3D Scanner

Makerscanner

Flat color background. Camera is fixed distance from background. Makerscanner is taped down Makerscanner software - Latest as of 3/30/13

Pros

• Color point cloud in mesh
• Works well for small objects
• High resolution

Cons

• Can't scan all sides at once
• Needs stitching of multiple scans.
• Cleanup of scans needed before usable.

123Catch Web App Photos

Scan of bottle on white background. Photos taken with Canon Rebel T2i. Used flash despite recommendations to get decent lighting.

Tips

• Use graph paper, or something textured as the base for the object that you are trying to capture
• Try to make sure photos overlap.
• Don't use a flat background
• Try laying string around the object or hanging it!

Pros

Can use any camera, no special app needed Using your own camera and the 123d Catcb web site and/or app gives you much more control. If the process doesn't work, you can try and stitch/correct/upload more images

Cons

Website takes a while to process

123Catch iOS App

Tried same scan with Photos and with app

Tips

• Put a piece of graph paper below the object you are scanning
• Don't try to scan objects that only come up off your base by ~1/2". We had better success with objects ~8" x ~6" x ~6"
• Be able to rotate around your object easily.
• Even distribution of lighting
• Non moving object
• Non reflective object
• X after scan = broken

Pros

• Outside/sunny works well (good ambient lighting)
• App gives you a nice simple interface to accomplish the whole process (take picture, upload, process, view if successful)

Cons

• Many Many... times the scan just won't work
• Took a long time to get successful results.
• iPad App: If it fails, you lose everything, including all the photos you took

ReconstructMe

White background Kinect at 3-4 feet from surface.

Tips

Likes contrast and area to be well lit.

Pros

• Works well for large objects
• Produces PLY
• User can move slowly to make a complete 3D scan.
• Would support turn table.

Cons

• Limited free version. Inserts spheres into model. Can clean up with Meshlab.
• Must stay in optimal range when moving
• Small objects don't scan well.

ReconstructMe Console Edition

• Using the Kinect to take scans of the top half of humans

Tips

• Human objects scan well if they don't move any parts. Rotating them around on a turntable is fine.
• Normal lighting vs. dark lighting doesn't matter. We tried it outside at night, worked fine.
• Wind + Hair causes some issues!
• Human is placed about 3' away from front of Kinect, and slowly rotated (maybe 30 seconds for complete rotation)

Pros

• Works well for large objects
• Produces PLY, OBJ, and other formats.
• Free version is fully capable, just don't use it for commercial purposes.

Cons

• Must stay in optimal range when moving
• Small objects don't scan well.

Skanect

Scanned Josh. Was able to rotate him around to get a full body scan

Tips

• Distance away (3ft). Use preview and look at that to line things up.
• Move slow when turning

Pros

• Overlays texture on live scan

Cons

• Free only lets you export 5000 faces.
• Interface is a little confusing.
• Small objects bad