3D Scanning Minus the Scanner

Ever dream of the day when you’d be able to use your computer’s webcam to create 3D models? That day is closer than ever thanks to the hard work of Qui Pan, a student in the Department of Engineering at Cambridge University in England, who has developed software that turns a basic webcam into a 3D scanner. It’s called ProFORMA (Probabilistic Feature-based On-line Rapid Model Acquisition) and it works by following the same basic principles as motion capture, although the item being scanned doesn’t need to be covered in balls to have multiple cameras to track movement.

The software generates a 3D point cloud from the image in front of the camera and then eliminates any discrepancies caused as a result of the model being moved by hand through the use of a complex algorithm. Then, the image is converted from 2D to 3D using a process called Delaunay tetrahedralization.

No matter the ingredients, the advent of ProFORMA is poised to make 3D modeling something within reach of the masses. Just hook-up your laptop to your 3D printer and you’re on your way! Imagine the possibilities.