This article is for V2 and V1 3D scanners.
Adjusting the lighting for scanning is easier than it might seem. Check out our scanning tutorial video at matterandform.net/help to see exactly how to manage the lighting to get the best scan results.
Scanning should be done in well-lit conditions. Diffuse, white light from fluorescent tubes, incandescent or halogen bulbs, or a natural light source is best. Be aware that incandescent bulbs can add a yellowish tone to your final scan texture.
Lighting situations to avoid include:
- Spotlights or shining light directly on the object can cause hot spots in some areas and shadows in others, making it difficult for your scanner to see the lasers.
- Uneven lighting can cause uneven textures, especially when aligning scans together.
- Bright direct sunlight can overpower and wash out the scanning lasers, leaving fewer points recorded by the scanner.
- No lights at all will cause missing and inaccurate data, and textures will appear black.
- Variable lighting (lighting that fluctuates between bright and dark during the scan) will affect the color information that is gathered, making the textures look striped.