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Step-by-step guide to using Polycam to make 3D scans of small objects
April 2, 2024
Overview:
- Download Polycam
- Prepare your object
- Photograph your object
- Upload the photos
- Share your model
1. Download Polycam
Search the App Store for “Polycam 3D Scanner” and download.
Download and open the app.
Click the camera button to scan.
2. Prepare your object
First clean your lens.
Put the shoe on a turntable. Ideally, the turntable should be in front of a gray or black background.
Remember which side of the object is facing you.
3. Photograph the object
Click Auto mode.
Click the circle to start capturing photos.
Rotate the turntable slowly.
Move the phone up and down as you rotate.
Tip: auto mode takes a photo when you move the phone, so keep slowly moving the phone up and down.
Spin the turntable 360° and then go an extra 10° so that you overlap photos with where you started.
Pause capture.
Flip the object, making sure it doesn’t squish or change shape.
Again, spin the turntable 360° slowly, moving the phone up and down.
Press the red square to stop capturing photos, then press Done.
4. Upload your photos
Make sure Photogrammetry mode is selected.
Click “Full” detail and “Use Object Masking” (this will cut out the object from the background for you).
Click upload.
You must keep this screen open the whole time your photos are uploading. Don’t change apps, or let your phone screen turn off.
Once all the photos have been uploaded, you can leave this screen and wait for Polycam to do its magic!
5. Share your scan
When your scan is ready, it will appear in your Library.
Click on the shoe scan to open it.
You can rotate and zoom to view your shoe from any angle.
Click the Up arrow to share your scan.
You can either type someone’s email address in, or copy a link to the scan and send it to them yourself.
6. Common problems and solutions
- Object squishes
- When you turn the object upside down, make sure it keeps its form (stuff it with a sock)
- Lighting changes
- Make sure there are no shadows
- Use diffuse lighting from a window, or overhead sources.
- Photos are blurry
- Phone was moved too fast
- Phone was too close to object/out of focus
- Background is too colorful
- Use a white turntable and a black background so the images aren’t too light, dark, or color-shifted
- Not enough photos are taken
- When using Auto mode, photos are only taken when the camera is moving, so keep slowly moving it up and down.
- Scan failed (unknown reason)
- Maybe the turntable was moving too fast — it should be moving very slowly.
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Happy Scanning from Polycam 🚀