Scanning Technique Comparison

The following set of images compare a mesh object scanned with the David Laserscanner, and the same object captured using Autodesk Recap 360(photogrammetry method).  

This tutorial focuses on the David Scanner, but the Autodesk Recap application may be better suited for your circumstances depending on the desired outcome.  

The benefits of the David Scanner are a higher resolution and accurate scale, however there is significant setup, scanning, and alignment time. These scans will generally also need to be cleaned up in a another software such as Geomagic Studio.  Autodesk Recap offers a simpler solution that involves taking a series of photographs around a fixed object and then uploading them to the online system.  The downsides are a lower quality and a scaleless result.  You are also required to wait for the Recap system to generate your mesh, which is an undetermined amount of time.  Both options allow you to capture the color/texture map of the objects and it seems as though the Recap method is more successful in this regard. Also, Recap may be a better method if you are trying to scan black and/or reflective objects without priming them with powder.

Both of these mesh objects are coming straight from their respective 3D capture programs prior to clean-up.

The left is David Scanner, the right is Autodesk Recap

The left is Autodesk Recap, the right is David Scanner 

   The left is David Scanner, the right is Autodesk Recap

The left is David Scanner, the right is Autodesk Recap

Without color/texture:

The left is David Scanner, the right is Autodesk Recap

  The left is Autodesk Recap, the right is David Scanner

The left is David Scanner, the right is Autodesk Recap