so you can get a good scan of your whole body.

How to Get a Scan of Yourself

The scanning process itself will require preparation.

Like taking a good photo, there are things to keep in mind to ensure top-quality results. Correct lighting, reduced background clutter, and stillness to avoid blurring are all crucial to getting an accurate model of yourself ready for 3D printing.

There are a few routes to take to get yourself 3D scanned.

Some scanners can be printed and made at home. Some are fairly cheap, while professional-grade scanners will set you back a little more.

To really get a sense of which scanner is right for you, you can check out our article on 3D printed scanners in all price ranges. And that’s not even mentioning the different kinds of 3D scanner software out there.

The Revopoint POP 2 is a good low-cost choice for home scanning. You can check out our review of it here.

Ensuring Scan Quality

For a really high-quality 3D model of yourself, your scan will need to be as clear as possible.

While the home-based scanning options mentioned above are handy, there are also professional scanning services that use high-end equipment in studios for the best results.

Which of these services are available to you will naturally depend on your area.

A quick search should get you in touch with professional 3D scanners so you can be confident you’ll end up with a 3D model of you that’s a perfect likeness.

All-in-all, it will take some time, research, and money to know exactly what hardware you’ll want and which software to use, but it will be worth it when you’re holding a tiny you in your hands.

Alternatively, you can always go hard mode and make an entire model of yourself from nothing.

Alternative Option: Model Yourself From Scratch

Of course, the most basic method is to simply make a 3D model of yourself from scratch.

Much like how painters will often have a photo of their subject matter by their easel, you can use differently-angled selfies to make a model of yourself using your preferred 3D modeling software.

Naturally, this requires a deft artistic hand and good experience in 3D modeling. But if you’ve got the skill, you might find it to be a worthwhile project that’s a lot of fun as well as rewarding.

3D Printing Yourself

Now that you’ve got your model, it’s time to 3D print yourself!

There’s not much point in making models of real people if they’re not as accurate and detailed as possible, so you’re going to need to have the right machine for the job.

No matter how good the scan or clear the model is, a lesser 3D printer will make your resulting model look generic.

With your model loaded into your preferred slicer, you’re ready to double-check the accuracy and resolution before sending it to be printed.

You can 3D print yourself in just about any material, but for the best results, we recommend resin.

Resin printers are known for more high-quality prints than their FDM counterparts, so it’s better to use one if you’re really going for accuracy in your models.

Particularly high-end or reliable resin printers are excellent for getting models that really look like a little you!

If you don’t have access to a resin printer, or any printer that you trust to get the results you want, it’s worth noting that many professional scanning services will also offer printing as an extra. These services may even be able to print in ceramic or metal.

After printing, it’s time to post-process.

How you’ll do this will depend on what materials you’ve used and how you want your model to look in the end.

If FDM printing with ABS filament, adding a sheen with acetone or carefully painting the model are both good ways to get your desired results.

Just be sure to have your materials ready. If painting, you’ll need the right colors to get your models exactly right, for example.

If you’re new to 3D printing or just want to make extra sure that your models turn out right, you can check out our guides on improving your finish and post-processing your 3D prints.

Make Yourself as an Action Figure

Making static 3D models of yourself may be cool enough as it is, but you don’t have to stop there if you don’t want to.

With a little extra engineering and time, you can even make yourself into a 3D printed action figure!

Once you’ve got a 3D model of yourself, you can use your preferred slicer or editing software to split the model into individual parts depending on where you want your points of articulation.

By modifying these parts with holes to fit together with hinges or screws, you can print them all separately and then combine them to make an articulated action figure that looks just like you.

Of course, this only needs to be as complicated as you want it to be.

If you only want the head to turn, it’s as easy as printing it separately with enough of a connection to hold steady but with enough space to turn.

Joints on the shoulders and elbows will make it so you can put yourself in different poses like a real action figure, same with joints at the hip and knees.

For the best results, make sure you get a scan of yourself standing straight. Different poses and leaning positions may make for cool 3D selfies, but they will limit how your action figure self can be manipulated.

The most important thing is to make sure the points of connection match.

Having CAD software that can run simulations of moving parts is useful for this, but making careful notes when measuring the holes will do.

If you’re feeling extra zany, you can size up the top of the model and attach it to a small spring to turn yourself into a fun bobblehead!

Hints and Tips

We’ve already gone over some of the more important things to keep in mind when 3D printing yourself as a model or action figure, but here are a few extra hints to make sure you’re satisfied with your tiny you.

Always Scan in an Ideal Environment

There are a lot of ways to make sure your 3D scan comes out as clear as possible. Professional scanning services will know what to do, but if you’re scanning yourself at home you’ll need to be mindful of a few things.

Correct lighting and good background colors will stop your scan from being too ‘noisy’. You should also be mindful of your clothing, posture, and chosen pose. All-in-all, just do what you would when taking a good photo and you should be fine.

Taking photos of yourself in the clothes and poses you have in mind makes for a good test run before scanning so you’ll know what looks and works best.

Get More Than One Scan

Again, this is a similar rule to photography. Getting scans of yourself in different poses or in different clothes will give you many more options when it comes to printing.

Even if you’ve got a good one, there’s no harm in getting the same again for safety, it could even end up being a better scan than the first.

Don’t Be Afraid to Experiment

Printing yourself out in different poses or testing out some scans as action figure material can take some trial and error. Considering the time and effort 3D printing yourself can take, you probably won’t want to settle for second-rate.

Experimenting with sizes, infills, materials, and post-processing methods is part of the fun of making a model of yourself.

It will not only help you get a better idea of what to do next time but also make for a good learning experience for getting great 3D printing results in the future.

3D Printing Yourself FAQs

Other articles you may be interested in:

• The 34 coolest & most useful things to 3D print
• 30+ Easy and fun things to 3D print at home
• The 10 best free 3D printer models on Thingiverse
• 8 Big ideas for small 3D prints
• 3D printed items that sell
• 7 Exciting 3D printed food projects

Key Takeaways

• 3D scanning process: 3D scanning is a technique for creating digital 3D models of objects, structures, environments, and even people by collecting data about their shape and appearance.
• 3D scanning techniques: There are several different 3D scanning techniques, such as contact, laser, structured light, laser pulse, and photogrammetry, each with its own advantages and disadvantages.
• 3D scanning applications: 3D scanning is used across a wide range of industries, such as entertainment, medicine, architecture, engineering, history, design, and forensics, for various purposes such as prototyping, reverse engineering, analysis, and documentation.
• 3D scanning accessibility: 3D scanning technology is constantly evolving and becoming more accessible to beginners, students, and hobbyists, with affordable and easy-to-use 3D scanners and software available on the market.

3D scanning involves collecting data about the shape and appearance of a physical object, structure, environment or person and then using that data to construct digital 3D models. 3D scanners are used to analyze objects and environments, collect the data and construct the model.

• We also have a ranking of the best 3D scanners.

3D scanning is used across a wide range of industries, from architecture and engineering to medicine and entertainment. By allowing workers in these industries to examine objects digitally,

3D scanning can help make their work more accurate and efficient. 3D scanning is also compatible with 3D printing and CAD (computer-aided design), and it can even be used for reverse engineering.

That’s a very basic explanation of 3D scanning, but there’s a lot more to learn about this important process. This guide covers everything you need to know about 3D scanning, including the different techniques, advantages, limitations, applications and how 3D scanning works.

• We also have a ranking of the best DIY 3D scanners.

What is 3D Scanning? The Basics

While there are a variety of different 3D scanning techniques, they all rely on the same principles. All 3D scanners use a sensor, which may be a physical probe, laser or light, to measure the distance between a camera and an object.

3D scanners are able to identify 3D points, calculated from photos and depth measurement using triangulation, with each point appearing on the screen individually. Altogether, these 3D points form a point cloud, which appear like in the image below. The process of extrapolating the shape of a subject from points is known as reconstruction.

Once the scanner has created the point cloud, it then meshes it to turn it into a 3D model made up of surfaces. Meshing essentially means you are connecting the dots of the point cloud to produce a complete model. A mesh is a collection of vertices and faces, along with information of how the vertices make up the faces. Rather than valuing each point equally during the meshing process, you can deprioritize some of the points to create a mesh that isn’t extremely complex and therefore is easier to work with.

Finally, the mesh is textured. In the context of 3D scanning, texture refers to an image painted upon a service, and applying a texture to a surface is called texture mapping or UV mapping. Textured images are stored in a special file where every pixel with U and V coordinates has a corresponding color. Many 3D scanners have a special camera for capturing texture that allows them to collect color information at each point. Bright and uniform lighting is required for optimal results, unless the scanner is equipped with a flash.

Generally, several scans are required in order to create a complete model, as the scanner needs to collect information from every side of the subject. Scans are brought together into a common reference system, a process known as alignment or registration. The scans are then merged to create a 3D model. The whole 3D scanning process is known as the 3D scanning pipeline.

3D Scanning Techniques & Advantages

There are a wide variety of different 3D scanning methods, each with its own advantages and disadvantages. Here’s a look at the main 3D scanning techniques.

Contact-based 3D Scanning

As the name suggests, with this technique a scanner collects data on an object through physical touch. The object either rests on a surface plate or is held in place by a fixture as it is probed by the scanner, and the software used with the probe will detect how and where the probe touches the object’s surface and record the 3D location of the surface. A coordinate measuring machine (CCM) is an example of a contact-based 3D scanner.

Contact-based 3D scanning is often used in manufacturing, particularly for performing quality control of parts during maintenance operations or after fabrication. This technique is very precise and can be used to 3D scan transparent or reflective surfaces, but on the downside, it is slower than most other 3D scanning techniques and isn’t well suited to scanning freeform shapes.

Laser Triangulation 3D Scanning

This type of 3D scanning uses either a single laser point or a laser line to scan an object. The laser is cast by the 3D scanner and reflects off the subject, modifying its initial trajectory. The change in trajectory is recorded by a sensor and allows the system to calculate the specific angle of deviation using trigonometric triangulation. With enough laser scans, the scanner can map the subject’s surface and create a 3D scan.

Laser triangulation is a highly accurate 3D scanning technique that produces high resolution scans. Its main limitation is that it isn’t ideal for scanning objects with transparent or shiny surfaces. Laser triangulation scanners are often used to probe the environment.

Structured Light 3D Scanning

Like laser triangulation scanners, structured light scanners also use trigonometric triangulation to create scans. However, rather than using a laser, this technique projects a series of linear patterns of light onto an object. Two sensing cameras analyze the light patterns, examining the length of each line to calculate the distance to the subject. The scanner can then calculate exact X-Y-Z coordinates to create extremely accurate 3D models.

As well as being highly precise, structured light 3D scanning is fast, produces high resolution scans, and is suitable for scanning people. On the downside, it is highly sensitive to lighting conditions, so it doesn’t work well outside.

Laser Pulse-based 3D Scanning

Also known as time-of-flight scanning, this method creates scans using the speed of light and sensors rather than triangulation. Laser pulse-based 3D scanners do this by measuring how long a casted laser takes to reach an object and come back via reflection. The laser and sensor hardware is rotated by a mirror, which allows the software to collect 360 degrees worth of data and capture the information needed to create a 3D model.

The main benefit of laser pule-based scanning is that it can be used to scan very large objects, structures and environments. It is, however, a slow method in comparison to other 3D scanning techniques.

Photogrammetry

Photogrammetry is a technique for obtaining measurements and other dimensional information of objects and environments from high resolution photographs. Photogrammetry can be done using aerial or handheld cameras which are used to take a series of overlapping photos of the subject. Photogrammetry software is then able to create 3D models by point matching the geometric intersection of light rays and using triangulation to decipher information like camera angles, locations and characteristics of the subject.

• We also have a ranking of the best photogrammetry software.
• We also have a more in-depth guide to photogrammetry.

This technique is used across a range of industries and is particularly important in land surveying, engineering, agriculture and forestry. It has numerous advantages, including high accuracy, affordability and the ability to access difficult locations, but it’s also affected by the weather and environmental restrictions.

3D Scanning Applications

3D scanning is used across a huge range of industries, and as scanning and software capabilities continue to develop, it is becoming ever more important across various sectors. Here are the main applications of 3D scanning.

Entertainment

3D scanning is used to create 3D models in the movie, television and video game industries. In TV and film, it is often used in virtual cinematography, where it can be used to quickly scan real-world objects Artists commonly sculpt physical models and then 3D scan them, rather than manually create digital models with 3D modeling software.

3D scanning plays a similar role in the gaming industry, where it’s used in the creation of characters, props and landscapes, but it is also used in the development of virtual reality gaming. It can be used to create lifelike 3D representations of objects, people and spaces, so it’s very useful for creating immersive and interactive virtual gaming environments.

Medicine

3D scanning is becoming increasingly important in the medical world. One of the main benefits is that it can be used in the creation and customization of prosthetics, implants and wearable devices such as casts and braces. For example, prosthetics can be designed with great accuracy, increasing patient comfort, and 3D printing means they can be produced quicker and cheaper than traditional methods. 3D scanning is particularly common in dentistry for creating dental implants and other objects.

• We also have a feature story on 3D printed prosthetics.

Another notable use of 3D scanning in medicine is 3D ultrasound, where the technique can be use to create 3D images in obstetrics.

Architecture

3D scanning can be used to scan and analyze entire buildings in precise detail, which is hugely beneficial to architects. Like in construction, the point clouds produced by 3D scanners can be used to highly accurate measurements and visualizations. Doing this via 3D scanning and CAD software is far cheaper and quicker than traditional methods. 3D scanning is also useful to architects for reverse engineering of aspects of buildings, from exteriors to internal future.

• We also have a ranking of the best architecture software.
• Also check out our general ranking of the best 3D CAD software.

Construction & Engineering

3D scanning has a wide range of use in the construction and engineering fields. Aerospace was one of the first industries to use 3D scanning, but now it’s used in most construction, manufacturing and engineering processes. For example, in construction it’s useful for site modeling, the documentation of historical sites and quantity surveys, while in engineering it can be used to inspect equipment and for reverse engineering.

Reverse engineering is a particularly interesting use of 3D scanning. Parts produced several decades ago are generally only described via two-dimensional drawings, which can make accurate reproductions both difficult and time consuming. However, with 3D scanning, data of the shape of the object can be collected with great accuracy, and that data can then be used to create a new 3D model.

This model can then be used to create new molds and tooling, allowing manufacturers to create brand new parts with the same dimensional characteristics of the original. These reverse-engineered models can also be used to 3D print duplicates of the original. For example, 3D scanning can be used to restore classic car parts that aren’t available anymore. As 3D scanning removes much of the guesswork and is much faster than traditional reverse engineering, the process is extremely streamlined and results are highly accurate.

Archiving & Historical Analysis

3D scanning is increasingly popular among historians, art historians and archaeologists as a method of documentation and analysis. 3D scanning creates reproducible, highly accurate 3D models of artifacts and works of art, so it’s an important technique in archiving and curating. In addition, it allows for the sharing of accurate copies across the research and teaching communities.

3D modeling is also useful for historical analysis; for example, it’s often used in the modeling of facial features of humans’ evolutionary ancestors by scanning fossils. Other examples of the use of 3D scanning of historical artifacts include the scanning of sculptures by Michelangelo, the Kasubi Tombs in Uganda and Cuneiform tablets.

Design

Rapid prototyping and reverse engineering are very important to the design process of many products, so 3D scanning it a useful tool for many designers. When designers look to mimic natural materials, 3D scanning provides a fast, accurate way to study complicated arrangements and create new designs. In addition, 3D scanning provides great accuracy with complex parts and shapes, allows for shared web scans, and allows for coordinated product design using parts from various sources.

Forensics

3D scanning is now also a very important forensics tool for law enforcement officials. It’s valued for its ability to create highly accurate models of crime scenes, accidents, bullet trajectories and then bloodstain patterns. 3D scanning is useful for both documentation and analysis in this context.

3D Scanning Accessibility

If you’re interested in 3D scanning yourself, you’ll be glad to know that the technology is accessible to beginners, students and hobbyists, even if you’re on a tight budget. There are many small, handheld scanners suitable for home use which can be purchased for just a couple hundred dollars. Of course, the more you’re willing to pay, the higher quality scanner you’ll be able to get your hands on. The best 3D scanners, used by professionals, cost tens and even hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Conclusion

3D scanning is a technique for creating digital 3D models of objects, structures, environments, and even people. 3D scanners do this by collecting data about the shape and appearance of a subject, using calculations to construct a point mesh from the data, and then meshing and texturing to create a complete 3D model.

There are several different 3D scanning techniques, including contact and laser scanning methods, each with their own advantages and disadvantages. However, all 3D scanners are able to create highly accurate 3D models. The fact that they can often do this in a faster, cheaper way than traditional methods means 3D scanning is used across a wide range of industries, from entertainment and medicine to architecture and forensics.

3D scanning technology is constantly evolving and the last two decades have seen it becoming of increasing performance across a variety of sectors, and its importance is sure to increase even further in the coming years. There have even been strides made to incorporate laser scanning technology with smartphone apps, and it’s likely that someday we’ll be able to simply record videos on our phone and create 3D models from then, so the future is certainly bright for 3D scanning.

Other articles you may be interested in:

• The best 3D scanners
• The best DIY 3D scanners
• The best low-cost 3D scanners
• Top 3D scanner apps for iOS and Android