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3D scanning provides a great way to capture items so it can be change in a modeling software. Whether its a big or small object, once an object is a mesh (the file made from a scan) you can manipulate it using sculpting tools or other editing CAD capabilities. A scaled down 3D printed driftwood sitting on top the 3D scanned driftwood. This is incredibly useful when you want to scale a part for 3D printing or create a CnC tooling from it. Mesh files can be scaled to different sizes while maintaining the highly detailed features of the real-world part that have been captured by the scanner. And this newly scaled mesh can be further modified by splitting it into sections for future assembly, or mix CAD features into it to assist with printing. In this blog we’ll discuss some tips to keep in mind while trying to scale a 3D scan for printing or CAD design. This way your prints can come out perfect and you can troubleshoot common issues when it comes to scaled mesh files! Tip One - Verify Polygon Count Polygons, which are the triangles that make the shape of a mesh, tend to be high (1 million+) for 3D scans. So high, some computers need to have the polygon count reduced in order to import into a printing or CAD software. Many of these triangles however can be combined into one larger one without sacrificing the mesh details - especially if the part has flat surfaces. A High Polygon Count Mesh on the right and a 75% reduced one on the left. If you're running into import issues due to the file size/polygon, running a mesh simplification process in a mesh editing software (like Blender or ZBrush) can make it much easier to work within the printing or CAD software. Additionally, you can reduce often times by up to 80% and not notice a difference in quality. Making it much easier and faster to scale or rotate your parts around! Keep in mind that when you reduce a mesh by a significant number of polygons it will also affect the resolution (smallest visible feature) and may make details become less prominent in the final print. Tip Two - Adapt to Tools and Layering Used Depending on the manufacturing process used there will be limits to the quality and minimum sized features it can make. When you scale a mesh you're going to be directly affect the the thickness, heights of bumps, and texts of the part. This may result in some features being difficult to see in the final output or even too thin to machine/print. Checking a cross section or other machining simulations to verify how much material is there. Before running a scaling process on the mesh verify the minimum feature size your tools can work with and that even after scaling, the features can still meet it. For example, with a printer running a nozzle of 0.4mm you'll have a harder time getting details from items you've scaled smaller when compared to a 0.2mm, as this nozzle can print in a finer detail and smaller lines. After scaling the part to be smaller it now has missing sections and thin walls for features, resulting in a failed print. Tip Three - Scaling uniformity Meshes files are great for scaling due to the polygons ability to maintain uniformity during the change. Each vertex of a polygon is driven by an XYZ coordinate, which scaling is modifying these based on a value you enter. The way each of these coordinates change can also be affected based on the center point of scaling, or if a non-uniform scaling method is chosen. If these are left unchecked, you may accidentally scale the item improperly and have ill-fitting matching surfaces or scaling in unintended directions. Two different settings for scaling this 3D scan and their results. Before starting any scaling process, verify that you have the correct scaling settings you need enabled and have aligned the mesh to a coordinate system. It's easy to have an improperly centered scaling, resulting in subtle shifts that change the final version of the mesh. Also, when the mesh is in a proper orientation so a non-uniform scaling extends the features in one single direction. Tip Four - Check Import and Feature Units before and after scaling When importing a mesh the units of each polygon will be set based on your export and import settings. If the mesh file was exported in millimeters you'll need to import the mesh also in millimeters, or else your mesh will be automatically scaled by the conversion change. Additionally, features made to specific dimensions will get scaled along with the the entire 3D scan as it's apart of the "mesh body." When importing this mesh into Fusion360 it asks the Unit Type. Verify that this matches the units used when exporting the mesh or file from another program. Verifying the units and verifying post-import may seem like a simple task, but it's often overlooked and can't be changed later if you've started modeling/modifying the data. The same goes for adding features post-scaling. If you create specific cuts and realize the model needs to be 10% larger, the cuts will also be 10% larger. If you have specific dimensions that a hole needs to be on the scaled mesh, add these after scaling within your CAD/Sculpting software. Or, create CAD bodies that represent your cutouts (such as cylinders for pins, planes for flat surfaces) and use them to boolean (delete) from the mesh after scaling. Closing Notes Scaling a mesh is a great way to capture something small or large and make fantastic replicas at different sizes. The combination of the high-resolution 3D scan and the mathematically perfect ability to scale the data makes it a great for when the details matter most. Before starting any scaling, making small checks like the ones outlined above can help with ensuring you're making the most idealistic model and that your tools can properly make them how you intended. Interested in learning more about how your products or artwork can be digitized and replicated? Reach out to our team via arkify3d@gmail.com  or use the Contact form on our website. Happy Scanning!

3D scanning is an excellent way to bring your real-world object into a digital space for 3D printing, machining, or modifying for new designs by creating mesh files. But it also carries over any imperfections from the real-world part through the scanning process. Or, the mesh file can't be imported into your software and needs to be a solid or surface CAD file for CNC machining. The good news is that mesh files can be made into CAD files with different methods! In this blog, we'll discuss the different methods of Scan to CAD conversion workflows to help you learn what method may be best for your project. A mesh file converted to CAD - making perfectly sized threaded holes or specific curves. Mesh file vs. Solid file 3D Scanners produce graphical mesh files by default. This can be helpful for most applications like rendering, 3D printing, or inspection. And the mesh can still be sculpted in programs like Zbrush or Blender - bypassing the need to possibly even convert it into a solid. But if you want to add new features to the model, like threaded holes, this won't be possible without converting it into a solid body first. Converting a mesh into a solid may also be needed to create CnC tool pathing, as many programs can't run collision detection on graphical mesh data. Solid files also allow you to have perfect dimensions and surface angles for 3D printing or machining. A scanned part will typically include small bumps from natural wear or imperfect shapes. By converting a mesh into a solid CAD body, adjusting dimensions of features or making proper 3D printable features can be achieved. Converting Mesh to Solid CAD Mesh to CAD conversion can be done through different methods, but there are three methods that are standard for most parts: Auto-Surface - By using auto-generated sketch lines, the software will attempt to convert the polygon mesh into a solid body through a series of surface patches. Small imperfections like bumps or scratches will also be included, however, in the new solid/surface body. Additionally, the solid made from this isn't editable like standard CAD files would be; they are a single solid feature and may lose some detail depending on the generated sketch lines. A mesh file next to an auto-surfaced version. Very similar, but the auto-surfaced solid can be exported as a .step. If you are attempting to convert a statue into a solid for machining, getting dimensions for drawings, or making a mold, this may be fine for your application. It is the quickest and often seen as the most "one-to-one" conversion of scan data into a solid or surface body, depending on the scan. Design Intent - Using the 3D scan as a reference, you can create ideal dimensions and surfaces that match the scan data by using surfaces, sketches, or features extracted from the scan data to drive your design. Making a proper "intended" CAD design of the part. This is the most common method of reverse engineering and is used by anyone looking to manufacture a part or make large changes to a design. This prismatic model can be modified by adjusting dimensions, having new features like threads or text added, or used for assembly design. A 3D-scanned part that has been converted to a CAD solid with modifications done to certain features for use in a new design. This method is suitable for most applications and is often seen as the ideal method of converting mesh to CAD models. By using the 3D scan, you can ensure your model's features are in the correct location or check clearances. Keep in mind, however, this is a manual CAD process and requires having software capable of importing mesh data and creating CAD features like sketches or extrusions. Hybrid Model - Combining both auto-surface and design intent modeling, you can create solid bodies that can keep complex natural shapes but have a properly dimensioned feature combined with it. This method is ideal when most of the object doesn't need to be changed beyond a few features - such as creating flat surfaces to print from, through holes for drilling, or cuts for mounting. The 3D scan on the left had closed holes at first. Cylinders were added and removed from the mesh data to create through holes. If you aren't looking to make major changes to an object, this could be a fit for your needs. It allows you to keep as much detail from the scan as possible but clean up some unideal features created from scanning, such as hole diameters, to make future design/printing easier. It is also typically available in sculpting software such as Blender or Zbrush and doesn't require CAD software. Why convert to CAD While not all applications need a mesh file to be converted into a solid body, most engineering and manufacturing applications do. It is an important step if you're considering 3D printing, machining, or making new parts from scan data. Additionally, not all programs can read mesh files (.stl, .obj, .ply) and require some form of solid-body data to load properly. 3D scanning allows you to remove much of the CAD guesswork, however, and streamline the design process! Using 3D scans and CAD software, any part can be recreated. If you have any questions or would like to begin a scanning project with us please reach out via arkify3d@gmail.com  or using the Contact form on our website!

3D scanning your artwork will not only digitally preserve it, but also make it possible to quickly replicate it many times over to sell to your patrons Are you an artist looking to 3D print copies of your work? In this blog, we'll walk you through the basic workflow of taking a freshly made sculpture from 3D scanning to 3D printing. While this process may sound complex at first, it couldn't be easier! Interested in learning more about the benefits of 3D scanning for artists? Check out our article "Should You 3D Scan Your Artwork?" here! Step #1 - 3D Scanning We start the process by taking 3D scans of your sculpture from different angles to ensure the entire item has been captured. Once all of the pieces have been scanned, we align all the scans together in our 3D editing software. Our software will generate a 1-to-1 3D model replica of the sculpture from the scans. One of the keys to creating a beautiful 3D print starts with a highly detailed mesh file. Our 3D scanners can capture up to 0.15mm resolution—enough to show the fingerprints on a human hand! We can also accurately capture any color or painted textural detail on your artwork—an excellent option if you'd like your 3D print to include the color of your sculpture. Step #2 - Editing The Mesh After the 3D model has been created our team has the ability to edit it further in our software. We can make such edits as cleaning up and smoothing out rough spots, duplicating and removing portions of it, or giving it a flat base (check out our blog post "Mesh Editing for CAD, 3D Printing, Mold Making, And More" to learn more about potential edits our we can make for your scans). Step #3 - 3D Printing At this moment, Arkify does not offer 3D printing services. Once we finish editing and cleaning the 3D model, we will send you a file of your digitized sculpture to print on your own (typically a .stl file). For 3D printing, you have a few options! If you have a 3D printer: You can import the file we send you into a free 3D printing software such as Cura to start your printing. If you don't have a 3D printer: There are many easy-to-use 3D printing services online (such as this one) where all you need to do is upload your file, select the material you'd like it printed in, and the company will ship the print to you when it is finished. As you can see, it couldn't be easier to start 3D printing your artwork! If you have any questions or would like to begin a scanning project with us please reach out via arkify3d@gmail.com or using the Contact form on our website! Happy Scanning! Interested in seeing more great 3D scanning content? Subscribe in the footer below to receive an email notification every time we post a new blog!

How our photo texturing service can take your 3D models to the next level with enhanced photorealistic textures Are you looking for enhanced realism in your 3D scan textures? Our photo texturing service gives 3D models the same crisp texture as a photogrammetry model, with the highly accurate mesh body of a 3D scan! Photogrammetry VS 3D Scanning Photogrammetry will create a model with a more realistic texture, but a less accurate mesh than a 3D scan. This might mean that the model looks highly detailed with the texture on, but once the texture is removed, fine detail is lost and the mesh itself looks less defined. Conversely, 3D scanning will provide a highly detailed mesh (down to 0.5mm accuracy), but a more dull texture than photogrammetry overall. Our photo texturing service combines the best of both worlds, by creating a mesh based on 3D scanning and aligning it with a texture created by photogrammetry. A Look Into The Photo Texturing Process We start our photo texturing process by getting a scan of our subject on a textured background. The background provides important tracking data to our software that will help it match the subject's position in our scan to the subject's position in the photos. This is important for proper texture alignment. Before flipping our subject over to scan the other side, we move it into our photo booth. It's important to be careful with this step as any movement of our subject on the textured background could result in a misaligned texture. When taking photos it's important to make sure the lighting is consistent and not too harsh. Changes in lighting can cause the final texture to look patchy and unusually colored, while harsh lighting can create a glare effect. We take about 20 photos and then move our subject back to the scanning table to scan the underside. We repeat this process of scanning and taking photos until all sides of the subject are captured. The software we use gathers data from both the scans and photos and aligns them together to create our final model! It's important to note that the mesh itself is only constructed from scan data, while the texture is made from our photo data. The final result is a highly accurate mesh with a crisp, photorealistic texture! Photo Reference Service While on the topic of cameras, we also offer a photo referencing service that provides you with in-depth photos of your scanning subject to use as a reference for any further custom texturing or modeling you'd like to do on your own. Standard Photo References - Photos of your scanning subject from six different angles (Top, Bottom, Front, Back, Left Side, Right Side). Macro Photo References - We can use a macro lens to capture highly detailed, close-ups of scanning subjects. These work great as a reference for how texture appears in smaller areas, such as areas with fine stitching and fabric details. Polarization Lens - We can use this with any photo service to reduce glare around the edges of more reflective scanning subjects. Interested in trying out any of our photo services on your next 3D scanning project? Reach out via email at arkify3d@gmail.com or via our Contact form on the website! We're happy to answer any questions and get you started Never want to miss a blog? Subscribe in the footer below for updates every time we share a new blog. Happy Scanning!

How 3D scanning can help you build a digital library of items for design work, e-commerce, and more. 3D scanning can allow a business or individual to build a digital library of their products that can be utilized in different ways from the design stage all the way up to the sale of the final product. In this article we'll touch on three possible uses for 3D scan libraries: creating functional art libraries to speed up your design work, building an archive to reference and preserve previous projects, and displaying a 3D viewable digital inventory for your e-commerce customers. 1- Create Art Librarys To Streamline Your Design Process Creating a digital library of 3D scanned parts can be an excellent tool for designers! In our photo example above, we've added two different combinations of socks and shoelaces to a base shoe. Swapping in and out individually scanned parts, like shoelaces and socks, can be a quick and easy way to try out a multitude of looks and designs for a single product. Scanning the parts individually allows them to be switched in and out with little to no modeling needed, saving you hours of time and letting you focus on the creative aspect of designing your product. Our example above could be broken down even further to individual components of the shoe such as the sole, side panels, logo, etc. to create a design that's as customizable as your imagination. 2- Archive And Reference Previous Work With Ease 3D scan-based digital libraries are also a great way to archive past work. These archives will never degrade over time as a physical archive would, will not take up any space, and can be used to quickly reference past projects. In our photo example above, we demonstrate how it is easy to swap between different iterations of the same project in a 3D editor (in our case, Blender). Such models can be compared in the same editor side by side, or even further modeled upon as a base for new designs, then organized and neatly tucked away in your computer's dedicated file folder until they're needed again. 3- Make Your Products Stand Out By Showcasing Them In A New Way Create a 3D scan library of your entire inventory and showcase them on your website for customers to view in 3D or eliminate the need for a cumbersome photo shoot and make a variety of beautiful product renders in minutes. Both are great options for showcasing your product. Displaying your products in 3D allows customers to inspect the item from any angle, giving them a more informed image of your product before their purchase. Doing so can help ensure your customers are getting the products they want, resulting in higher customer satisfaction. Creating digital renders instead of going through a traditional photoshoot saves you time and money! When using a 3D scan of your product in a 3D editing software such as Blender, you can quickly adjust settings such as lights, backgrounds, and item positions to create a wide variety of dynamic product renders, realistic enough to pass for photos. This process takes half the time of a traditional photo shoot and does not require you to have a photo studio, photographer, or expensive lights and camera equipment (Blender is free!). Artists, hobbyists, and businesses of any size can take advantage of these 3D scan libraries to help them through their projects every step of the way—from the creative process to the end result! If you'd like to start a scanning project with us or have any questions on the process, please reach out via email (arkify3d@gmail.com) or via the Contact page of our website. Happy Scanning! Never want to miss a blog update? Subscribe to our mailing list in the footer below!

Exploring a few of the popular mesh editing services Arkify offers with 3D scans Need a 3D scan to be cut in half, given a flat base, or have certain features smoothed or removed? Our team can edit your mesh before exporting to speed up your project's timeline! Our mesh editing services can assist you with a wide variety of needs from autosurfacing your model to creating a 3D printable mold. While there are a number of modifications we can apply to your scan, we'll be using this blog to discuss our most commonly requested ones. 1 — Cutting Planes We can divide a 3D scan into multiple pieces using planes. Planes create a perfectly flat surface where they cut, ideal for tasks like 3D printing that require a flat base. 2 — Creating Hole Locations Occasionally, hole locations don't turn out perfectly round on a 3D scan. By using a cylinder tool to redefine them, we can do things like creating a rounder hole feature or adding a new fitting for a bolt location. We recently touched on this process in a case study here. 3 — Scaling and Mirroring By default, a 3D scanned object will be the same size as its real-world equivalent. We are able to scale your model up or down by your desired percentage as pictured in our example on the left. Increasing or decreasing the scale of the model will not affect the resolution and it will retain its original quality of detail. In the example pictured right, we mirrored a 3D scan of a right-footed shoe to create another shoe that could be worn on the left foot. Mirroring can be helpful in a number of different scenarios. For example, you may take a 3D scan of a traditional right-handed mouse and mirror it to create a left-handed one that could be produced and sold to consumers who are left-handed. 4 — Defeaturing and Smoothing Our defeaturing and smoothing processes create cleaner, simplified meshes, useful for projects you wouldn't want small bumps to appear in, such as mold making and 3D printing. The smoothing process softens and removes noise from the mesh, while the defeaturing process removes small bumps and unwanted elements (pictured below). 5 — Autosurfacing Autosurfacing converts a 3D mesh into a solid body, a process ideal for those who are CAD modeling. Autosurfacing is great for situations in which you don't want to modify the main body of a scan. For example, if you have a 3D scan of a bike seat you'd like to add new mounting locations to within a CAD software. Autosurfacing the seat will convert it to a one-to-one solid body duplicate of the original mesh, allowing for boolean operations to be done on the autosurfaced solid. This is handy for cases where you want to scan a part but not modify the base scan, just add a few additional features or cuts to it. 6 — Mold Making This process uses a combination of tools to create the start of a 3D printable mold. Removing your 3D scan's shape from a block is often the hardest and most time-consuming step in the mold-making process. We have ways to smooth and remove a 3D scan from a block and split it in half. This can quickly create a base of the mold which can be exported and brought into another modeling software for further development, giving you an excellent jumping-off point for developing your mold. In this blog, we've explored just a few of the tools we have available and assist with your projects. If you are curious about a specific process or would like a scan edited with one of these methods, please reach out via arkify3d@gmail.com or the Contact page of our website for more information! Never want to miss a blog update from us? Subscribe to our mailing list in the footer below for updates every time we post something new!

A look into 3D scanning small parts for reverse engineering, 3D printing, and retrofitting Over the summer, we were approached by a customer who wanted to replace a broken plastic component on their headphones. Since the part was from an older model and was difficult to locate on the market, the customer wanted to render it into a 3D printable CAD model. Upon our initial examination of the part, we noted that it was quite small and freeform in shape. This would make it difficult to accurately measure by hand for modeling from scratch— a perfect candidate for 3D scanning! Prepping The Scan Since the small part was very dark in color and fairly shiny, we applied a light self-evaporating scanning spray to the object to ensure the scanner would be able to capture all the component's features. Before scanning, we also used special clips to hold the component in a position that would let us capture all sides of it at once— an action that would give us a better quality of alignment in the final mesh. Processing The Scan Data Since the original part was so small, it was important for us to process the scan data at a high resolution of 0.2mm to make sure hole locations and ribbings were visible on the model. Processing the data at a higher resolution ensures the final mesh shows all the details of the original part, but leaves as little noise as possible, resulting in a highly detailed, clean mesh. Pictured below is our final 3D model for the customer. Hole Fill Vs No Hole Fill Our software has the ability to fill holes to create a watertight mesh while processing the scan data. While our customer preferred a watertight mesh for this project, there are some cases in which a non-hole-filled mesh can also be used to help with reverse engineering (hole-filled vs non-hole-filled meshes pictured above). A non-hole-filled mesh will have smaller pockets that will make it easier to identify walls. It is important to note that a watertight model is required for 3D printing. Our studio offers both hole-filled and non-hole-filled options when exporting meshes. Possible Additional Steps While it wasn't needed for this project, we have the ability to clean up the mesh further using construct and mesh editing tools to create a 3D printable part (pictured above). Additionally, if the customer would like to model further off of the 3D scan, we can take real-world photos of the part to provide additional references to aid in the modeling process. 3D scanning for reverse engineering and 3D printing is one of our most commonly requested, non-apparel-related projects. It is very common for customers to use their 3D scans as exact replicas to retrofit existing parts. A 3D scan provides all the measurements needed for modeling—especially for legacy, broken, or small components that would be difficult to find or measure by hand. Are you interested in starting a 3D scanning project with us, but not sure where to start? Reach out to us via arkify3d@gmail.com or on our contact page! We're always happy to answer any questions you have on the process. Never want to miss a blog update from us? Subscribe to our mailing list in the footer below!

How our studio prepares our two most commonly requested apparel items, shoes and hats, for 3D scanning Ever wonder what kind of prep work goes into a professional 3D scan? How someone can take a floppy item, like a beanie, and make it look like it's being worn on an invisible subject's head? Or what small changes to a shoe's laces can elevate the quality of the scan? In this article, we'll be laying out a few of the steps our team takes when preparing apparel items for 3D scanning. Shoes and hats, two commonly requested items, will serve as our primary examples. Shoes Step #1 - Add Stuffing When preparing a shoe of any kind for 3D scanning, we first stuff the footwear with a soft material such as bubble wrap or newsprint (pictured above). The stuffing serves as a makeshift foot inside the shoe — filling out concave areas and helping the shoe stand upright. Stuffing also helps reinforce the shoe's shape from the inside, preventing any changes in shape while being moved to change scanning positions. During the processing stage, we digitally remove the stuffing so it doesn't appear in our final model. Step #2 - Prop Up The Tounge If the shoe has a tongue, it's a good idea to prop it up with a small dowel (pictured above). Just like stuffing the shoe, this will help the tongue stand up straighter and give the illusion an invisible wearer has their foot inside. Propping up the tongue will also make any design or logo on it more visible, something you'd most likely want to be displayed in your final 3D model. Step #3 - Straighten Up Here's where attention to detail comes into play. Spot the difference between the two shoes in the photo above. As the line drawn through the left shoe illustrates, each part of the shoe is lined up with another. The knot is aligned with the center of the tongue's embroidery, laying flat underneath it without hiding it from view. Additionally, the subsequent laces below are all laid flat and in line with the knot. This alignment gives the left shoe a much cleaner and more streamlined appearance than the shoe on the right. Unless we're trying to achieve a specific stylized effect, it's important to ensure all components of a shoe are lined up with each other to produce a more polished-looking final mesh. Step #4 - Reduce Shine As an optional final step, we may lightly dust any reflective areas with a small amount of talc powder to ensure they are accurately captured by the scanner. The dusting of talc is light enough that it does not affect the color of the area it was applied to and is easily wiped off after scanning is complete. Common shiny areas that require powder could be; any reflective metal components such as aglets or eyelets, metallic logos or decals, and particularly reflective pieces of leather. Hats Step #1 - Use A Mannequin Head Hats and other headwear, such as bandanas and headbands, are significantly easier to scan when placed on a mannequin head (such as this one from Amazon). A mannequin head acts in the same way as the stuffing in our shoes—it holds the hat up and fills out any concave areas to make it appear it's being worn. Why not stuff the hat with newsprint or bubble wrap like we do with shoes? The mannequin head provides a few advantages: The head holds the hat high enough off the scanning surface that we can capture both the top and bottom of the hat in one scan—this makes the construction of the final 3D mesh much easier. The head fills out the hat in a much more believable way than stuffing— which can sometimes appear lumpy when used with the thinner material of a hat. During the processing stage, we digitally remove the mannequin head so it doesn't appear in the final mesh. Step #2 - Straighten Up Once the hat is on the mannequin head, we check to make sure all lines are straight. As you can see in the photo above, each component of the hat is in line with the mannequin and each other. The horizontal seam follows the line of the back of the head while the vertical seam follows along the line of the top of the head. The rim of the hat is also folded to the same height the entire way around the hat. Just like in our shoe example, this straight alignment gives our model an overall cleaner and more symmetrical look. Step #3 - Stylize As an optional final step, we like to an in a few artful wrinkles and folds (while still maintaining our adjustments to the hat's alignment) to enhance the hat's style and natural "being worn" look. Just as in our shoe example, if the hat has any buckles or reflective metal embellishments a light dusting of talc powder can be used to eliminate the shine. These techniques can be applied to almost any other apparel subject such as bags, gloves, and accessories. Interested in starting a 3D scanning project with us? We'd love to work with you! Reach out through our email at arkify3d@gmail.com or via our Contact page!

Exploring the limitations of structured light scanners and how to work around them when scanning subjects with more challenging textures As we've mentioned in previous articles, some textures, such as shiny or transparent ones, don't always play well with 3D scanners! A structured light scanner (the kind we employ in our studio) works by projecting a grid pattern of light onto its scanning subject. Cameras on the scanner watch the pattern of light and determine things like size, shape, and surface details of the subject by observing how the grid lays over the object. This process provides amazing and accurate detail for subjects with 'standard' (i.e. opaque, non-reflective) surfaces. Enter shiny and clear objects and things begin to get a little more complicated. As shown in the illustration above, clear and transparent surfaces allow the scanner's light grid to pass through them, preventing the scanner's camera's from being able to observe how the grid lays over them. On the other hand, shiny objects cause the opposite problem. The light grid is reflected off of the subject in a way that obscures the grid and the scanner is once again unable to observe the surface of its subject. Common examples of shiny objects could be reflective plastic, mirrors, and smooth metal components. Examples of clear and translucent objects could be glassware, wax, and gemstones. While these surfaces can cause issues for a wide variety of 3D scanners, there are a few things we can do to work around them. Namely, applying sprays and powders to the scanning subject to either reduce its reflectiveness or increase its opacity. It's important to note that some of these treatments are temporary and can be easily removed from the scanning subject, whereas others are permanent and unable to be removed. It is also important to note that sprays used to bring opacity to clear subjects will prevent the scanner's ability to capture the subject's color. However, it is possible to apply a handmade color texture to the 3D model later, as we discuss in our blog posts Editing Materials on 3D Scans and Custom Textures with Quixel Mixer. The following is a list of sprays and powders that can be used for scanning: Talcum powder (removable): Shiny and reflective objects can be lightly dusted with talcum powder to dull shine. The coating of talc required is light enough that it will not interfere with the scanner's ability to capture the subject's color in any noticeable way. Talc powder can be wiped away from the subject once scanning is complete. Scanning Spray (removable): Transparent, opaque, and particularly reflective objects can be sprayed with a specially formulated scanning spray that will temporarily cover the subject in a light, even coating. The spray our studio uses cleanly evaporates from the subject within a few hours and leaves no residue. Because the spray is opaque it is important to note that it will prevent the scanner from capturing the subject's color. Matte Finish Spray (permanent): Matte finishing sprays, such as Krylon Matte Finish, can help dull shiny objects with an even matte finish. The spray will not interfere with the scanner's ability to capture the subject's color at all, but it is permanent and cannot be removed from the subject once applied. Please note that it's likely all transparent and translucent items will need some kind of spray coating to scan well. However, not all items with shiny surfaces will require spray or powder, depending on how reflective they are. Curious if your shiny or clear object will scan well? Send us an email with a photo of your item and our team will be happy to let you know if it needs any powder or spray! Happy Scanning! Never miss an update by subscribing to our mailing list in the footer below!

A look into the many advantages 3D scanning technology can provide sculptural artists Sculptors, potters, carvers, welders, bronze casters— three-dimensional artisans of all mediums, have you ever considered digitizing your work with 3D scanning? You should! 3D scanning your artwork creates an exact replica of the piece both in geometry and color. You can use this replica in a wide number of ways, from archiving your work to collaborating with other artists around the world! In this blog post, we'll explore a few possible advantages to digitizing your art. Preserve and Protect Your Work Depending on the medium used and where the art is stored, sculptural art can degrade and become damaged over time. Creating a 3D scan copy of your artwork will not only protect it from becoming lost or damaged, but it can also preserve a pristine copy of the work for years to come. A digital copy can also be an incredibly useful tool when it comes to making repairs to your original work, similar to how we've seen 3D scans used to help rebuild the Notre Dame Cathedral after its fire in 2019. Make More Sales With 3D Prints Just as 2D artists can scan and make print copies of their drawings and paintings, 3D scanning allows sculptural artists to do the same! 3D scanned sculptures can be printed in a wide variety of textures and materials, ranging from basic plastic to ceramic and metal. The process of making prints can allow a sculptural artist to reach a wider audience and make more sales by having a lower-priced alternative to more expensive original works. 3D printed copies also allow the artist to play with variables like size and material while maintaining the same detail and integrity of the original sculpture. Reach A Wider Audience With Digital Galleries The rise of digital art galleries are expanding artists' reach around the globe, allowing them to break restrictions previously held over them by physical spaces. In a digital gallery, installments are not governed by the same spatial limitations and physics we deal with in the real world, allowing artists to fully tap into their creative potential! Since most digital galleries can be accessed virtually anywhere via the internet, an artist is also able to reach a much larger number of viewers than they might displaying their art in a traditional gallery. VOMA, the Virtual Online Museum of Art, had this to say about their online gallery—"It affords us the opportunity to collaborate with museums and collections around the world, bringing artworks to a huge global audience. We can show works from across history, bringing hidden works into the light and shedding new light on well-known pieces." Such galleries could also save on costly shipping of art installments, cut back on potential damage to art during transport, and allow the same art installment to be displayed in multiple galleries at once! Collaborate Over Long Distances Many of our apparel clients use our 3D scans to digitally collaborate on designs with remote team members. The same use could easily be applied to artists who'd like to collaborate on works with each other over long distances. The potential for different types of collaborative projects is vast— artists can combine works, add digital modifications via 3D software, or even create interactive augmented reality experiences together. Since everything can be transferred over the internet, artists are not limited by their location and can collaborate with creatives from all over. In this article, we've discussed just a few of the unique advantages 3D scanning can offer artists. If you'd like to learn more, Artec 3D has a great case study on how award-winning artist Jamie Lester utilizes 3D scanning in his work here! Interested in trying out 3D scanning for your next sculptural piece, but still undecided? Feel free to reach out to our team with any questions you have via arkify3d@gmail.com or on our site's Contact page! Happy scanning! Never want to miss an update? Subscribe to our mailing list in the footer below!

Starting with a 3D scan base for your modeling project can be an effortless way to reduce time and increase detail in your 3D works. Do you enjoy crafting detailed 3D models, but stress over how long it takes to finish each piece? Perhaps you're particularly interested in sculpting specific parts of a 3D object, but find modeling up the base parts tedious. Or maybe you love the entire process, but just can't seem to achieve the right amount of detail when you're modeling by hand. The solution? Use a 3D scan as a starting point for your project! Swapping in a 3D scan base mesh for your usual routine can cut modeling time in half (sometimes more) and give your model detail previously out of reach. This technique can also allow 3D artists to jump into the creative portion of their work right away since the base work has already been done for them. In this article, we'll be briefly exploring a few example ideas — in progressing complexity—on how 3D scans could be applied to your next project. Example #1 - Modeling Objects Around A Scan Starting with a simple example— our floral locket 3D scan (pictured right). Since the locket's chain was more challenging to scan (due to its small size, lack of rigidity, and reflective material), our team decided to scan the locket by itself and replace the chain in Blender afterward. we were able to model up a basic chain of torus shapes by following this short tutorial by CG Cookie on Youtube. The chain was then connected by adding a small half-torus to the top of the locket that looped through it. Overall, our entire process took about 15 minutes from start to finish. Example #2 - Modeling & Sculpting in Missing Components Moving on, this WOW Deathwing figure was missing his arms— so our team modeled him some new ones in Blender! Using Blender's built-in sculpting tools, we were able to turn a basic cone shape into a spikey tentacle arm. We then duplicated the arm and aligned them to each side of Deathwing's torso where his original arms had been. After some adjusting of their positions and a little blending with the sculpting tools, the new arms fit perfectly to his body. On the topic of collectible mini-figures, it should also be noted that this approach could also be used to create custom 3D printable gear and modifications for existing figurines! Example #3 - Adding Detail With a Particle System An already detailed 3D scan can be quickly enhanced in Blender with a particle system or geometry node! We added a “fuzzy” effect hair particle system to this cat ear beanie in 5 minutes following an easy tutorial by PIXXO 3D on YouTube. The scan retained the same knit line and fold details underneath while gaining the added realism of a soft fiber texture. Example #4 - Building Upon A Scan Using a Combination Of Techniques Our last example, a gingerbread man cookie 3D scan (pictured right), has had a combination of Blender modifications added to it to create the decorated cookie on the left. Starting with the plain cookie scan as the base, we modeled a layer of frosting on top and embellished it with an assortment of sphere shapes to create candy details. We then used Blender's texture paint feature to paint color details on the modeled frosting layer. Finally, for added realism, we applied a geometry node-generated crumb sprinkle to the model's edges. As you can see from the examples above, adding additions or modifications to 3D scans is a quick and easy process. Due to their strong starting points, all of these projects were able to be completed in under an hour, leaving us with more time and energy to create other great models! Did you find this blog post interesting? You can subscribe in the footer below for updates on more posts like this one!

A short guide on turning your 3D scans into game-ready assets for use in Unreal Engine 5. Using your 3D scans as videogame assets is an easy way to create a realistic game environment with beautiful graphics. This process has been made even easier thanks to the introduction of Nanites in UE5, a new virtualized geometry system, which eliminates the need to worry about 3D models with high polygon counts. In this article, we'll walk you through the process of importing and staging your models in UE5 as well as the (optional) process of reducing your scan's file size in Blender. We hope that after you finish reading, you'll see how importing your scans into Unreal is an incredibly simple process. If you have not already installed Unreal, you can download it from their website here. Let's begin! Unreal Engine's Nanites Explained Introduced with the launch of UE5, nanites allow users to render very high poly meshes in their games without a big performance cost. How does Unreal's new virtualized geometry system work? According to the official Unreal Engine 5 Documentation: During import — meshes are analyzed and broken down into hierarchical clusters of triangle groups. During rendering — clusters are swapped on the fly at varying levels of detail based on the camera view, and connect perfectly without cracks to neighboring clusters within the same object. Data is streamed in on demand so that only visible detail needs to reside in memory. This essentially means you can now use high-poly meshes without worrying about using up too much memory. It is now possible to import your scans as they are to Unreal without going to the trouble of using a tool like Blender to lower the poly count. However, as Unreal mentions in their documentation, it should be noted that larger file sizes will take up more disk space, and may make it difficult to upload and share your game with collaborators and users. If disk space is a concern for you, check out our article Lowering 3D Scan Poly Count in Blender 3.0 before moving on to the instructional portion of this post. The linked article will help you reduce the size of your 3D scan files while maintaining the majority of their quality and detail. Even with the reduced file size, Unreal recommends that you enable nanites for all meshes to ensure optimum performance of your game. Importing And Staging Your 3D Scans In UE5 Now that we've explored nanites and how they work, let's import our first 3D scan into Unreal Engine 5! Start by navigating down to the Content Drawer in the lower right of your screen. You can use hotkeys Ctrl + Space to open it. Select the folder you'd like to place your model in and right-click it to bring up the folder options. Select Add/Import Content > Import/Game/[YourGame'sName] > Select both the mesh and its .png texture file and import. Once your files are selected for import, you will get to customize your import settings for the mesh. To keep things simple in this tutorial, we recommend following our settings pictured to the right. Be sure "Build Nanite" under Mesh is checked to enable nanites on your scan, even if your mesh is already low poly to ensure optimum performance. After import, your screen should resemble the picture below. One Default Material, one Mesh, and one Texture. To place your 3D scan mesh in your scene, simply click and drag the mesh from the Content Drawer into your 3D Viewport. If you'd like to place the object on something specific, like the table in this example, hover the object over the table in the viewport before letting it go. It should snap to the table's surface automatically. To adjust the position, rotation, and scale of your mesh in your 3D viewport, you can select the Move, Rotate, and Scale icons shown in the picture below. Be sure to only use the middle handle on the Scale Gizmo (this will highlight the whole gizmo yellow) if you'd like your model to be scaled uniformly (pictured below). Finally, you can apply texture to your model by clicking and dragging the .png Texture you imported directly onto your model in the 3D viewport. Your model will turn gray for a few moments before the texture appears. This action will automatically generate a new editable Material in the Content Drawer as shown below. Simply double-click on the new material in the Content Drawer if you would like to make any edits to it. Thanks to Unreal's nanite technology, building and rendering highly detailed scenes with your 3D scans is easier than ever! By using 3D scans to build out your game's environment, you're not only creating scenes with stunning graphics, but you're also saving all the time you would have spent modeling the same thing by hand. Have you tried using your scans in Unreal Engine yet? Was this blog post helpful? Consider subscribing in the footer below for updates on our future posts!