RealView unveils three 3D desktop scanners

We don't see too many 3D scanners 'round these parts, so we'll be excited to hit RealView 3D's booth at CES and see what all the fuss is about. The RealView 360? 3D Desktop Scanner is being billed as the world's first desktop scanner capable of capturing objects in their full 360? topographic glory, suitable for scanning mugs, model space ships, D&D figurines, and whatever else fits on its base. There are three models available: RealView 360 3D (the plain ol' VGA scanner), RealView 360 3D HD (for that hi-def resolution you crave) and RealView 360 HD Commercial (for large format scans and kiosks). Beyond that, we'll just have to wait for CES 2009 to open its doors. Soon.

[Colin Jones @ Jan 8th 2009 3:42AM]

Reminds me of Half-Life 2 teleportation thing in the labs...

[oshean @ Jan 8th 2009 3:51AM]

Now I can digitize my wife's knickknak collection and sell off the clutter.

[OneLove @ Jan 8th 2009 1:29PM]

Can I digitize your wife's knickknak?

[sixt33n @ Jan 8th 2009 3:52AM]

hmmmm i've already thought up of things to scan in 3d >:D~~

[Arkenklo @ Jan 8th 2009 3:56AM]

No, you won't be able to scan your dick. Sorry.

[sixt33n @ Jan 8th 2009 3:58AM]

well that just killed it.

[Shinigami @ Jan 8th 2009 4:00AM]

@Arkenklo
cut it off and put on the scanner.
*warning* you won't be able to glue it back when you cut it off, just in case you didn't know.

[Patriks7 @ Jan 8th 2009 4:04AM]

"*warning* you won't be able to glue it back when you cut it off, just in case you didn't know."
Sure you can, there just will be a damn lot of.. uhm.. malfunction :x

[thedesolate1 @ Jan 8th 2009 4:43AM]

Wont you please think about the children?

[Nadool @ Jan 8th 2009 5:26AM]

Hmm...no I think even children are too big to fit on the base. Nice idea though!

[AlexisP @ Jan 8th 2009 10:39AM]

Nadool: LOL :)

[Student Driver @ Jan 8th 2009 3:20PM]

Maybe it will. We'll have to wait for the first drunk intern to scan her ass on one during the Christmas party.

[Michael @ Jan 8th 2009 3:59AM]

It will be cool when these things are actually a complete sphere that scans around the whole thing in gigapixels and automatically creates 3D models.

[Shinigami @ Jan 8th 2009 4:01AM]

Huh? It doesn't do that now? Whats the point then???

[Patriks7 @ Jan 8th 2009 4:03AM]

This thing doesn't do "gigapixels and automatically creates 3D models".. at least as far as I know..

[Arkenklo @ Jan 8th 2009 4:06AM]

What? That's exaclty what it does. It scans the object in high res 3D, then creates a virtual digital 3D image. You can then transfer that image (I guess) to a 3D printer, and get a fullsize exact plastic copy.

[Michael Scrip @ Jan 8th 2009 4:09AM]

How hard is it to interpolate the bottom of a flat object? The computer doesn't have to scan spherically to know that the bottom of that snowman is flat.

[feffrey @ Jan 8th 2009 4:05AM]

I am curious what sort of format these scans would be in. would it be like a jpg only split for each side? Or would it be in some sort of special format with a program to view it in 3d? Or would it be superbly awesome to put it in some sort of cad file with dimensions?

[Mario @ Jan 8th 2009 4:55AM]

I can't see any reason why it wouldn't output CAD files. Then you could edit it, and print it out on a 3D printer!

Replicators, here we come!!

[cr4a @ Jan 15th 2009 9:59PM]

I'm guessing PDF-3D (check Wikipedia page on PDF).

[bolezhinkov @ Jan 8th 2009 4:48AM]

sweet science this is awesome. I dont have any practical application for it at this point but who cares.

[YunG @ Jan 8th 2009 4:59AM]

We'll see 3D Ads soon, I guess.

[Robotochan @ Jan 8th 2009 5:13AM]

We're now one step closer to completing the sensor array of Johnny 5. awesome.

[Hackettman @ Jan 8th 2009 12:37PM]

I miss Johnny 5..... Do they make likenesses or is that a too niche market?

[tekdroid @ Jan 8th 2009 5:42AM]

http://www.real-view3d.com/homepage_files/image004.jpg
What I find amusing is the company has chosen a simple JPG image to demonstrate a device that does 3D.

I had more fun with Quicktime VR
http://www.apple.com/quicktime/technologies/qtvr/

[Arkenklo @ Jan 8th 2009 9:28AM]

Have'nt you heard? It's the new standard.

[Elvis @ Jan 8th 2009 5:48AM]

My College project from 2006 was exactly this project. (Romania, UTI, Computer Science) I was using a Laser and a web cam and a step-by-step motor that were spin a surface. The resulted object was build in MAYA. Over That Using the Web Cam I was able to stick over the 3D object the skin (texture) of the object.
The resulted 3D object in Maya was an exact REAL replica.
Using Maya You can animate...
http://img514.imageshack.us/my.php?image=3dscannerqs6.jpg
Don't say that is the "first". In our school there are a lot of projects.

[Elvis @ Jan 8th 2009 5:54AM]

+
http://img296.imageshack.us/my.php?image=3dscannerzb8.jpg

[emagius @ Jan 8th 2009 8:30AM]

It's the first commercially available desktop 3D scanner. There are plenty of prior custom-made 3D scanners.

[loosely_coupled @ Jan 8th 2009 6:16AM]

This thing is cool, but no doubt it'll be expensive..

If you want a cheap DIY 3D scanner, there is an awesome free software project from some German professors (don't worry its in english). All you need is a webcam or camcorder and a cheap laser level. In fact, any laser that projects a straight line will do, and any laser pointer will do with an appropriate plastic lens on the front that turns the dot into a line. On the website they have some examples for the cheapest way to do this.
check it out: http://www.david-laserscanner.com/ // This is not a spam link -- I am not involved in this project in any way

[Arkenklo @ Jan 8th 2009 9:27AM]

Oh, I did'nt realize Jobs has his own Taxi-company, I see why you posted that here.

[*Alex @ Jan 8th 2009 11:44AM]

come back when you've got something that can scan into a CAD or modelling program, that be cool

[Hackettman @ Jan 8th 2009 12:41PM]

Aside from being transported to CAD and the such in film I can see this type of scanning being exported to Maya or AE and then just build in the movement and such from there..... I mean I think itd be somewhat easier to destroy a 3d scanned model of something than the compiled model.

Also this would be nice for online purchasing so you can see everything up close and personal..... A few years and maybe but its nice to dream......

[Hackettman @ Jan 8th 2009 12:42PM]

I meant "somewhat better looking"

[Thijs @ Jan 8th 2009 12:44PM]

It kind of has to scan spherical right? You are now scanning the object from a fixed point wich will result in holes in your model. For example what about the area under the nose of the snowman? It can't scan there because the nose is in the way, so it has to make up what is there.
Maybe I'm missing something, maybe the arm can move up and down?

[gizmog @ Jan 8th 2009 12:51PM]

There are already commercial desktop 3D scanners that have been available for several years:

This is one that I have seen, appears they have a new HD version as well.
www.nextengine.com

[Ahmed Alzayani @ Jan 8th 2009 2:03PM]

The first turn off is there website is just one "JPEG" Image

[Ahmed Alzayani @ Jan 8th 2009 2:05PM]

And the website HTML is saved form MS Word!!! just read the source code and LOL.

[Fred @ Jan 8th 2009 2:05PM]

Feeling Software has announced software that can create a 3D textured model based on digital camera pictures at various angles. This probably uses a similar process, but the math is made a bit easier by the set angle between the two cameras, and the controlled rotation of the turntable. I hope this isn't too pricey, or I will be forced to spend way too much personal time trying to complete a Make Magazine version of some sort.

[fulltilt @ Jan 9th 2009 11:27AM]

Options for output:
1) Multiple jpegs for a simulated 3D experience, they arent doing this, they have stereo vision for real 3D

2) Polygon model with color (STL, obj, vrml, etc) you can make an animation (maya), or print a replica (Z Corp) or machine a replica (Roland). Editable only in scale, and by deforming surfaces, not a CAD file

3) a CAD model with parametric editable features, see Rapidform XOR at Rapidform.com (not automatic, but alot quicker than anything else for complexity and accuracy)

Re the shadowed parts, the software is available to register scans from different set-ups, (e.g., a scan set around the equator, and a set around the poles). e.g. rapidform XOS.

+1 on Next Engine being the first consumer grade desktop scanner

Yes, I work for Rapidform

[ict @ Jan 13th 2009 3:16PM]

The NextEngine desktop scanner has been out for years. https://www.nextengine.com/