If you tried our simple getting started workflow a couple of times and are looking for taking your puzzle creation to the next level, here is the right spot!

Process Phone Scans on PC

If you have a phone with a good camera, you can often create a much higher-quality puzzle by using your phone to capture photos and a PC to convert them into a model.

Apps like Scaniverse can do this for you, but they cap model quality to reduce processing.

There are several PC applications you can use to convert your photos into a scan. We highly recommend Reality Capture. Reality Capture is an industry-standard application that will be practically free for the use case of making user-generated puzzles and sharing them for free with others.

Using Reality Capture takes a bit more work than Scaniverse, so make sure to find good tutorials on converting photos into models. Instead of having an app take pictures for you, you will need to take lots of photos of your subject from all angles, transfer them to your PC, and have Reality Capture convert them into a 3D model.

There are also open source alternative to Reality Capture, if you would rather use them!

DSLRs and Better Cameras

There is a limit to how much quality you can get out of your phone’s camera. If you have a camera lying around, you can also use it to scan things. Smartphones nowadays have very good software for handling low-light situations, so your mobile phone may even be better than an average camera. If you are thinking of using a specific model, look up its image quality. Generally, you need:

1. Large phyiscal sensor size: This means better low-light performance and better dynamic range. For photogrammetry, you want as much detail as possible in both shadows and highlights.
2. High resolution: Most DSLRs and even phone cameras have enough megapixels for photogrammetry, so you usually don’t have to worry about this. You especially want to avoid a model that sacrifices low-light performance just to have more resolution.
3. Wide Angle Lenses: Wider-angle lenses let you capture more of your subject in a single photo. For photogrammetry to work, you need lots of images with plenty of overlap. Wide-angle lenses help you scan a location with fewer images and less time. They are especially helpful for scanning rooms and interiors.
4. Tripod: For high-quality scans in low-light situations (such as interiors), a tripod is crucial. It allows you to reduce shutter speed and brighten the image without adding noise. Noise added through high ISO is very bad for photogrammetry.

Most DSLRs would be a big bump in quality compared to a phone. Just keep in mind that when switching from a phone to a DSLR, you need to ensure the images are not over exposed.

Drones and Monopods

If you are thinking of making a puzzle out of subject matter that is taller than you, you will need a way to take photos of the top surfaces. For small buildings, a handheld monopod is often enough. At a certain scale, though, you will need a drone.