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This article was taken from the August 2013 issue of Wired magazine. Be the first to read Wired's articles in print before they're posted online, and get your hands on loads of additional content by subscribing online.
Looking to make a 3D scan but can't afford to splash out on all that expensive hardware? Thanks to affordable consumer electronics such as PrimeSense's Carmine, you can now capture 3D images at home. Here's how to get yourself set up.
Download 3D software
There are several free options: download Manctl's Skanect software at skanect.com (it's designed with novices in mind), or try the non--commercial version of Profactor's ReconstructMe software from reconstructme.net.
Get the right camera
Although Microsoft's Kinect is suitable for 3D scanning, it is cumbersome with its motorised base and additional cable. The PrimeSense Carmine and ASUS Xtion sensors are lighter and better suited to freehand scanning.
Light your object
Set up indoors and light your object evenly with LED or photography lighting. Avoid direct sunlight, says Nicolas Tisserand, cofounder of Manctl. "RGB-D sensors are sensitive to external infrared sources such as sunshine."
Snap your scan
The camera needs to cover the whole object. Isolate it, leaving enough room to walk around and preserve the minimum distance between it and the camera (usually 50cm), or put it on a rotating stool and keep the camera fixed.
Finishing touches
Export your scan under a 3D format, such as .stl or .obj, and show it off with publishing services such as sketchfab.com. If you want to use it to create a 3D-printed object, use Scanect or ReconstructMe to fill in any holes in the image.
This article was originally published by WIRED UK
