Scanning¶

Scanner Buttons and Capture Modes¶

Your 3D scanner may be in one of the following capture modes (each of which has a corresponding color and flicker rate of the LED indicator on the device if you’re using an Artec scanner):

Figure 41 Understanding capture modes (colors correspond to scanner LED indicator colors).¶

Idle—the LED is steady green .

This mode indicates either that the application has detected the scanner or that the user has clicked the Stop button in the Scan panel or pressed the button on the scanner body (see Figure 17). In this case, the 3D scanner is not flashing.

Preview—the LED is flashing red .

In this mode, the 3D scanner is capturing images, but the software is neither performing alignment nor recording captured frames. To start this process, either click the Preview button in the Scan panel (see Figure 54), press the button on the scanner body or hit the F7 key on the keyboard. This mode is useful when doing the following:

Checking the 3D scanner’s field of view

Determining the best position for the object

Preparing to recording and developing a scan procedure

Adjusting texture brightness

Recording—the LED is steady red

Scanning takes place in this mode, with the software storing 3D data to disk or RAM. Activate this mode either by clicking the Record button in the Scan panel, hitting the Space key on the keyboard or pressing the button (do so once for Preview and a second time for Recording). To pause recording, either click Pause in the Scan panel, press on the scanner body or hit the Space key.

Selecting and Preparing Objects for Scanning¶

Artec 3D scanners employ the structured-light method of 3D reconstruction. Since they capture 3D frames using optical technology, some types of objects are difficult to scan. Certain techniques, however, enable successful scanning of such objects. For example, you can cover a transparent or dark object with a light paint or dust it with talcum powder. You can also use other easily removable substances or a special anti-glare spray.

Table 1 Hard-to-scan Surfaces¶
Surface Features	Possible Solutions
Black or very dark	Dust with anti-glare spray
Shiny or reflective objects	Dust with anti-glare spray, tilt scanner when capturing
Transparent (glass, certain kinds of plastic, etc.)	Dust with anti-glare spray
Thin edges	Add background geometry (e.g., crumpled paper)

Note

If your scanner supports the HD mode, then you can capture dark or shiny surfaces in high resolution, in their original shape and with no extra steps. See HD Scanning and HD Reconstruction for details.

Technique¶

Artec 3D scanners capture objects at a rate of 15 frames per second to ensure that adjacent frame areas overlap as you gradually move the scanner. Artec Studio uses features in overlapping areas to automatically align captured frames. It performs this task in real time, providing immediate access to the frames in a single coordinate system. You can evaluate the captured area after the scanning session to determine which parts of the object require additional scanning.

Figure 42 Scanner orientation and reconstructed surfaces.¶

Figure 43 Distance meter and distance color showing surfaces that fall within the optimal range for Artec EVA.¶

To accurately capture an object or scene, follow these steps:

Pay closer attention to the object on the screen rather than looking at the actual object.
Ensure that Artec Studio can accurately register frames from the scanner. To this end, do the following:
- Don’t move the scanner too fast
- Keep the object as close to the center of the field of view as possible
- Maintain the scanner orientation in such a way that the field of view is sufficiently filled with surfaces (see Figure 42)
- Try to position the scanner in the way the most surfaces in the field of view are colored in green which corresponds to the center of the range meter 1 (Figure 43)
If you’re capturing an object over several scans, remember to capture a common area in each one to ensure successful alignment
If you’re capturing an object in one scan, do so all the way around the object—regardless of direction—plus a little more (360+ degrees)
Avoid capturing any objects that may change shape during the scanning process. When the geometry of the scene is changing, the system may fail to find the correct position of new frames relative to previously aligned ones. If you have captured unwanted objects, you must remove them later during the editing stage (see Editing Scans).
Don’t record too many frames: ensure that you have sufficiently scanned all regions, but avoid scanning them twice, except when providing overlapping areas for subsequent alignment.

1: Technically, the center of the range meter is the center of the depth of view. The 3D scanner has near and far cutting planes (see Figure 16) that determine the optimum distance between the scanner and the target object. Artec Studio offers the Range meter feature so you can easily visualize the distance between the scanner and the object during the recording process. The Range meter comprises a set of semitransparent diagrams located on the left side of the 3D View window (see Figure 43). Each histogram displays the distribution of captured surface points by distance from the scanner. The color corresponds to the set of surfaces from which it was obtained: by default, gray indicates registered key frames, dark green indicates the last successfully registered frame and red indicates a registration error.

Scanning Procedure¶

Artec Studio creates a new scan in the Workspace panel at the beginning of each session.
When you start Preview mode, Artec Studio will hide all uploaded scans. This mode helps you to determine how well the 3D scanner sees the object, and it helps you to identify areas that may cause trouble during the scanning session. To begin the scanning process, click the Record button in the Scan panel or press the button on the device body.
If your 3D scanner is equipped with a texture camera, Artec Studio will activate the scanner’s texture flash and capture color images that it will later use to texture the 3D model.

Prepare the object and make sure it has enough geometry and texture details (see Selecting and Preparing Objects for Scanning).
Provide even lighting without using direct sunlight.
If you have connected just one 3D scanner to the computer, Artec Studio will select it automatically; otherwise, you must select the appropriate device from the dropdown list under the Advanced section of the Scan panel.
If your selected 3D scanner supports the HD mode (such as Artec EVA) and you want to get the scanned images in high-definition resolution, you need to turn the HD mode on (see Enabling HD Mode for details).
Create a new project before getting started: select File ‣ New project from the menu, or use the shortcut Ctrl + N.
Decide how many sessions you need in order to capture the entire object. By using the Artec turntable, you may be able to avoid interrupting the session and eliminate the need to turn the object by hand. Depending on your choice, you may
- Turn the object
- Position yourself to gain access to the other area
- Use a rotating table
Click Preview or press on the scanner. Direct the scanner at the object and practice your movements around the object, taking into account the proper Technique.

Note

If you have checked the Enable automatic base removal option (it is disabled by default), then first direct the scanner at the surface that supports the object.
Click Record to start capturing.
Gradually move the scanner while monitoring the process in the 3D View window
Capture what you can and pause or cease recording by clicking the Pause or Stop button, respectively. Choose Stop if you must make adjustments to the object’s positioning (see the next step).
Turn the object or otherwise adjust it as necessary, then capture any remaining unscanned regions.
Once you have successfully captured the object from all sides, click the Stop button or press on the scanner body.

HD Scanning and HD Reconstruction¶

While all Artec scanners can scan 3D objects in the standard-definition (SD) resolution, Artec EVA and Artec Leo also support an HD mode — AI-powered scanning technology for ultra-sharp, clean, and detail-rich scans.

Key advantages of the HD mode:

Scanning with a high resolution of up to 0.2 mm
Broad range of objects that can be scanned flawlessly and in high detail: from smaller, intricate parts like valve handles, to larger areas with fine details like car engines
Little to no noise in raw data for cleaner post-processed data and saved time for your final 3D model
Capability to capture dark or shiny surfaces in high resolution, in their original shape and with no extra steps

To obtain HD scans from the data captured in the HD mode, Artec Studio provides you a special algorithm of HD data processing — HD reconstruction. This algorithm generates large, high definition frames with more details to give you complete surface geometry.

In general, the HD reconstruction is a time-consuming and resource-intensive operation. It requires:

Powerful Nvidia video card
Sufficiently large RAM

However, you can optimize the HD reconstruction by properly choosing its main parameters:

HD data density, which determines the number of polygons per frame used for data processing
HD-frames frequency, which determines the fraction of captured HD frames to be used for the HD reconstruction

See Enabling HD Mode for details.

Important

To obtain HD scans with your 3D scanners, the HD mode should be enabled in advance, before scanning or importing the HD data.

To find out more on the HD scanning and HD reconstruction with Artec EVA, see Notes on HD Scanning With Eva.

Setting the HD mode for Artec Leo is described in the Artec Leo manual. For information on importing the HD data from Artec Leo, see Opening a Project from Leo.

Tracking Modes¶

The software provides three tracking modes and one option:

Geometry + Texture, or hybrid: The optimal (and default) algorithm for 3D scanners equipped with a texture camera. It uses features from images obtained using the texture camera as well as geometrical features of the object and thus is more likely to successfully capture flat or textureless objects. The only possible drawback is greater CPU utilization compared with other algorithms, potentially decreasing the frame rate for less powerful computers. You can use this mode with Artec MHT, Artec EVA and Artec Spider.

Figure 44 Texture tracking renders color object (scanner’s current field of view outlined in green).¶

Geometry: The default algorithm for all 3D scanners that lack a texture camera (Artec EVA Lite). It uses only object geometry to align the scanned frames, making it suitable for objects that have a rich geometry but not objects with large flat, spherical or cylindrical parts. The Geometry tracking algorithm is the least CPU hungry.

Figure 45 Main window when using Geometry tracking to scan objects.¶

Targets: A special algorithm for scanning objects with special targets placed on their surfaces.
Real-time fusion (option): Available for Artec 3D scanners, this option fuses the results immediately after scanning.

Base Removal: Erasing a Supporting Surface¶

When you capture an object, you can often omit from the scan any surface that supports the object. The Base removal option serves this purpose. To employ this option, first indicate the surface on which the object is resting and then capture the object. If this approach is unsuitable for your situation, clear the Enable automatic base removal checkbox.

Open the Scan panel.
Check the Enable automatic base removal option (it is disabled by default).
Click Preview and direct your scanner at the surface that supports object (e.g., a table or the floor). A gray wireframe plane will appear, indicating the scene’s base.
Once the application detects the base, it will display a message: “Now scan the object.”

Important

If Artec Studio fails to detect a supporting surface, you can still start recording.
Click Record () and then direct the scanner at the object.
Scan the object freely. You can pause and resume the session as necessary.
Click Stop; all scans will move to the coordinate system with the Z axis normal to the base.
Close the Scan panel. The Base removal algorithm will remove the previously detected supporting surface. If not, erase it manually.

Figure 46 Scanning with the Enable automatic base removal option.¶

Resuming Scan After Lost Tracking¶

Artec Studio records adjacent frames on the basis of common surface features. If the scanner stops recognizing common features, it will stop capturing the scene. This situation is called lost tracking; if it happens, just direct the scanner at a recently captured region. There are, however, nuances, which we address below.

Table 2 lists several causes of lost tracking. The most common is moving the scanner too fast.

Table 2 Causes of lost tracking.¶
Reason	Possible Solutions
Moving the scanner too fast	Move the scanner more slowly or increase the Scanning speed
Scanner sees too few surfaces	Apply an anti-glare spray or direct the scanner at a larger part of the object; increase Sensitivity of Artec Spider
Object doesn’t have enough features for successful tracking	Apply masking tape or draw markers on the surrounding surfaces, and/or move the scanner more slowly

Figure 47 Alert message: tracking lost.¶

The Scan using auto-alignment option may ease the process of resuming tracking (this option is enabled by default in the application settings). Note the following:

Artec Studio switches almost instantly from displaying Tracking lost mode (see Figure 47) to Searching for position, which appears on a green background.
To continue scanning, direct the scanner at a region you’ve already captured.
- Try to maintain the original scanner orientation toward this region
- You need not necessarily use the most recent one, but it should have sufficient texture features.
If the application successfully resumes tracking, it will start recording in a newly created scan. This new scan will already be aligned with the previous one. All the scans will also be grouped.

Figure 48 Workspace panel after resuming tracking.¶

The Scan Using Auto-Alignment section describes system behavior when this option is disabled.

Auto-align new scans with those marked in Workspace¶

Auto-alignment is a great timesaver and may help simplify further processing. But for projects that involve scans using Geometry + Texture tracking and for which the actual scene is unchanged, you can continue scanning immediately:

Ensure that the Scan using auto-alignment option is turned on in Settings (see Capture).
Mark previously captured scans using the icon in the Workspace panel.
Select Geometry + Texture tracking as well as the Auto-align new scans with those marked in Workspace checkbox in the Scan panel.
Click Preview, direct the scanner at a textured region you’ve already captured textured region—maintaining the original scanner orientation—and then click Record.
If tracking resumes successfully, Artec Studio will align the newly recorded scan with the selected ones.

Scanning With Real-Time Fusion¶

Real-time fusion is a special mode in which Artec Studio builds a 3D model in real time while you’re scanning. It’s the easiest and fastest way to obtain a model, but it cannot completely replace the normal workflow for processing raw scans after capturing them. Thus, we recommend avoiding Real-time fusion in the following cases:

The scene is large and the amount of GPU memory is limited
Objects have complicated shapes that cannot be captured in one scan session
The object has small geometric details
Extra-high accuracy is required

Figure 49 Real-time fusion model.¶

The Real-time fusion feature is available for each tracking method.

Open the Scan panel.
Select the required tracking mode.
Select the Real-time fusion checkbox 2.
Click Preview and then Record. Observe the recommendations in Scanning Procedure.
Pause and resume the session as necessary.
When you stop scanning, the Workspace panel will add one or more raw scans named Spider Scan1, Spider Scan2, Spider Scan3 and so on, as well as one model named Spider Scan1-Fusion. The number of these raw scans corresponds to how many times you pause and resume scanning (see Figure 50).

Figure 50 Workspace panel after using Real-time fusion.¶

You can access the Settings window and use the Performance tab to configure the following Real-time fusion settings (see Real-Time Fusion Settings):

Voxel size: 3D resolution of the model (i.e., the size of the triangulation-grid step in millimeters). The smaller the value, the more geometric details you can detect and capture in 3D.

2: If you selected the Targets mode and cleared the Disable hybrid tracking for .obc checkbox (see the Photogrammetry Settings section), Artec Studio will clear the Real-time fusion checkbox because it doesn’t support this combination of options.

Target-Assisted Scanning¶

Generally, you don’t need any special equipment to record using an Artec scanner. If the object has hard-to-scan regions, however, targets may be useful. In some cases, they can improve tracking and further registration.

Placing Targets¶

Whatever the method chosen, you should place at least non-coded targets on the object.

Attach non-coded targets (Figure 51) to the object using the following rules:

Try to place them on flat elements
Avoid uneven surfaces
Avoid obstructing significant geometric elements

Figure 51 Non-coded targets placed on an object.¶

Note

You can specify the target size in the Settings dialog of Artec Studio, as Photogrammetry Settings describes. If you use non-coded targets from the Scan Reference kit, specify 5 mm for the inner diameter and 10 mm for the outer diameter. You should measure targets from other suppliers and specify both diameters in the appropriate fields of the Settings dialog.

Place coded targets if your choice is photogrammetry (Using Photogrammetry Solution (Scan Reference)).

Prepare the objects and surrounding scene. All objects must remain stationary during measurement and capture.
Place the cross (Figure 53) on the scene, ensuring that it rests firmly, and it is seen from most points of view. Also double check that all targets on the cross are clearly visible.
Place the coded targets on the object and the surroundings. Note that you should distribute them such that at least six to eight coded targets are visible in each image. Random placement is preferable; avoid symmetry and target alignment.

Figure 52 Coded targets.¶

Using Artec Scanners Only¶

You don’t necessarily need a photogrammetry kit to benefit from targets placed on the object you’re scanning; Artec 3D scanners can do all the work. This mode employs extra-hybrid (Geometry + Texture + Targets) tracking and doesn’t require you to upload an OBC file.

Open the Scan panel in Artec Studio. Select Targets under Features to track.
Scan the object from all sides
Run Global registration

Note

As you scan (without having uploaded an OBC file), the application registers the target coordinates. You can then save an OBC file and use it in later scanning sessions. We strongly recommend running Global registration first, however.

Using Photogrammetry Solution (Scan Reference)¶

By using a combination of special reference targets and photogrammetric measurements, you can scan large areas in one session, improve the accuracy of captured surfaces and boost productivity by reducing postprocessing time. The only downside of this method is the preparation. After scanning, however, you need not align the scanned surfaces, so you can immediately proceed to Fusion (see the order of postprocessing steps in 3D Scanning at a Glance).

This synergy of technologies is possible thanks to Artec 3D-scanner and photogrammetry solutions. Several third-party photogrammetry offerings are available on the market. Scan Reference photogrammetry is one example. The Scan Reference kit includes hardware and software (see Figure 53), a digital camera, a reference-scale cross, non-coded sticky targets (which Artec Studio uses to match the captured 3D data to the photogrammetric measurements), and reusable magnetic coded targets (required to automatically carry out measurements in the Scan Reference software).

Figure 53 Scan Reference kit¶

The kit includes (from left to right) coded targets (foreground), a digital camera, a scale cross, a roll of tape with non-coded targets and a carry case.

To perform scanning using targets, follow these steps:

Take several photos of the object from different angles. To determine the appropriate number of photos, angles and targets for each image, as well as required settings for a calibrated digital camera, consult the Scan Reference user manual and FAQ article. General recommendations are as follows:
1. Take photographs at a distance of 0.5–1.5 meters with enabled flash
2. Each photograph should contain as much targets as possible and each target should be captured at least in 10 photos
3. Entire cross should be captured in first 10–12 photographs
4. Capture the object from all sides
Move the cross and the coded targets away from the scene.
Connect the camera to a PC, then transfer and process the photos using the Scan Reference software. Once the calculations are complete, the software will display measurement results on the screen. These results can appear as a point table or a 3D model.
Save the point model in an *.obc file. This format is the software’s default.
Open the Scan panel in Artec Studio. Select Targets under Features to track.
Click Load targets from file and specify the OBC file path.
Scan the object. When you finish, the software will align all scans.

Important

If you don’t want the texture and geometry features to assist target scanning, select the Disable hybrid tracking for .obc checkbox (Photogrammetry Settings).

Using Certain Scanner Types¶

Notes on Scanning With Spider¶

Because Artec Spider has smaller field of view and provides higher accuracy in comparison with Artec EVA, scanning using it can pose difficulties. Consider the recommendations given in Technique and also the following:

Opt for rotating table if possible
Use a piece of paper with text on it as artificial texture
Double check that objects don’t change their shape and position
Try tuning sensitivity in particular cases (see Sensitivity). Avoid extreme values.

We recommend using the Artec Spider scanner only after it reaches its normal operating temperature. As soon as you plug Artec Spider in or connect it to a PC, it starts warming up. If you open the Scan panel, you will see two lines that provide the device’s current and optimal temperatures. Artec Spider will warm up faster when it’s in Preview mode. The Scan panel also displays additional information about the time remaining until the scanner reaches its optimal temperature.

Note

Artec Spider can operate at temperatures beyond its optimal range, but the accuracy of captured surfaces may be lower.

Notes on Scanning With MHT¶

The flash feature in an Artec MHT scanner has a very large but limited number of operation cycles, so ensure that you disable the scanner when it’s not in use. Avoid leaving the Artec MHT on for a long time when using the maximum capture rate (15 frames per second). Artec Studio will automatically turn off the Artec MHT after five minutes of continuous operation. Normally the active mode/rest mode is 3 minutes of scanning and 7 minutes of rest; this mode is optimal and significantly increases the lifetime of the flash.

Notes on HD Scanning With Eva¶

To obtain a scan of high-definition resolution with the Artec EVA scanner, the HD mode must be turned on before scanning. Find out how to do this in Enabling HD Mode.

After the HD mode is enabled, perform your scanning as usual.

Once you finish scanning, the following will happen:

Two new objects will appear in the Workspace panel: a conventional scan of SD resolution and a raw data scan. The latter can be identified by its icon (). Using the obtained raw data scan, you can launch the reconstruction of the HD scan at any time (see Reconstructing HD scans from saved raw HD data for details).
If the Launch HD reconstruction after scanning option has been selected before scanning, the HD reconstruction will start automatically. The corresponding progress bar will be displayed on the Status bar.
When the HD reconstruction is complete, an HD scan will appear in the Workspace panel in addition to the SD one. Its name will be marked with the letters “HD”, for example: Eva HD Scan 1.

Tweaking Scanning Options¶

Figure 54 Scan panel: Advanced section hidden (on the left) and revealed (on the right).¶

Enabling HD Mode¶

If the scanner connected to your computer supports the HD mode (such as Artec EVA), to enable it, select the Capture raw HD data option in the Scan panel (Figure 54). Additionally, you can select the Launch HD reconstruction after scanning option. The specifics of each of these options are described below.

Capturing raw HD data¶

If you check Capture raw HD data in the Scan panel and start scanning, your scanner will be put into the HD mode, and the scanning will result in a conventional scan in SD resolution plus raw HD data. HD reconstruction will not start automatically after scanning unless the Launch HD reconstruction after scanning box is also selected.

Saving the raw HD data is very useful if, for example, your scanner is connected to a laptop that is not powerful enough for HD reconstruction, or you are limited in time and cannot wait for the reconstruction to complete. In this case, you can capture raw HD data and save the current project together with this data. Then you can transfer the project to a more powerful computer and perform the HD reconstruction at your convenience. Find out how to do this in Reconstructing HD scans from saved raw HD data.

Launching HD reconstruction after scanning¶

If the Launch HD reconstruction after scanning option is selected, HD reconstruction will automatically start as soon as your scanning is complete. Therefore, before you start scanning, you need to configure the HD reconstruction parameters: HD data density and HD-frames frequency. To do this, use the eponymous sliders.

The HD data density determines the number of polygons per frame that is used for reconstructing the scanned surfaces from the raw HD data.

The HD data density varies in the range from 1× to 36×. With the value of 1×, the number of polygons per frame is of the same order as in the case of the SD resolution. However, the surfaces reconstructed from the 1× HD data are cleaner than the ones based on the SD data. The density of 36× corresponds to ~3 million polygons per frame. The default HD data density is 4×.

Increasing the HD data density results in higher degree of resolution, coverage, and detail, but requires more memory and time for the HD reconstruction.

The HD-frames frequency determines how much of the captured HD frames you are going to use for the HD reconstruction. For example, if you select 1/3, then only every third HD frame from the captured ones will be used to build the HD scan. The fewer HD frames you use, the fewer polygons the resulting scan will have (i.e., it will require less memory) and the less CPU time the processing will take. On the other hand, it is more likely that you will lose some of the scanned surface and the resulting HD scan will have holes.

When scanning complex objects or at a high scanning speed, it is recommended to use high HD-frames frequency values: from 1/3 to 1.

Important

The HD reconstruction is a time-consuming and resource-intensive operation. On slow computers, it can take up to several hours. If Artec Studio evaluates your computer’s resources as insufficient for the selected values of HD data density and HD-frames frequency, then the corresponding warning will be displayed. For information on resources requirements, see the Using HD mode section in System Requirements.

To learn about additional options for adjusting the HD reconstruction, see HD Reconstruction in the Settings section.

Disabling Distance Color¶

The Show distance color option (Figure 43) highlights the reconstructed surfaces in the field of view based on the working range of a particular scanner.

Red	Surfaces are too close to the object.
Orange, green	Corresponds to the middle of range. Green represents the optimal distance.
Blue	Surfaces are too far away from the scanner and about to disappear.
No color	Surface is not being recorded.

In some cases you may need to observe how well texture is being recorded. Disabling this feature would then help. Clear the Show distance color checkbox in the Scan panel to this end.

Real-time processing¶

The Enable real-time processing option is ON by default. This option enables Artec Studio to perform real-time operations like saving, mapping textures and surface optimization, during the scan process. These simultaneously occuring operations may sometimes, depending on your system’s CPU model, significantly reduce the scanning speed (FPS). In order to optimize CPU usage and restore FPS during scanning, you can uncheck the Enable real-time processing option in the Scan panel.

Disabling real-time processing can prevent decline in scanning speed. The real-time operations are then automatically performed immediately after scanning.

Tuning Texture Brightness¶

Note

This option is available only for Artec 3D scanners equipped with texture cameras.

You can adjust the Texture brightness setting in Preview mode. Use the slider to increase or decrease the brightness of frames captured by the color camera (see Figure 55). Note that the texture brightness affects texture quality as well as tracking steadiness. Observe the recommendations in the Table 3.

Table 3 Adjusting texture brightness.¶
Surface Color	Recommendation
Dark or black	Increase brightness
Light-colored or white	Decrease brightness

Figure 55 Increasing Texture brightness during Preview.¶

Preventing Overexposure¶

Artec Studio has error-proofing against overexposure. If the Auto-adjust brightness checkbox is selected and the specified value of Texture brightness causes texture to overexpose, the application will automatically decrease brightness to avoid damaging texture.

Sensitivity¶

You can tune the Sensitivity of Artec Spider scanner if the application fails to reconstruct particular surfaces. Increasing this setting enables the scanner to more easily capture black, reflective, translucent and fine objects (such as human hair). The higher the sensitivity, the noisier the recorded surfaces will be. Higher values may also reduce the scanning speed. For Eva and other Artec scanners, this setting is automatically adjusted.

Frequency for Capturing Texture Frames¶

By default, the Frequency of texture frames option is set to Automatic. In this mode, Artec Studio does not capture texture for every frame. To specify the frequency for capturing texture frames manually, do the following:

Check the One per … frame radio button (see Figure 54, right).
Using the spinner near it, specify the desired frequency: n.

After that, the texture will be captured for every n-th frame.

Deactivating Scanner Flash¶

If circumstances prohibit you from using the scanner flash, follow the directions below.

Figure showing scans with flash-bulb disabled

Figure 56 Influence of ambient light on captured results.¶

On left: flash is turned off; ambient light is poor; results—dark texture. On right: flash is turned off; lighting conditions are improved; results—good texture.

Note that if you disable the flash, you should compensate by using bright ambient light. According to our tests, acceptable texture quality is obtainable with the flash disabled if the surface illuminance is at least 1 000 lux. Compare the models shown in Figure 56, which were recorded under different lighting conditions.

The following procedure captures the textured model without using the scanner flash:

Open the Scan panel and click the Advanced link
Turn off the texture flash by selecting the Disable flash bulb checkbox
Use good illumination. Avoid fluorescent lamps.
Click Preview and direct the scanner at the object
Adjust Texture brightness and Texture exposure time. In most circumstances, values should be as low as possible, because increasing the brightness also increases a texture noise, whereas increasing exposure time can blur the texture. Instead of adjusting sliders, try to further improve the lighting conditions.
Capture the scene
Perform required postprocessing as described in Data Processing to get a textured model
Adjust texture parameters for this model as described in Texture Adjustment. Pay particular attention to the Hue and Saturation sliders. The Hue slider allows you to correct unwanted texture color.

Tuning Exposure Time¶

You can alter texture exposure time in the Preview mode. Adjust this parameter in tandem with the Texture brightness. Increasing exposure time can blur the texture. Don’t alter the default value unless it’s necessary.

Disabling Texture Recording¶

Select Don’t record texture checkbox if you don’t want to store texture information in your scans. It is located in the Advanced section of the panel and disengages both texture camera and texture flash in the scanner. Note that this option is unavailable for Artec EVA Lite. Don’t forget to select this checkbox once you have completed textureless scanning; otherwise, next time you want to start regular scanning the hybrid tracking mode could be unavailable.

Important

Just using the Geometry tracking mode it is still not sufficient for the application to don’t record texture. Make sure you clear the eponymous checkbox.

Decreasing Scanning Speed¶

Artec EVA captures objects at up to 16 frames per second, whereas Artec Spider at 7.5. Default values ensure comfortable scanning with smooth movements. However, if you find scanning speed inappropriate, you can decrease it. In this case, Artec Studio will record fewer identical frames and register them faster. To this end, use the Scanning speed slider in the Scan panel.

Important

Decreasing scanning speed may hinder scanning. Don’t use this slider unless it is absolutely necessary.

Limiting Number of Frames in Scans¶

Processing extra large scans might be problematic. To prevent Artec Studio from creating scans with an excessive number of frames, use the Limit number of frames in scan to counter. This counter defaults to 2000 frames in each scan.

Supplementary Settings¶

Scan Names and Starting Number¶

Customize scan names and starting number by entering your own values in the Scan name and Start with fields and changing the state of the Add scanner type in prefix checkbox. The software uses these values to create a scan title in the Workspace panel (see Figure 57, left). You can change the default values Eva Scan and 1 to, for example, Capture and 14.

Saving Scans to Disk¶

Trigger a capture mode that simultaneously records scanning results to a disk by selecting the Save scans directly to disk checkbox. This option is enabled when you’re working with an existing saved project (see Saving a Project) and can be useful when capturing large amounts of data on a computer with insufficient memory.

Delay Before Recording¶

Specify a delay (in seconds) before recording using the Delay before recording spinner under the Advanced section of the Scan panel. The countdown begins as soon as you click the Record button. To eliminate the delay, set the value to zero.

Depth of Field¶

Decrease specified operating-zone (Depth of field) by using the Near (mm) and Far (mm) sliders under the Advanced section of the Scan panel. Here you can only decrease range within the specified boundaries.

Specify Scanning Range¶

By default, Artec Studio provides the correct values for the minimum and maximum limits within which the cutoff planes are to be positioned. These values are different for each 3D scanner model, and they ensure that you capture good-quality 3D data. If high accuracy is a secondary concern, you can manually adjust the depth boundaries, allowing you to capture objects using an Artec L scanner or third-party 3D sensors positioned closer to or further from the object than is recommended. To do so, select the Override default depth range checkbox in the Settings dialog in the Scan tab, then specify new boundaries for the scanning range in millimeters (For more details about scan settings, see Capture).

Warning

Custom depth-range settings may reduce accuracy.

Hiding Scan Panel During Scanning¶

To widen the viewport during scanning, software automatically closes the Scan panel once you start recording using Artec EVA or Artec Spider scanners. The Hide this panel during scanning checkbox is located in the Advanced section and is cleared by default.

Temperature Compensation Wizard¶

To enable metrology precision for Eva, run a temperature compensation. It will adjust the scanner settings to the ambient temperature. In Advanced section, click Start temperature compensation wizard and wait for a process to finish.

Troubleshooting¶

Issue	Possible Resolution
Geometry + Texture radio button missing from Scan panel.	You were probably scanning without texture. Clear the Don’t record texture checkbox in the Advanced section.
Final model contains noticeable noise.	You likely scanned the affected areas improperly, or the scanner was too far from the object. Rescan those areas.
Tracking lost error persists.	Make sure Scan using auto-alignment is enabled in the Settings dialog and use Geometry + Texture tracking.