3D scanner is the device that analyses real-world objects or environment to collect data on its surface shape. The collected data is usually used to create digital three-dimensional models.

Many different technologies can be used to build 3D scanning devices, but each technology comes with its own benefits, disadvantages and limitations. Most of limitations comes with physical properties of scanned objects.

We can distinguish two types of 3D scanning: contact and non-contact.

Non-contact (optical) technologies encounter many difficulties with shiny, mirroring or transparent objects.

Contact technologies is limited to rigid surfaces. Portable measurement arms and coordinate measuring machines ( CMMs) are commonly used solutions for contact scanning.

By saying 3D scanner most of people mean non-contact 3D scanner.

All Creaform portable 3D scanners feature innovative and exclusive technologies :