3D Camera Scanner

“Point-and-shoot” now applies to 3D scanning, according to Exact Metrology (www.exactmetrology.com), which is offering the Artec3D Scanner (www.artec-group.com)-- a handheld that operates like a video cam.

The scanner grabs 1.5 million points per second using both wide-depth-of-view 3D and megapixel 2D sensors, and takes aim at quality control, medical imaging, computer graphics and packaging purposes. Its ability to create 3D facial scans also makes the $15,000-system a candidate for animation purposes.