Augmented Reality vs Virtual Reality - What's the Difference?

Augmented Reality (AR) overlays digital information onto the real world, enhancing what we see, hear, and feel, while Virtual Reality (VR) creates a completely immersive digital environment, detaching the user from the physical world. Both technologies benefit immensely from our environment scanning services, which provide the detailed digital landscapes necessary for creating engaging AR overlays and convincing VR worlds.

How are environment scans useful in film production?

In film production, environment scans are pivotal for creating digital doubles of real-world locations. These detailed 3D models allow filmmakers to composite live-action footage with CGI seamlessly, particularly when shooting against green or blue screens. Additionally, scanned environments serve as realistic background plates on LED screens for virtual production stages, offering actors and directors a more immersive and interactive setting.

How large of an area can be scanned?

Our scanning capabilities are highly versatile, accommodating a wide range of scales. From intimate spaces like apartment rooms to expansive areas such as warehouses, city blocks, or even sections of national parks, our technology ensures comprehensive coverage and precision, regardless of the project's scope.

What technology is used to scan environments?

We employ a combination of LiDAR and photogrammetry to scan environments, selecting the most appropriate method based on the complexity of the space. LiDAR provides rapid and precise measurements, ideal for capturing the structure of an environment, while photogrammetry excels in recording surface details and textures, essential for realistic renderings.

How are environment scans optimized for use in applications like VR, AR, XR, and web apps?

To ensure environment scans are optimized for VR, AR, XR, and web applications, we engage in processes like mesh retopology and texture optimization. This involves reducing the polygon count for performance efficiency while maintaining high visual fidelity, ensuring the digital environments we create are both detailed and seamlessly integrated into various digital platforms.

Environment Scanning for Media & Entertainment

Photorealistic Digital Twins through LiDAR & Photogrammetry

In the dynamic realm of Media & Entertainment, the advent of advanced technologies like LiDAR and photogrammetry has revolutionized the creation and manipulation of digital environments. At the core of this transformation is the concept of environment scanning, a process that meticulously digitizes real-world spaces into comprehensive 3D models. These models serve as foundational elements for a multitude of applications, ranging from immersive film sets and virtual production stages to expansive virtual environments for gaming and XR experiences. Our expertise in seamlessly integrating LiDAR scans with photogrammetry ensures the capture of both the grand scale and minute details of any environment, offering unparalleled spatial accuracy and texture fidelity.

Environment 3D Scan & 3D Mesh in Unreal Engine Scene

Moreover, our commitment to catering to the specific needs of the Media & Entertainment industry is reflected in our comprehensive service offerings. From raw polygonal mesh data suitable for in-house development to fully optimized 3D models ready for integration into VR, AR, and web apps, we tailor our deliverables to fit the unique requirements of each project. Our capabilities in mesh retopology and texture optimization ensure that the digital environments we create are not only visually stunning but also optimized for performance, making them ideal for real-time applications and interactive experiences. Whether it's for historical buildings in a period film or the digital recreation of iconic cityscapes, our environment scanning services are designed to bring creative visions to life, enhancing both the spatial experience and the narrative depth of any media project.

Leica RTC360 LiDAR Scanner Scanning Film Stage at Steiner Studios in Brooklyn, NY

The versatility of environment scanning extends beyond mere visualization, playing a pivotal role in the pre-visualization and virtual scouting phases of production. By providing digital twins of locations, our services empower directors and production designers with the tools to explore and interact with spaces long before physical access is required. This not only streamlines the creative process but also opens up new avenues for storytelling, allowing for the exploration of spatial experiences and the design of intricate digital environments that were once beyond reach. Whether it's for background plates on LED screens or for creating physics simulations in complex liquid environments, our scans deliver the precision and detail needed for the most demanding projects.

3D Scan of Church Facade in Tuscany Italy using Photogrammetry

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Frequently Asked Questions

Augmented Reality (AR) overlays digital information onto the real world, enhancing what we see, hear, and feel, while Virtual Reality (VR) creates a completely immersive digital environment, detaching the user from the physical world. Both technologies benefit immensely from our environment scanning services, which provide the detailed digital landscapes necessary for creating engaging AR overlays and convincing VR worlds.
In film production, environment scans are pivotal for creating digital doubles of real-world locations. These detailed 3D models allow filmmakers to composite live-action footage with CGI seamlessly, particularly when shooting against green or blue screens. Additionally, scanned environments serve as realistic background plates on LED screens for virtual production stages, offering actors and directors a more immersive and interactive setting.
Our scanning capabilities are highly versatile, accommodating a wide range of scales. From intimate spaces like apartment rooms to expansive areas such as warehouses, city blocks, or even sections of national parks, our technology ensures comprehensive coverage and precision, regardless of the project's scope.
We employ a combination of LiDAR and photogrammetry to scan environments, selecting the most appropriate method based on the complexity of the space. LiDAR provides rapid and precise measurements, ideal for capturing the structure of an environment, while photogrammetry excels in recording surface details and textures, essential for realistic renderings.
To ensure environment scans are optimized for VR, AR, XR, and web applications, we engage in processes like mesh retopology and texture optimization. This involves reducing the polygon count for performance efficiency while maintaining high visual fidelity, ensuring the digital environments we create are both detailed and seamlessly integrated into various digital platforms.