Photogrametric 3D Capturing Guide
ARC 4.562, 4.570, 4.s52
Instructor : Prof. Takehiko Nagakura
Last modified : 2026/02/07
Using a digital camera and importing photos to software
In a conventional production pipeline, you first use a digital camera to take the photos of the target object
and then use a photogrammetric modeling software to which you import the photos, process them and export the 3D model. To take photos,
you may use a smartphone's built-in camera, but using a stand-alone digital camera is recommended to make a model of a better qualtiy.
Here is a good small set of photos you can use for practice.
Sample photos
18 photos of a sculpture at Boston MFA
Preparing good set of photos is most essential for making a good 3D model. This video is made by Atudesk for Recap Photo, but
it shows the basic photo taking method that applies to all photo-based scanning methods, so watch it first.
Photo taking tutorial video by Autodesk
Also, at the end of your process, use the following guideline to appropriately size your model when you export it to your purpose.
For Unity / Meta Quest HMD
decimated mesh count max: 400,000-600,000 for the total of all models, Texture image max: 4096x4096 pixels (possibly multiple images)
For Design Heritage website:
decimated mesh count: 5,000-150,000 for each model, Texture image max: 4096x4096 pixels (single image)
- Autodesk Recap Photo 2025 (included in Recap Pro): This software is free for students and processes the model on cloud, without using your computer locally.
You have no control over its fully automated model generation, but the software comes with a nice tool
to edit the generated model for triming the area, correcting holes, and simplifying (decimating) the mesh.
The free cloud-service for students limit the number of photos uploadable per object (100 photos as of 2026).
To use this software install the following two software
Download Autodesk Recap Pro
CAVEAT: Make sure to use Autodesk Recap Pro 2025, NOT Recap Pro 2026.
The 2026 version does not allow downloading and editing the 3D model.
Recap Photo comes as a part of Recap Pro suite. Register as a student and get the free student version, which give you
a better processing priority than the free demo version for general public.
Download Desktop Connector
[As of 2026.01] To keep and submit photos for Recap Photo, you also need to use Autodesk cloud service via Autodesk Desktop Connector.
After instaling this, sign in and activate the connection using the icon on the desktop bar icon.
Photogrammetric capture basics and Recap Pro PHoto
How to get started with Recap Photo by TN
Recap Photo tutorial video (Wenzhe Peng, 2020, 4.562)
This video shows editing and cleaning the 3D mesh after initial generation.
- Agisoft Metashape: This software is free for 30-day evaluation. ($59 for student purchase). It processes the model on your computer.
You have full control over the model generation parameters such as qualities for photo alighnment, point cloud/mesh/texture generation.
It has only basic tools for editing the generated mesh for triming the area, correcting holes, and simplifying (decimating) the mesh.
The number of photos processed to make a model is only limited by the capability of your computer (RAM and GPU).
Download Metashap
(Both Professional/Standard versions work good for you. Only Professional version allows scripting.)
[As of 2022] After installing the software, the option "Start a free 30-day trial" should be selected
in the Activation dialog. The dialog appears automatically, or can be accessed from Help &ge Activate Product menu.
Metashape start-up note by TN Short description of how to get started.
Metashape tutorial video (TN, 2020, 4.562)
* This video shows the old method for meshing using Dense Cloud. See the note above for the new method using Depth Map.
- RealityScan (formerly RealityCapture)
Another popular software used for photogrammetric modeling through subscription-based cloud service with charge.
We have no tutorial for this software but you may use it by starting here
Download RealityScan
Smartphone-based integrated hand-held scanning solution
Recent option for 3D scanning includes smartphone based integrated solution, where the app uses the phone's camera and/or LiDAR sensor (iphone).
It works like a hand-held scanner, without the process of exporting the photos to a separete processing software.
Amng many emerging apps available that you can find by Google'ing "3D scan smartphone app",
here are a few examples available on app stores for those who are interested in testing.
These apps are capable of producing phogotrammetric 3D mesh models as well as 3D Gaussian Splatting models.
If you use one of these apps for Design Heritage platform upload, make sure that the app can export a model in obj format and with only one texture map image.
Seeing the captured models (and composing them) in HMD