We chose the Artec Micro II as the 3D scanner for multiple reasons:

1. The Artec Micro II was specifically designed to scan extra small to small objects.
   We used the Artec Micro II because it scans tiny objects. The size limit is anything you can hold between two fingers up to those that fit in the palm of your hand (approximately 200 mm). This 3D scanner has four 13-megapixel cameras that scan an object from all angles to capture the fine details in minimal time.

2. The Artec Micro II is a fully automated desktop 3D scanner.
   While 3D scanning a small object like this gemstone could typically require a lot of time and patience to achieve high-quality scans, the Artec Micro II streamlines the process. As an automated 3D scanner, it does all the hard work. Simply place the object on the magnetic base, adjust a few settings to specify your scanning preferences, and the scanner is ready to start acquiring scan data.

As we’ve mentioned in our article, Tips on Getting Quality Scans from Your 3D Scanner, doing simple preparation before scanning ensures you get the best results. It also avoids any post-processing issues down the road.

There are two challenges we have to tackle when 3D scanning this gemstone:

Challenge #1

Clear surfaces are a difficult surface to scan.

Light from the 3D scanner penetrates transparent or translucent surfaces during the 3D scanning process. This causes noise and inaccurate renderings of the 3D model.

For this demonstration, we sprayed this clear gemstone with AESUB Orange 3D scanning spray.

For clear or translucent objects, you need something that acts as a barrier to create a good 3D scanning surface. Using a 3D scanning spray creates an optimal uniform matte white surface for 3D scanning.

Challenge #2

The gemstone is a small object.

Fixturing an object securely guarantees that the part doesn’t move during the 3D scanning process. Alligator clips are particularly useful for fixturing as they provide a reliable hold (and avoid putting fingerprints on the object).

When using a small clip to secure the gemstone, it became apparent that the clip would appear in the scan. To address this issue, we scanned the gemstone twice: once with the clip at the top and once with the clip at the bottom. After completing both scans and removing the clip from the scan data, there was enough overlapping data in the two scans to align and merge them into a complete 3D model.

How to Get a Complete 3D Model Using a Clip as a Fixturing Aid

Here is the final 3D model after two scans (top and bottom) were aligned and merged.

3D scanning of this gemstone highlights various practical uses.

For example:

• In jewelry making, designers can obtain precise measurements of precious stones to craft intricate designs.
• Artifacts, even small ones, can be digitally archived for research purposes to be easily shared with other researchers.

Beyond these specific uses, the Artec Micro II demonstrates its versatility across industries such as dentistry and forensics, showcasing its broad spectrum of applications.

Wearable technology (VR/AR/MR headsets) has been around for quite some time. In 2016, Oculus Rift was introduced as the first high-quality yet affordable VR system for consumers.

As many tech reviewers have already noted, whenever Apple enters an existing market, the company redefines it and significantly grows the segment. Interestingly, with the introduction of the Apple Vision Pro, Apple created its own category, labeling the headset a ‘revolutionary spatial computer.’ This device seamlessly blends digital content with the physical world, termed by Apple as ‘spatial experiences’ instead of using the term mixed reality (MR). It operates on Apple’s first spatial operating system, visionOS.

Apple consistently aims to create the best product in its market segment. Think back to 2007, when the iPhone disrupted the smartphone market dominated by players like Palm and BlackBerry (smartphones that no longer exist). As many can attest, using any Apple device is so inherently intuitive that it feels almost second nature. Apple’s vision for the Apple Vision Pro is no exception. With this new product, the company is set on elevating the VR/AR/MR headset market to a whole other level.

Intuitive Controls

Relive Your Memories in 3D

Apple spent more than a decade on the development of Apple Vision Pro. Their entrance into the VR/AR/MR market now signals significant changes moving forward. We are already witnessing a substantial investment by developers in this product, with hundreds of apps launching on day one. Content creators are likely to follow suit. From what we’ve seen, the future of content creation is heading towards 3D. The best part? Apple Vision Pro empowers anyone to become a 3D content creator.

Adding 3D Content to Apple Vision Pro

With the ability to upload and share 3D models in Apple Vision Pro, spatial computing completely changes the 3D visualization experience. You don’t just view 3D models in an immersive 3D space. You can interact with them with your hands, making it seem as natural as if the object is right in front of you.

@bengeskin

Playing with 3D models on Apple Vision Pro is incredible Resolution is so high, that digital objects look very close to the real thing. They also adapt very well to the actual lighting in the room, and you can see your room in the reflections #AppleVisionPro #VisionPro #visionOS #spatial #spatialcomputing #ar #augmentedreality #mr #mixedreality #vr #virtualreality #future #tech #gadget

♬ Chillest in the Room – L.Dre

As bengeskin on TikTok sums this up, “Playing with 3D models on Apple Vision Pro is incredible Resolution is so high, that digital objects look very close to the real thing.”

Interacting with hyper-realistic 3D models on Apple Vision Pro is like magic. Imagine interacting with an ancient artifact that a museum has 3D scanned. Or, If your business involves selling a product—consumer goods, furniture, or even cars—how cool would it be for customers to interact with a 3D model of your product in the comforts of their own home before purchasing?

This fresh approach to 3D visualization unleashes endless opportunities for individuals, companies, and organizations to creatively use Apple Vision Pro, transforming the way we engage with information in a constantly evolving world.

When Apple launches a product, it garners widespread attention and a substantial increase in technology adoption. In contrast to Meta Quest, which primarily focuses on a niche market comprised mainly of gamers, the Apple Vision Pro aims at the broader consumer market.

“Experts say that Apple has made a crucial tweak in its marketing rollout for the Vision Pro: the company is focusing not on winning over hardcore gamers, but trying to normalize the idea of wearing a headset for everyday usage. Munster [longtime Apple analyst] estimated that about 40% of the apps on the Vision Pro are gaming-related, compared to more than 70% available on the Quest.”

Source: Times Article, The Biggest Decider of the Vision Pro’s Success Is Out of Apple’s Hands

Priced at $3,499 compared to the Meta Quest 3’s base price of $499, Apple Vision Pro is a premium product compared to the price tag of existing consumer VR/AR/MR headsets already out in the market.

Apple offers its technology at various price ranges, ensuring that individuals wanting an Apple product can find one at a cost-effective price.

While the Apple Vision Pro currently carries a hefty price tag, a more budget-friendly model of this headset will probably be introduced. Reflecting on Apple’s track record with products like the iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch, the company typically debuts top-tier premium models first, then later expands its reach with more accessible options at varying price points. It may not be long before we witness a surge in the adoption of Apple Vision Pro as more affordable versions of the headset hit the market in the future.

Apple Technology Base vs. Pro Models (US prices)

• 

  • Apple Watch SE: $249
  • Apple Watch Series 9: $399
  • Apple Watch Ultra 2: $799

• 

  • iPhone SE (base model): $429
  • iPhone Pro Max (premium model): $1199

• 

  • iPad 9th gen (base model): $329
  • iPad Pro 12.9” (premium model): from $1099

On the launch day of Apple Vision Pro, there were 600 new apps specifically built for the hardware were introduced. Currently, there are not a lot of truly immersive 3D apps that take full advantage of the hardware compared to standard apps for the device.

As we have seen in the past with Apple products like the iPhone and the iPad, apps play a big role in contributing to the success of Apple’s hardware. With Apple’s first entry into the headset market with Apple Vision Pro, we’re going to see a similar trend with a surge in developers motivated to create new apps for this new up-and-coming technology. The hardware launch is just the beginning of app creation for Apple Vision Pro. As developers get their hands on the headset, explore its capabilities, experiment with it, and push what is possible, it will inspire innovative ideas and encourage more developers to create 3D content for this new immersive environment. App developers and 3D content creators will undoubtedly shape the future of Apple Vision Pro.

With the anticipation of more developers creating apps for Apple Vision Pro, there will be a demand for a quick and easy way to create high-quality 3D digital assets. We’ve witnessed the use of 3D scanning in movies, TV shows, and video games for CGI applications. One of the ways to accelerate 3D content creation is to use a professional 3D scanner to scan environments or objects to capture ultra-realistic, high-resolution 3D models (or digital twins) of the real world. With a professional 3D scanner, objects can be scanned in just a few minutes.

Professional 3D scanners output far superior raw scan data quality and less noise when compared to consumer-grade 3D scanners or iPhone 3D scanners for 3D asset creation. Developers would need high-resolution 3D scans if they want to create realistic or immersive 3D experiences for Apple Vision Pro.

For a long time, professional 3D scanners from companies like Artec 3D have been used in movies and video games to speed up the conventional CGI workflow. For instance, Farm 51’s multiplayer First Person Shooter (FPS) World War 3 used the Artec Leo and Artec Space Spider to digitally capture people, uniforms, weapons, equipment, vehicles, and other props. These digital 3D assets were then used to create a hyper-realistic gaming environment.

Similar to creating CGI for video games and movies, professional 3D scanners can become instrumental in speeding up the pipeline in the creation of immersive 3D environments for Apple Vision Pro’s apps.

Excitement for Apple Vision Pro is high because it promises a truly unique experience and a glimpse into the future. Its success hinges on both the utility and the quality of its apps. The success of Apple Vision Pro lies in the hands of 3D content creators and app developers.

At present, 3D content for the Apple Vision Pro is still in its infancy, presenting significant opportunities for tools like 3D scanners to help expedite content creation and app development. We’re excited to see how Apple’s headset will shape the future of technology.

Wondering why the Artec Leo does a great job of 3D scanning in the sunlight compared to other 3D scanners? The reason is that the Artec Leo was designed to perform exceptionally well in any 3D scanning environment, whether indoors or outdoors.

Artec Leo uses a Class I Laser projector that displays a pattern invisible to the human eye onto the surface of your object. This is the reason why you can quickly scan in sunlight with the Artec Leo while still getting high-quality 3D scans.

Unlike other structured-light scanners that use white or blue light, the Artec Leo uses an infrared wavelength of light. Wavelengths of white or blue light are overpowered by the sun, whereas infrared light does not.

You can see how the Artec Leo excels at scanning a section of the railroad outdoors:

What’s extremely special about the Artec Leo is that it is the only wireless and fully standalone professional 3D scanner. It’s compact. It’s portable. It’s all you need for 3D scanning outdoors, making the 3D capturing process as simple as possible. You can scan anywhere.

Onboard Processing Power with Interactive Built-In Touchscreen

This handheld 3D scanner has an NVIDIA Jetson TX2 processor built inside the device, which means you don’t need to connect it to a computer or a tablet while scanning—the processing power is already inside!

You can see the scans in real-time right on the built-in 5” touchscreen display. The touchscreen builds a real-time digital replica of the object while you are scanning. Interact with the scans while you capture the object in 3D, showing you areas that need attention and helping you quickly get the best results. You can manage your device and the entire scanning process all in this single device.

Completely Wireless

There are no wires to trip over when using the Artec Leo. When fully charged, the battery is expected to power the Artec Leo scanner for up to 4 hours, with the duration varying based on usage intensity. Additional batteries are swappable for all-day scanning. Alternatively, you can use AC power with the provided cable.

When you are 3D scanning in an outdoor environment, you want to carry as little as possible if you are going to travel to scan offsite. In outdoor scanning, portability is key for offsite work. The Artec Leo’s user-centered design and simplicity make it an exceptional choice.

No Need For an External Tracker or Vision System

What is different about the Artec Leo is that it can track its own movement with its onboard processing—without using an external tracker. On the contrary, 3D scanners utilizing an external optical tracking device consistently require an unobstructed view with the 3D scanner.

The Artec Leo tracks movement internally. It also doesn’t need to use markers to establish positioning which makes it ideal for 3D scanning outdoors—it’s self-sufficient.

• 

  Artec Leo: Inside-out tracking

  (No need for an external tracker or vision system)

• 

  Outside-in tracking

  (Requires an external tracker or vision system)

100% Cable-Free Scanning and Data Transfer

With Artec Leo’s WiFi connectivity, data transfer is super simple. You can upload your data right from the device to Artec Studio 3D scanning software. You also upload directly to the Artec Cloud with scan-to-cloud functionality, so you can get to work right away if you are scanning off-site and need your data ready for you to continue post-processing when you come back from the office.

What makes the Artec Leo a smart 3D scanner? It’s powered by proprietary AI technology developed by Artec. This 3D scanner does all the heavy lifting so you don’t have to. Just point and shoot to get started on 3D scanning.

A typical 3D scanner relies on a cable connection to transfer images to an external computer for processing. In contrast, a smart scanner boasts an integrated computer and memory. The Artec Leo stands out by eliminating the need for an external computer in the field, handling both scanning and scan data alignment independently.

The Artec Leo makes 3D scanning look easy, but rest assured the scanner the Artec development team worked very hard to make it look that simple to help you capture the perfect scans—every single time. Especially for scanning outdoors where you can’t control environmental conditions, it’s great to have a 3D scanner like Artec Leo. The device only captures the data you need while getting HD quality and submillimetre accuracy scans.

Technical Specifications At A Glance

Having intelligence streamlines the capturing process—less capturing and processing time, as well as cleanup work. This all leads to significant time savings so you can finish your projects faster and be the most productive.

The Artec Leo offers a wide spectrum of objects you can scan, capturing medium-sized (20 to 50 cm) objects as well as large (50 to 200 cm) ones. When this portable 3D scanner is paired with a powerful computer, it can even scan very large objects (200+ cm) or even entire spaces!

The Artec Leo is adaptable for all types of applications including 3D visualization, reverse engineering, and inspection.

Objects you can scan outdoors with the Artec Leo:

• Arts: sculptures, monuments, statues
• Cultural preservation: archaeology sites
• Automotive: motorcycles, car, trains, buses, airplanes
• Manufacturing: pipes, factories
• AR/VR: 3D scanning props, people
• Forensics: crime scenes

Artec Leo Paired with Artec Ray II

The Artec Leo can even be combined with the Artec Ray II Lidar 3D scanner to capture high details of scenes or environments!

The Artec Leo is the most versatile 3D scanner that Artec 3D has ever made. What’s truly special about the Artec Leo is that for such a small device it packs a punch.

While the Artec Leo produces impressive results within a controlled indoor setting, the true test of a 3D scanner’s capabilities lies in its capacity to scan in all sorts of conditions. The Artec Leo is praised for its outdoor scanning capabilities, user-friendly features, and fully self-sufficiency, making it a powerful tool for professionals across various industries.