Video game developer Epic Games has launched its new RealityScan app on the Apple App Store. The mobile application allows iPhone users to scan real-world objects and environments and quickly turn them into 3D models.
While this technology is still in its early stages, it has tremendous potential and countless use-cases, ranging from architecture and interior design to game development and art.
First touted back in April, the app is a joint venture between Epic Games and Capturing Reality, a developer of photogrammetry solutions which lets users “create ultra-realistic 3D assets and environments from photos and/or lasers scans.”
Capturing Reality joined Epic’s ecosystem in March of last year, and work immediately began on integrating its photogrammetry software into Unreal Engine.
RealityScan has been made available as a free download, with users free to deploy models in their own games or share them with the community. Although anyone can download and start experimenting with the tool, it is likely to be favored by content creators and game developers keen to add more realistic objects to their projects.
To use RealityScan, all you need to do is launch the app and point your device’s camera at the object you wish to scan, whereafter it will automatically detect the object’s edges and start crafting a 3D model. You can scan small items like coins or jewelry, or larger objects such as furniture, sculptures – even people.
Completed models can be exported to 3D modeling platform Sketchfab and shared with the world. Users can also download their model for use in Unreal Engine, Twinmotion, MetaHuman, or other post-processing tools.
Although making models doesn't require any experience, Epic Games has made a video tutorial to help beginners get started.
