Capture guide

A clean scan starts with a clean capture

The model is only ever as good as the footage. Five minutes of careful capture saves an hour of cleanup — here's exactly how to do it.

The one golden rule: overlap. Caliber rebuilds shape by recognising the same surface across many frames. So you want lots of pictures that each overlap the next — a smooth, continuous sweep all the way around. Coverage from every side, with no big jumps between shots. Everything below is just how to get good overlap easily.

Video capture Local engine · free

The easiest way to get dense overlap: take a slow video orbit. One steady lap gives the engine dozens of overlapping frames automatically — ideal for matte, textured objects.

  • Put the object on a rotating base and spin it slowly while the camera stays still — a lazy-susan, turntable, or cake stand is perfect.
  • No turntable? Use a stool. Set the object on a stool or chair and walk slowly around it — or sit it on a swivel stool and turn the seat by hand.
  • Go slow. A full rotation should take ~20–40 seconds. Fast spins blur the frames and break overlap.
  • Do two passes at different heights — one level with the object, one looking down at ~45° — so the top gets covered too.
  • Keep it filling the frame and stay in focus; don't zoom in and out mid-orbit.
  • Avoid moving the object's shadow or lighting as it turns, and avoid a busy moving background.
slow spin · ~30s per lap · camera still

Photo capture Cloud engine · BYO key

The Cloud engine works differently — it wants a few clean, distinct angles, not a continuous sweep. Great for shiny, dark, or symmetric objects a video can't scan. 4–6 photos is the sweet spot.

  • Take the object alone on a plain, uncluttered background — no hand holding it, nothing else in frame.
  • Shoot the six faces: front, back, left, right, and (if you can) top and bottom — each square-on to that side.
  • Name the files front / back / left / right / top / bottom so each lands on the right view. 4 named sides → Hunyuan; 5–6 → TRELLIS.
  • Fill the frame and keep every shot sharp and evenly lit.
  • Don't feed these six photos to the Local engine — spread-out angles don't overlap, so photogrammetry can't solve them.

Cloud reconstructions are inferred and come out unit-scale — set real size afterward with the two-point measure in the app.

front back left right top bottom

Lighting & surfaces

  • Soft, even, diffuse light. Overcast daylight or a couple of lamps bounced off a wall. Avoid one harsh light that throws hard shadows.
  • No moving glints. Reflections that slide across the surface as the object turns confuse photogrammetry.
  • Matte beats shiny. Glossy, dark, metallic, or transparent surfaces are hard. A light dusting of powder, dry shampoo, or matte spray works wonders.
  • Texture helps. Plain, featureless surfaces give the engine nothing to lock onto. Patterned or textured objects scan best on Local.
  • If it's shiny and you can't matte it — use the Cloud engine instead; it doesn't care about gloss.
two soft sources · no hard shadows

Tips & tricks

Small things that make a big difference — no special gear required.

🪑

Use a stool as a turntable

No rotating base? Stand the object on a stool and turn the whole stool a little between shots, or walk slowly around it for video. A swivel office chair works great.

🍰

A lazy-susan or cake stand

Cheap kitchen turntables are the perfect rig — set the object down, hit record, and spin it slowly with one finger while your phone stays put.

📱

Move the object, not the camera

Steadier results come from keeping the phone fixed (lean it on a mug or use a small tripod) and rotating the object — the background stays constant, which helps.

🎯

Mark symmetric objects

Perfectly symmetric or plain objects can confuse Local — stick a few bits of tape or a sticker on different sides so the engine can tell them apart.

💡

Cloudy day = free softbox

Overcast daylight near a window is the most forgiving light you can get. Avoid direct sun and single bright bulbs.

🧴

Tame the shine

For glossy or dark parts, a quick dusting of baby powder, foot spray, or dry shampoo turns a un-scannable surface into an easy one. Wipes right off.

🪄

Can't matte it? Matte it digitally

If you can't powder the real object, run your photos through an AI image tool to add surface texture and markings and knock down the gloss — a matte, detailed surface gives photogrammetry features to lock onto. Then re-import the edited shots and try again.

📏

Note one real measurement

Measure any one dimension (height, a diameter) before you start. Enter it — or pick two points on the result — so your model comes out true to size in millimetres.

🔁

More overlap, not more distance

If Local fails, the fix is almost never "different object" — it's more frames with smaller steps between them. Re-shoot slower, closer, all the way around.

Got your capture? Bring it into Caliber.

Drop the video or photos in, pick an engine, and get a printable model.

Download Caliber