Epic's free app that turns real-life items into 3D models is available now on iOS - The Verge

Epic Games’ RealityScan app, which lets you scan real-life objects and crook them into 3D models for video games oregon different projects, is present officially available connected iOS arsenic a escaped download aft an archetypal constricted beta motorboat successful April. The app could beryllium a useful instrumentality to recreate objects from the satellite astir you without having to physique them connected your ain from scratch.

To “scan” an entity successful the app, you instrumentality a clump of photos of it from arsenic galore angles arsenic you can. As you’re walking astir the entity and photographing it, RealityScan helpfully shows each representation you’ve taken successful augmented reality, arsenic good arsenic a vigor representation of wherever the entity needs much coverage. You’ll besides beryllium capable to preview your scan close from the app to spot however it looks earlier exporting it to Sketchfab, a level for sharing 3D models. (Epic says everyone who uploads a scan from RealityScan to Sketchfab volition get a escaped twelvemonth of Sketchfab Pro.) From Sketchfab, you tin bring the exemplary to apps similar Epic’s ain Unreal Engine.

I’ve messed astir with the constricted beta and the last app, and it’s beauteous casual to use. My scans haven’t turned retired great, but I wouldn’t enactment overmuch banal successful that; I’m utilizing an iPhone 12 Mini, which doesn’t person the champion camera, and I don’t deliberation the lighting is perfect successful my location for these scans.

Right now, RealityScan is lone disposable for iPhones and iPads, but Epic says an Android mentation is successful the works for 2023.

The app is conscionable the latest successful Epic’s increasing suite of tools to assistance developers successful creating 3D objects; the company’s impressive MetaHuman technology was precocious utilized to marque a lifelike recreation of NBA superstar Luka Dončić, for example. Epic said successful November that much than fractional of each announced next-gen games are made connected Unreal Engine, and things similar RealityScan and the MetaHuman Creator could assistance those developers arsenic they’re gathering caller games.