Even if you don’t have a LiDAR scanner on your iPhone or iPad, Polycam may still be worth the download just to see what people are scanning and sharing. Some people share ice cream or rock crystals, others share their extensive sneaker collection. Polycam is perfect for this since it includes built-in model sharing with the rest of the Polycam community, or “polyworld” as the app refers to it. Scan and Share Interesting or Cherished ItemsĪre you a collector? Whatever it is you collect-art, plants, games consoles, or even cars-you might get a kick out of exhibiting it online, in a 3D format.
Conor O’Kane is a game developer with a YouTube channel who has not only used this technique but created a tutorial showing how to do this and why small developers might be interested in the process. These engines are used heavily in game development, film, and interactive media. Once you’ve tidied up your scan you can import objects into 3D engines like Unity and Unreal. Scanning an object is a bit like taking a video, and when you’re finished you can export a file that can be used in 3D modeling apps like Blender.
While the assets that photogrammetry provides are often highly accurate and detailed, the process of taking an item from a series of photographs to a finished model you can use can take hundreds of hours.īy comparison, a scan made on an iPhone or iPad with an app like Polycam can take a matter of minutes.
Photogrammetry is the act of creating 3D objects from photographic data, and it’s a time-consuming process.
RELATED: The Best DIY Home Improvement Apps for iPhone and Android Create Your Own 3D Assets These apps allow you to provide 3D environment scans to potential buyers while still cutting down on expensive agent fees. Alternatively, it can provide a nice “before and after” comparison to look back on.Īnd lastly, selling your house without a real estate agent is surging in popularity. If you’re planning major work in a home you already own, a 3D scan can give you a base from which to work in a 3D modeling app like Blender (if you’re comfortable working in such an app).
The process is very similar to taking a walk-through video or series of photographs, both of which are common practices in the real estate world. If you’re currently looking to rent or buy a house, taking a scan of the building can help you make up your mind whether or not the place is for you. RELATED: How to See 3D Walking Directions in Google Maps Buying a House? Redecorating? Scan FirstĬapturing a 3D model of a room or building has some very practical uses. You can see LiDAR scanning in action in a YouTube video published by Polycam. Most of these apps are free to use, though there are paid upgrades that remove certain restrictions and improve the quality of the scans that you make. This is possible with apps like Polycam, RoomScan LiDAR, and Canvas: Pocket 3D Room Scanner.
Photographs and videos still have their place, but why not augment your memory bank with something you can experience in three dimensions instead? Having a 3D space to navigate is a lot more immersive than simply looking at a 2D image. Well if you have an iPhone or an iPad with a LiDAR scanner on the back, you can do exactly that.