The Basics of Photogrammetry

Photogrammetry is the process of turning overlapping 2D photographs into detailed, measurable 3D models. By analyzing how features appear across multiple images, software can calculate depth and geometry, generating a realistic digital reconstruction of the object or environment.

While originally used in surveying and mapping, photogrammetry is now used in fields like manufacturing, cultural heritage preservation, architecture, forensics, and digital content creation.

How It Works

It starts with a series of photos taken from different angles. These images can come from a smartphone, DSLR, drone, or microscope—what matters most is proper coverage and overlap. The more visual features shared between images, the better the result.

Once imported into processing software, those shared features are identified and triangulated to calculate the camera’s position for each shot. The software builds a sparse point cloud, reconstructs the surface geometry, and maps photo textures over it to create a full-color 3D model. The model can then be scaled using control points or known dimensions and exported in formats like OBJ, PLY, or PTX.

Tools like Artec Studio 19 automate this process with AI-based photogrammetry workflows, making it easier to generate accurate and detailed models from standard photos or video.

Choosing the Right Tools

Getting good results from photogrammetry doesn’t require specialized hardware, but your tools will affect the final quality and efficiency of the process. Here's how to build a reliable workflow:

Image Capture

Photos can be captured with a range of devices, from smartphone cameras to professional DSLRs and drones. What matters most is lighting, stability, and consistent coverage. For metrology-grade accuracy or industrial setups, dedicated photogrammetry kits can help improve alignment and scaling.

Processing Software

The software you use makes a big difference. Artec Studio supports both photogrammetry-only workflows and hybrid workflows that combine photos with 3D scan data. Its AI-powered processing tools can automatically align photos, generate meshes, and apply realistic textures with minimal cleanup.

Optional: 3D Scanning

For projects that require extremely accurate geometry or involve reflective, low-texture, or glossy surfaces, a structured light scanner can help. Scanners like the Artec Eva, Leo, or Space Spider produce clean, high-resolution meshes that can be combined with photogrammetry textures for the best of both worlds.Artec Eva is great for mid-sized objects like tools and mechanical parts.

  • Artec Leo is wireless and portable, ideal for field capture.
  • Artec Space Spider offers precision scanning for small, intricate objects.
  • Artec Ray II is a long-range LiDAR scanner used for scanning full rooms, buildings, or vehicles.

All of these work seamlessly with Artec Studio, allowing users to merge scan and photo data within the same environment.

Where Photogrammetry Is Used

Photogrammetry is used in any industry where real-world objects need to be digitized with a high degree of accuracy or realism:

  • Manufacturing – Reverse engineering, inspection, and CAD workflows
  • Cultural Heritage – Archiving artifacts, preserving monuments
  • Construction and Architecture – Creating terrain models, capturing site conditions
  • Forensics – Reconstructing accident and crime scenes
  • Digital Media – Building assets for AR, VR, and 3D visualizations
  • Education and Research – Teaching digitization methods, replicating specimens

When Photogrammetry Makes Sense

Photogrammetry is a good fit when you need to digitize something large, delicate, or richly textured. It’s especially useful when contact-based scanning isn’t possible or when cost and flexibility are key.

It may not be the best option for parts that require sub-millimeter tolerances, or for surfaces that are transparent, shiny, or lack visual features. In those cases, structured light or laser scanning is more reliable.

Many professionals use both methods together—scanning for accuracy, photogrammetry for texture, and merging the results using software like Artec Studio.

Bridging the Physical and Digital Worlds

Photogrammetry makes it possible to create high-quality 3D models using tools you may already have. With the right combination of image capture and processing software, it becomes a flexible, reliable workflow for anyone working in engineering, design, research, or content creation.

Whether you're building museum exhibits, documenting a product, or reverse engineering a component, photogrammetry gives you a way to turn the physical world into a detailed digital replica.