[3D Scanning Applications] How can various industries perfectly utilize 3D human body scanning? Five trend case studies at a glance.

[3D Scanning Applications] How can various industries perfectly utilize 3D full-body scanning? Five trend case studies at a glance.

What is 3D human body scanning?
Human 3D scanning can capture the entire human body or only specific parts and generate very detailed 3D image data or models in seconds.

Depending on the application and the 3D human scanner used, a 3D model can be rendered with colors and textures to perfectly match the original human body. It can also be simply a grid, a cloud of dots forming the shape of the human body.

Originally developed for the apparel industry, 3D body scanners have significantly improved our ability to accurately measure and visualize human body dimensions, shape, and skin surface area. Recent advancements in full-body scanning have opened up new potential for medical applications.

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What are the benefits of 3D human body scanning?
3D body scanning is a perfect technology for capturing the entire human body or specific body parts. Compared to traditional body imaging and measurement techniques, 3D body scanning offers many advantages.

non-invasive
3D human body scanning is a completely non-invasive process. For handheld 3D scanners, the operator keeps the device at a certain distance and moves it around the target object without directly contacting the object being scanned.

fast
When using a portable 3D scanner, the process may take several minutes, and the object being scanned needs to remain completely still.

accurate
3D body scanners are high-precision tools, typically with high resolution, to generate highly detailed 3D models. They can detect things that are imperceptible to the human eye, making these 3D scanners extremely valuable in many situations.

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Two main technologies of 3D scanning

Photogrammetry : This is a rapid 3D capture process that involves taking many photographs of a subject at once, from different angles, and then processing them using algorithms to "stitch" them together to generate a 3D model. Photogrammetry provides high-quality, color, and textured body scans.
Structured light: A series of linear light patterns are projected onto the object. The 3D scanner then uses triangulation to generate an accurate 3D model. This 3D scanning technique is very precise, but requires the object being scanned to be completely still .

These two technologies can also be used in combination.

Some manufacturers have launched their handheld 3D scanners specifically for body scanning applications, offering greater flexibility. Unlike 3D scanning kiosks, these can be carried around the body and perform body scans around the object being scanned. For example, SHINING 3D's EinScan HX .

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Five Trending Applications of 3D Human Body Scanning
3D human body scanning can be applied in many fields. Among them, the most common applications include:

-Medical and Medical-
In the medical field, there are numerous body scanning applications, ranging from monitoring a patient's body shape to identify potential problems, to capturing highly detailed 3D models of body parts such as disabled limbs for the creation of custom prostheses. 3D body scanning can also help monitor the healing rate of burns by capturing damaged skin, identifying burned tissue, and measuring area through color and texture 3D scanning to track progress.
Also known as 3D selfies or 3D portraits, 3D portraits are miniature statues of actual people. They are typically 3D models obtained using a full-body 3D scanner and usually require a full-color 3D printer to achieve.

-Fitness and Posture Monitoring-
3D body scanners are used in fitness to track a person's progress through various body measurements, body shape indicators, posture analysis, and other methods.

-Fashion and Apparel-
The fashion industry has begun using 3D body scanners to capture precise body measurements in order to create custom-made clothing.
In the retail sector, 3D body scanning has unlocked new potential for virtual fitting rooms, allowing customers to easily try on new clothes using 3D avatars based on precise body measurements.

-Transform into a virtual character-
3D body scanning and 3D facial scanning can be used in the entertainment industry to create lifelike avatars, such as in movies and games.

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Medical and medical applications
3D body scanning is increasingly used in the medical field. Due to its non-invasive and rapid method of capturing the 3D shape of the human body, it has four main applications:

Epidemiology
This involves studying the distribution and determinants of health-related states within a specific population. 3D body scans can be used for anthropometry surveys. For example, studies on the evolution of childhood obesity can be conducted. 3D full-body scans are ideal for capturing many individuals in a short time, thus obtaining a meaningful sample for the study.

diagnosis
3D body scans can aid doctors in diagnosis. In this context, 3D scans are primarily used to treat skin-related issues (burns, diseases, infections, wrinkles, etc. ) and to detect deformities by analyzing the patient's body captured in 3D.
treat
For burn patients, 3D body scans can be a matter of life and death. Precise calculation of the burned skin area is required to deliver the correct amount of medication. Indeed, the amount of medication to be delivered depends on the surface area of ​​the skin; if the medication is not accurately measured, the patient may suffer serious complications.

High-precision 3D body scanners or handheld 3D scanners can help accurately measure damaged skin surfaces .

monitor
A full-body 3D scanner can help monitor changes in a patient's body (shape, composition, etc.), such as during diet or pregnancy . Body scanners are a new tool for doctors and practitioners to better track the evolution of a patient's physical indicators , thus enabling more accurate diagnoses and recommendations.

3D printed prosthetics
Prosthetics are well-suited for 3D printing because they are primarily made of plastic and require customization to perfectly fit the patient. Numerous open-source 3D prosthetic models are available, developed through collaborations between major 3D printing brand communities and volunteer designers and researchers. These models aim to provide more affordable and well-fitting prosthetics for children who need regular upgrades as they age.

How can 3D scanning help create 3D printed prosthetics?
To ensure that a 3D-printed prosthesis is perfectly adapted to the patient's limb, the first step is to perform a 3D scan of the area where the prosthesis will connect.
The generated 3D model can be used to adjust the 3D design of the prosthesis to accurately match the shape of the residual limb, making the prosthesis more comfortable, durable and high-performance.

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3D portrait printing and 3D selfie applications
3D portraiture, also known as 3D selfie or 3D portrait, is a small 3D-printed model of a person. Some people refer to it as 3D photography.
With advancements in 3D scanning and 3D printing technology, it is now possible to create such accurate 3D printed portraits, perfect as gifts or souvenirs for important life events .

Creating a 3D portrait requires two steps:

1. To perform a 3D full-body scan of the human body, it is necessary to first perform a 3D scan of the person using a full-body scanner that can capture color and texture, producing a highly detailed, colorful 3D human model file.

2. Printing Models Some 3D printers are capable of 3D printing in color (they are called full-color 3D printers ), but they are usually quite expensive and complicated to operate.
This is why most 3D portrait businesses turn to 3D printing providers that specialize in full-color 3D printing. The 3D model is sent to the 3D printing service , which prints it and sends it to the end customer.
3D selfies make excellent gifts and perfect keepsakes for special occasions (such as weddings, graduations, etc.).

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Applications in the fitness industry

Use 3D full-body scan for body measurement and fitness tracking
The American company Fit3D developed Proscanner, a comprehensive fitness tracker that captures and monitors data about the human body. This full-body scanner can indeed capture thousands of data points on the body, providing personalized reports and tracking. Body scanners are becoming increasingly popular in gyms and fitness centers, and can even be used at home like a personal trainer.


It combines the high precision of a 3D full-body scanner with 3D imaging capabilities, helping fitness enthusiasts track their progress and achieve their goals (weight loss, muscle gain, etc.). Proscanner can also provide information on posture, body composition (fat to muscle ratio), and body shape.


A 3D full-body scanner for fitness. Source: Fit3D

A body scanner becomes a fitness tracker that regularly collects data points and showcases a user's progress through 3D animated clips of body shape. Body scanners in such fitness apps typically cannot capture texture and color because they focus on body shape.

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Applications in the fashion and apparel industry

Virtual try-on. Source: 3DLook new virtual fitting room solution

Realistic virtual character example. Source: 3DPrint.com