Instructions for 3D Body Scanning Using Polycam

Download Polycam & Set Up Your Account. 

Prepare Your Space: Choose a well-lit, clutter-free area to ensure the best possible scan quality. Natural light is preferable, but if indoors, ensure the lighting is even and bright.

Positioning: Stand on a solid, flat surface. Maintain a comfortable, natural stance with your arms out to the side or placed on top of your head so that we can get all the way into the side of your chest up to the armpits.

Dress: Get nudey from your waist up (or include your torso/hips if you'd like) to allow the scanner to capture an accurate depiction of your body shape and try to capture texture. I suggest arms out to the side so we can really capture underneath the armpit/ ribcage. Please also attempt to capture the neck and shoulders.

Scanning Process:

Open the Polycam app on your device.

  1. Select the ‘3D Scan’ mode from the menu. (There is a tutorial at the top that might help understand the process and I can certainly help as much as I can with questions) Set the scanner to AUTO and PHOTO. 

  • Have your trusted human hold the camera still and begin to slowly walk around.

  • Have your trusted human hold your device so the camera is pointed directly at the subject (YOU!). 

  • Start from one side and get your human to slowly walk around you, keeping the camera focused at a consistent distance.

  • Continue the scan until you’ve captured every angle. The app may guide you to move closer or further away to optimize the scan.

  • Press the stop button and you'll get a draft page. 

There is a learning curve with this so just try to do what you can and I'll see what I can do on this side to capture the shape.  If you’d like to do two scans, go for it! The more data the better.


Review and Edit: After scanning, it will need to load and do its thing. Save and review the 3D model on your screen. 

  • Choose Photogrammetry, Medium. (object masking should be off) and then you can upload and process. 

Finalize the Scan: Save your scan once you are satisfied with the image. You will be able to send this file directly to me for processing and 3D printing. If there are issues I cannot fix (if things look blurry on some parts) I'll ask for you to try one more time.