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3D systems scanners


3D Scanners | 3D Systems

Resolution makes a difference

3D scanning opens up a world of possibilities. Imagine being able to capture anything in the physical world and have a digital model of it in minutes.

You don’t have to imagine. Every day, companies use 3D scanners and software to:

  • Create and reverse engineer CAD models of real parts to capture lost designs, update existing products, and make new ones.
  • Verify product quality by comparing manufactured parts to CAD designs.
  • Make mass customized products for healthcare, dentistry, and fashion.
  • Scan entire buildings to create accurate 3D models.
  • And much more.

3D scanners and accompanying software are now within the reach of many. Scanners are faster, less expensive, and more accurate. 3D scan-processing software is more automated, creates better results, and works faster than ever before.

What Are 3D Scanners?

There are many different devices that are called 3D scanners. Any device that measures the physical world using lasers, lights, or X-rays and generates dense point clouds or polygon meshes can be considered a 3D scanner. They go by many names including 3D digitizers, laser scanners, white light scanners, industrial CT, LIDAR, and others. The common, uniting factor of all these devices is that they capture the geometry of physical objects with hundreds of thousands or millions of measurements.

Why Do You Need 3D Scanning Software?

Because scanners collect immense amounts of data, you need dedicated reverse-engineering software like Geomagic® Design X™, Geomagic for SOLIDWORKS®, and Geomagic Wrap® to process the output into something usable that other software can handle. Depending on what you will use the scan data for, reverse-engineering software can do many different things to the data. The most common applications for 3D scanning are reverse engineering, inspection, and digital archiving or 3D printing. Dedicated software like Geomagic reverse-engineering software and Geomagic Control X™ inspection and metrology software is the fastest, easiest way to unlock the full potential of a 3D scanner.

How Do 3D Scanners Work?

There are many different approaches to 3D scanning, based on different principles of imaging. Some technologies are ideal for short-range scanning, while others are better for mid- or long-range scanning.

Short-Range 3D Scanners

3D scanners with less than one meter of focal distance include laser triangulation and structured light 3D scanners.

Laser Triangulation 3D Scanners

Laser triangulation scanners use either a laser line or single laser point to scan across an object. A sensor picks up the laser light that is reflected off the object and, using trigonometric triangulation, the system calculates the distance from the object to the scanner.

The distance between the laser source and the sensor is known very precisely, as well as the angle between the laser and the sensor. As the laser light reflects off the scanned object, the system can discern what angle it is returning to the sensor at, and therefore the distance from the laser source to the object’s surface.

Structured Light (White or Blue Light) 3D Scanners

Structured light scanners also use trigonometric triangulation, but instead of looking at laser light, these systems project a series of linear patterns onto an object. Then, by examining the edges of each line in the pattern, they calculate the distance from the scanner to the object’s surface. Essentially, instead of the camera seeing a laser line, it sees the edge of the projected pattern, and calculates the distance similarly.

Short-Range 3D Scanners

Pros

Cons

Laser Triangulation
  • Available in many forms: area scanner, handheld scanner, portable arm
  • Often more portable
  • Less part preparation required
  • Less sensitive to ambient light
  • Generally less accurate
  • Generally lower resolution
  • Noisier

Structured Light
  • Usually more accurate
  • Often higher resolution
  • Less noisy
  • Limited to area scanner type
  • Generally not as small/portable
  • More sensitive to surface preparation (requires preparation)
  • May require specific lighting

Mid- and Long-Range 3D Scanners

3D scanners with with one or more meters of focal distance include laser pulse-based and laser phase-shift 3D scanners.

Laser Pulse-Based 3D Scanners

Laser pulse-based scanners, also known as time-of-flight scanners, are based on a very simple concept: the speed of light is known very precisely, so if we know how long a laser takes to reach an object and reflect back to a sensor, we know how far away that object is. These systems use circuitry that is accurate to picoseconds to measure the time it takes for millions of laser pulses to return to the sensor and calculates a distance. By rotating the laser and sensor (usually via a mirror), the scanner can scan up to a full 360 degrees around itself.

Laser Phase-Shift 3D Scanners

Laser phase-shift scanners are another type of time-of-flight 3D scanner technology and conceptually work similarly to pulse-based systems. In addition to pulsing the laser, these scanners also modulate the power of the laser beam, and the scanner compares the phase of the laser being sent out and then returned to the sensor. Phase shift measurement is more precise.

Mid- and Long-Range 3D Scanners

Pros

Cons

Laser Pulse-Based

Medium- and long-range (2m–1,000m)
  • Less accurate
  • Slower data acquisition
  • Noisier

Laser Phase-Shift
  • More accurate
  • Faster data acquisition
  • Less noisy

Medium-range only

How to Choose the Best 3D Scanner to Use With Your 3D Printer

3D scanning has an important place at the beginning and end of 3D fabrication workflows. Engineers, product designers, and researchers use 3D scanners as a faster and more efficient way to start constructing digital models, whether by incorporating existing designs via reverse engineering, digitizing hand-sculpted clay designs, or referencing the exact shape of the human body.

After fabrication, 3D scanning can support quality control and help to verify the accuracy of a 3D printed part, or, after the part has been used, a scanner can reveal how it’s performed—a scan of a deformed part can show you where to reinforce the design in the next revision.

With such a wide range of product options from handheld 3D scanners to desktop 3D scanners, it can be difficult to choose the best 3D scanning system that’s right for your application and budget. In this post, we explore the most important factors to consider when purchasing a 3D scanner and showcase some of the key applications that are empowered by combining 3D scanning and 3D printing.

White Paper

3D scanning and 3D printing workflows can be applied to replication and restoration, reverse engineering, metrology, and more. Download our white paper to explore these applications and learn how to get started.

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There are multiple scanning technologies currently on the market, all offering their own advantages and weaknesses.

Laser triangulation uses light projected onto the object to take up to millions of measurements (dots) per second. The light reflected from the dots back into the scanner’s sensor to help it capture the geometry of the object. These types of scanners are often the most accurate, and are great for highly detailed parts that have opaque surfaces.

Laser triangulation scanners do have limitations. For example, this technology is not used in most portable scanners because the laser dots need to project from a stable source, and the source has to be kept a close distance from the scanned object. Laser triangulation scanners don’t always work on transparent or shiny surfaces either. Typically, they require reflective markers to be applied onto the object, which need to be removed after use and can be an obstacle depending on the object being scanned.

Finally, the laser dots can be harmful to human eyes, so it is important to use extra safety precautions when scanning body parts with a laser triangulation system, or to check with your scanner manufacturer to make sure the device is eye-safe.

Structured light scanners (also known as white light scanners or blue light scanners) generally use a projector with two cameras at angles on either side. A pattern of light is projected and laid over the component being scanned, the cameras capture the ways in which the object deforms the light pattern, and then multiple images are integrated into a single 3D snapshot.

Structured light scanners are available in both stationary and portable format—the technology is the most commonly used process for handheld 3D scanners. Structured light scanners are far more common in medical applications, since it is safe to use on both humans and animals and excels when an object is not perfectly still. Traditional white light scanners have been slower to scan than laser triangulation scanners.

Structured light scanning is the most commonly used technology in handheld 3D scanners.

Depth-sensing cameras project a field of dots in infrared (IR) to sample a 3D scene. Depth-sensing cameras are simple to use and are the least expensive scanning option, but their accuracy and resolution are low, and fine details are sometimes lost. Large objects may be captured with depth-sensing cameras, but accuracy declines with increased distance from the subject and at steeper angles to the camera.

Photogrammetry means the act of deriving precise measurements from photographs. It involves taking a set of overlapping photos of an object, building, person, or environment, and converting them into a 3D model using a number of computer algorithms. This is the most commonly used method when creating a 3D scan with a smartphone, since modern phone cameras are capable of capturing and combining a large numbers of photos. Photogrammetry should be considered the least expensive and least accurate method for creating 3D prints, and is not suitable for serious business applications.

LiDAR (light detection and ranging) sensors can be found on some higher-end smartphones and tablets, such as the latest versions of the iPhone Pro and the iPad Pro.  This has made the iPhone and iPad viable scanners for those with only occasional scanning needs, offering performance a step above devices that only have access to photogrammetry. Applications that generate 3D mesh files via your smartphone’s or tablet's camera should be seen as the floor for entry-level scanning; users should expect additional work in their CAD software to remove gaps in meshes and improve the 3D model for applications like sending it to a 3D printer. Smartphones use fewer light points when scanning objects, resulting in less detail than a true, stand-alone scanner. iPhones are good substitutes for scanners if you have significant CAD design ability or need to transfer basic models into a digital space.

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Watch this webinar with Peel 3D to explore how to integrate 3D scanners into your 3D printing workflow to elevate your product development process.

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Scan accuracy varies considerably between scanner technologies, and higher accuracy generally comes at a higher cost. The required tolerances of your final part can be a helpful guide for determining your accuracy requirements for a 3D scanner.

High Price, Highest Accuracy ($15,000 and more)More Affordable, High Accuracy ($12,000 and under)Low price, Low Accuracy
Zeiss T-Scan Hawk
Scantech Simscan
EviXscan Optima+ M
Creaform HandyScan 307 Silver Series		peel 3d peel 1, peel 2 & peel 2-S
FARO Freestyle 2
Polyga Compact S1		iPhone Pro and iPad Pro
Structure Sensor
Matter and Form 3D Scanner V2
Revopoint POP

With accuracy in the range of 0.1 mm or better, laser and structured light scanners are a good fit for professional applications and alongside high-resolution 3D printers. Formlabs stereolithography (SLA) 3D printers (such as the Form 3+) produce parts at a similar accuracy, and with a similar printable area, to the scan volume of many desktop 3D scanners.

Besides the accuracy between measured points and their actual location, scanners also vary in terms of resolution, which is the distance between captured points at a given scan distance. This means that details on the scanned object that are smaller than the scanner’s resolution won’t be captured. For example, a highly accurate 3D scanner with a lower resolution might detect the general shape of jewelry on a statue, but not clearly show individual details on a ring or necklace. Depending on your project requirements, this may or may not be a dealbreaker.

An easy way to remember these metrics is: accuracy is the measurement error between the part and digital value. Resolution refers to the density of measurements.

Accuracy can mean slightly different things depending on the manufacturer and 3D scanning technology. For example, the accuracy of handheld scanners depends on the distance to the subject and the quality of scan reconstruction, while desktop scanners have consistent accuracy within the constrained scan volume. If you are considering buying a 3D scanner for precise measurement, make sure to compare like to like.

In general, structured light scanning provides the best resolution and accuracy when compared to laser scanning. For some artistic use-cases for 3D scanning you may need a lot of detail, while overall accuracy is less important—especially if you don’t require your part to fit precisely with other parts in an assembly. In these cases, photogrammetry is an excellent low-cost option to explore.

Both depth-sensing cameras and photogrammetry are a good solution for scanning large objects in order to create 3D printed scale models and also offer enough accuracy for capturing the shape of the human body.

Several entry-level laser scanners are available using technology similar to higher-end systems. These scanners are a great way to start replicating small objects at 1:1 scale. As one would expect, the accuracy of entry-level laser 3D scanners is lower than a high-end scanner, but they can easily provide enough detail to replicate small decorative objects and figures where accuracy is not critical.

If you only have occasional 3D scanning needs, digitization services can scan your object, as well as perform CAD translation and accuracy inspection.

The area that a 3D scanner can capture varies significantly between scanners. Find a scanner that fits your size and resolution requirements without too much overhead, as cost typically increases with scan volume.

Handheld scanners can be manually moved around the object and have fewer size constraints than desktop models. Most inexpensive handheld scanners can capture objects from the size of a basketball to an entire room. High-end handheld scanners have an even wider range, and fill the niche for all objects that require precise measurements, but cannot fit in a desktop scanner. Handheld scanners are also able to capture objects nearly instantaneously, which makes them well-suited for taking human measurements (where the subject is not perfectly still) for ergonomics and medical applications.

If the area of the model can’t be seen by the scanner, it will cause a gap in the model. You can automatically repair small missing sections with most scan software programs to create a 3D printable model. However, repaired holes are rarely accurate to the original object. For parts that demand close to perfect accuracy, auto-repair of gaps or holes will not be sufficient. Read our MeshMixer tutorial for advanced tips to edit and repair 3D files for 3D printing.

Many scanners use turntables to increase what the scanner can see. The sophistication of a scanner’s turntable affects how easily and completely the object is captured: some scanners have the ability to move the object around multiple axes, imaging the object from more angles. This feature is important when reverse engineering plastic parts with deep recesses and ribs, which are impossible to capture from a single angle.

Scanners may rotate the object to capture occluded areas. Red regions are occluded and will be missing in the scan. Areas with deep relief are difficult for a single axis turntable to fully capture due to occlusion.

Cost concerns are straightforward; how much you are willing to spend on a scanner will reflect your business’s budget and how often the scanner is going to be used. Higher cost scanners will be able to capture small objects and create highly-detailed meshes that don’t require significant touch-ups in CAD software. Handheld scanners are also often on the higher end of the price range, due to their portable nature. The low-cost scanning market offers a wide range of options, but you have to know what to look for.

Use this flowchart to determine what scanner you need based on accuracy, scan volume, and budget.

Download the high-resolution version of this infographic here.

A 3D scanner expands the capabilities of a 3D printer, allowing you to replicate the shape of almost any object. Together, the two technologies create a powerful, digital workflow that can simplify and sophisticate processes in a range of industries.

The output from a 3D scanner is a mesh of triangles representing the surface of an object at a real-world scale. In some cases, the scan can be used directly to replicate objects without any CAD work. A hybrid workflow can also be powerful, where solid CAD models are combined with scanned 3D models. For example, customized ergonomics capture a physical imprint of a part of the human body, and integrate them with a mechanical design.

3D scanners are also valuable tools for measuring the accuracy of manufactured objects. Many factors affect 3D print accuracy, and metrology-grade 3D scanners provide a clear picture of how a material performs for demanding applications.

A variety of powerful workflows are enabled by combining a 3D printer and a 3D scanner:

  • Reverse engineering to create replacement parts, products with custom ergonomics, and more.
  • Replication and restoration of parts, especially in art and jewelry.
  • Consumer audio for creating custom earpieces.
  • Dental and medical applications, and how 3D scanning is enabling patient-specific workflows.
  • Metrology to validate and measure the accuracy of manufactured objects.

Webinar

Watch this webinar for a detailed look at how to start using 3D scanning to improve part design and production when paired with reverse engineering CAD and 3D printing.

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3D scanners and 3D printers are essential parts of digital workflows across industries. Download our white paper or watch our webinar to get a detailed look into how to start using 3D scanning to improve part design and production and learn how to pair 3D printing and 3D scanning to empower a variety of workflows in engineering, product design, and more.

Learn more about the 3D printer side of the equation: get to know stereolithography (SLA) and selective laser sintering (SLS) 3D printing technologies and see Formlabs advanced 3D printing materials for yourself with a free sample 3D printed part.

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Installation - Artec Studio 16 documentation

System requirements

To use with Artec 3D scanners, your computer must meet the system requirements.

Also note the following:

  • Real Time Fusion Mode (Real Time Fusion Scan): Make sure your graphics card has at least 1 GB of VRAM or your Intel HD Graphics 4600 chipset and above (detailed information can be found in the FAQ article).

  • Using Multiple Scanners (Multi Camera) requires your workstation to have as many independent USB controllers as there are scanning devices. You can get the required number of USB controllers by installing PCI/PCI Express USB cards.

  • Using HD mode

    • If you intend to use the scanner in HD mode, make sure your Nvidia GPU has at least CUDA 6.1 processing power and 2 GB of memory (4 GB for scans with Leo) or more, and your computer has at least 32 GB RAM.

    • If your computer does not meet these requirements, you can still perform HD reconstruction, but this may take up to several hours. In this case, it is recommended to use lower values ​​of HD data density (see Enabling HD mode for details).

User account

To install Artec Studio and receive timely updates, register a free account on my.artec3d . Registration is also required to activate the Artec 3D scanner. In addition, the site allows you to track your 3D scanners and software.

The my.artec3d account is valid for all Artec sites and services (including viewshape.com ).

Fig. 22 Start screen my.artec3d .

To register, follow these steps:

  1. Go to my.artec3d and click please sign up.

  2. Fill in all the fields in the registration form (by clicking Next) and click Create account.

  3. Receive a registration email containing a confirmation link.

  4. Click on the link or copy it to your browser to confirm your registration. Go directly to your account at my.artec3d .

Scanner activation

Before using the Artec scanner, it must be activated and associated with an account on my.artec3d . These operations are performed using the Artec Installation Center, a separate utility available for download from my.artec3d . If you are a new user and you do not have Artec Installation Center installed yet, please read below How to start Artec Installation Center. Otherwise, go to Activating the 3D Scanner using the Artec Installation Center.

Warning

Do not connect your scanner to the USB port until the Artec Installation Center is complete.

Launching Artec Installation Center

Before using Artec Installation Center, make sure your computer is connected to the Internet. Any computer with a USB2.0 or USB3.0 port will do. If necessary, you can install and activate Artec Studio on another computer. Also make sure you have an account at my. artec3d ; if not, go to User account.

  1. Log in with your account at my.artec3d and download the Artec Installation Center. The download link for the Artec Installation Center installer executable is available in section My software .

  2. When the download is complete, open the folder containing the installer executable, run it, and follow the instructions on the screen. Once Artec Installation Center is installed, a window will open asking for your email address and password. For authorization, use your account details on my.artec3d as shown in Fig. 23.

Fig. 23 Authentication with Artec Installation Center

Activating the 3D scanner using Artec Installation Center

To activate the 3D scanner using Artec Installation Center, make sure that the application is installed on your computer and that it is connected to the Internet.

  1. Start the Artec Installation Center (via the Start menu: click Start → All Programs → Artec Group → Artec Installation Center ), the window shown in Fig. 40.

  2. Connect your Artec 3D scanner to your computer and wait while Windows detects the device and installs the necessary drivers. A message similar to the one shown in Fig. 24.

  3. Go to the Artec Installation Center window, click Update and wait for the new scanner to appear in the Scanners section. Click the Activate button (to the right of the scanner serial number) to start using your 3D scanner. The scanner status will be changed to Activated as shown in Fig. 25.

Fig. 24 Windows message about device installation.

Fig. 25 3D scanner activated

Installing Artec Studio

There are two ways to download and install Artec Studio:

  • Using the Artec Installation Center (either during installation or by clicking the Install button in the application, as shown in Fig. 26 )

  • From site my.artec3d : log in, go to section My software and download the executable file (see Figure 27)

Fig. 26 Artec Installation Center is ready to install Artec Studio.

Fig. 27 Part of page My software to my.artec3d .

If you downloaded the executable, run it to start the installation; otherwise, click the Install button in Artec Installation Center. To continue the installation, click Next, the License Agreement will open (see Fig. 28). After reading its text, confirm your consent to the installation by clicking on the Yes button.

Fig. 28 License agreement

fig. 29 Installation location

30 Selection of installed components

fig. 31 Click Install to start the installation process.

Fig. 32 Artec Installation Center with activation window Artec Studio

33 Completing the installation

Specify the path to the installation directory (it is recommended to use the default one), as shown in Fig. 29. Then go to the window for selecting installed components (see Fig. 30):

Program-menu shortcuts

creates an icon in the start menu

Desktop shortcut

creates an icon on the desktop

Start-menu shortcut

adds a shortcut to the Start menu and Quick Launch

English manual

installs English user manual

Artec scanner drivers

installs drivers for Artec

3D scanners
Artec Ray drivers

installs drivers for Artec Ray

3D scanner
Artec Micro drivers

installs drivers for Artec Micro

3D scanner
PrimeSense Carmine / Asus Xtion drivers

installs drivers for PrimeSense/Asus

3D sensors
Intel RealSense Runtime

installs drivers for Intel RealSense

cameras

By default, the application creates all the shortcuts listed above and installs the user manual and drivers for Artec 3D scanners. Click Next to continue with the installation.

If you are just starting the installation of Artec Installation Center, an authorization window will appear, as in Fig. 23. If you are not connected to the Internet, see Offline Activation for a description of the Artec Studio offline activation process.

If you have not previously associated your account with the computer on which you are installing Artec Studio, an activation confirmation dialog will open (see Figure 31).

Once the installation is complete (see Figure 32), the installer will prompt you to launch Artec Studio.

Offline activation

If the computer on which you are installing Artec Studio is not connected to the Internet due to security or other reasons, you can use the offline activation mechanism to activate the program.

Note

Artec Studio copies activated offline cannot be deactivated later. Therefore, offline activation is recommended to be used only in case of emergency.

Note

Before performing offline activation, make sure that the scanner (see Scanner Activation) and Artec Studio are linked to your account on my.artec3d .

Offline activation requires the following:

  • Another computer connected to the Internet

  • Artec Studio installation file (preferably downloaded from my.artec3d )

  • Flash drive or other storage device for transferring files from a computer with an Internet connection to a computer where Artec Studio

    • will run

Fig. Fig. 34 Authentication window in Artec Installation Center

35 Artec Installation Center - Activate offline

Pic. 36 Offline activation window

Installation and activation process:

  1. Start the Artec Studio installation process.

  2. During installation, the registration data entry window will open, as shown in Fig. 34. Click the Continue offline button.

  3. In the window that opens, click Activate offline.

  4. In the offline activation window (Fig. 36), click Save… and save the file with the activation ID to a flash drive or other media.

  5. On a computer connected to the Internet, log in to your account at my.artec3d and open the section My software .

  6. Find Artec Studio and click on the appropriate link. A new page will appear as shown in Fig. 37.

  7. Go to the link Activate application offline , then click the Select file button and specify the path to the file with the activation ID. Next, click Activate.

  8. A new window will open where you can download the offline activation file. Save it to a flash drive.

  9. Go back to the computer where Artec Studio is being installed, click the Activate and continue button and specify the path to the offline activation file.

Note

As soon as you create an offline activation file, my. artec3d will decrease the number of activations available to you by one.

Upon completion of all the above steps, a copy of Artec Studio will be activated and all Artec 3D scanners will be installed on a computer not connected to the Internet.

Fig. 37 Offline activation on my.artec3d .

Note

If you purchase another Artec 3D scanner in the future, you will need to reinstall the application and go through the offline activation procedure again, as described above, in order to copy all the data files of the new scanner to your computer.

Deactivation

It is important to note that the deactivation procedure is only available for computers on which you have activated Artec Studio online, as described in Installing Artec Studio. Unable to deactivate Artec Studio application activated offline.

Note

The number of possible deactivations may be limited, so deactivate Artec Studio only if you really need to transfer the application from one computer to another.

Fig. 38 Deactivating Artec Studio.

To deactivate a license on a computer, do the following:

  1. Make sure that the computer is connected to the Internet.

  2. Go to Control Panel → Uninstall programs and select Artec Studio. The uninstall process will start.

  3. A dialog will open as shown in Fig. 38. Check the box I understand. Deactivate Artec Studio.

  4. Click Next to complete the removal process.

Managing Artec 3D scanners and products

Artec Installation Center is used to manage applications and scanners assigned to your account.

This is a feature rich application for Artec Studio that connects to my.artec3d and helps you install new applications, download updates, and manage your 3D scanners. To launch Artec Studio for the first time, you need to log in with my.artec3d . After this one-time authentication, you won't have to enter your email address and password every time you launch the app.

When Artec Studio is launched on the server, the Artec Installation Center checks for updates, and if a new version is available for any of the installed products, a message similar to Figure 1 is displayed. 39.

Fig. 39 An update for Artec Studio is available for download.

After authorization, Artec Installation Center will display information about your products.

Fig. 40 Artec Installation Center.

Section Applications Artec Installation Center provides information about all your software products:

  • List of available applications

  • Activation status of each application (activated or not)

  • Number of available and enabled activations

  • Activate, Install or Update buttons for the actions currently available to you:

    • Install - displayed if the program is not installed on the computer (usually, installation means activation)

    • Activate - displayed if the program is not currently activated on the computer. Activation reduces the number of available licenses by one per computer.

    • Update - displayed if a new version of the installed program is available for download

Section Scanners contains a list of 3D scanners that you own or have connected to your computer. In the first case, the status Activated or the Activate button will be displayed, in the second case, the status Rented or the Rent button will be displayed.

At the bottom of the Artec Installation Center window, there are a number of buttons:0005

Close

- Exit Artec Installation Center

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    21. Panels and menus
    22. File storage
    23. Positioning of elements with referencing
    24. Positioning with the ruler tool
    25. Setting sets
    26. Customizing keyboard shortcuts
    27. Net and guides
  8. Web, screen and application content development
    1. Photoshop for design
    2. Artboards
    3. View on device
    4. Copy CSS from layers
    5. Splitting web pages into fragments
    6. HTML options for snippets
    7. Changing the arrangement of fragments
    8. Working with web graphics
    9. Create web photo galleries
  9. Understanding images and working with color
    1. Resizing images
    2. Working with raster and vector images
    3. Image size and resolution
    4. Importing images from cameras and scanners
    5. Creating, opening and importing images
    6. Image viewer
    7. "Invalid JPEG marker" error | Opening images
    8. Viewing multiple images
    9. Customize color palettes and color swatches
    10. HDR images
    11. Image color matching
    12. Converting between color modes
    13. Color modes
    14. Erase sub-images
    15. Blend modes
    16. Choice of colors
    17. Making changes to indexed color tables
    18. Image information
    19. Distortion filters not available
    20. Color details
    21. Color and monochrome corrections with channels
    22. Selecting colors in the Color and Swatches panels
    23. Sample
    24. Color mode (or picture mode)
    25. Shade
    26. Add color mode change to operation
    27. Add swatches from HTML CSS and SVG files
    28. Bit depth and settings
  10. Layers
    1. Understanding Layers
    2. Reversible editing
    3. Create and manage layers and groups
    4. Selecting, grouping and linking layers
    5. Putting images into frames
    6. Opacity and layering
    7. Layer masks
    8. Application of smart filters
    9. Layer compositions
    10. Move, arrange and lock layers
    11. Layer masking with vector masks
    12. Manage layers and groups
    13. Layer Effects and Styles
    14. Editing layer masks
    15. Retrieve resources
    16. Display layers with clipping masks
    17. Generation of graphic resources from layers
    18. Working with Smart Objects
    19. Blend modes
    20. Combining several fragments into one image
    21. Combining images with Auto Layer
    22. Alignment and distribution of layers
    23. Copy CSS from layers
    24. Load selections based on layer boundaries or layer masks
    25. See-through to show the contents of other layers
    26. Layer
    27. Mixing
    28. Composite images
    29. Background
  11. Selections
    1. Select and Mask workspace
    2. Quick area selection
    3. Getting Started with Selections
    4. Selecting with the Marquee Toolbox
    5. Selecting with the Lasso tools
    6. Selecting a color range in the image
    7. Pixel highlight setting
    8. Convert between contours and selection boundaries
    9. Channel Basics
    10. Moving, copying and deleting selected pixels
    11. Creating a temporary quick mask
    12. Saving selections and alpha channel masks
    13. Selecting focus areas in an image
    14. Duplication, splitting and merging of channels
    15. Channel calculation
    16. Extraction
    17. Bounding box
  12. Image corrections
    1. Perspective distortion
    2. Blur reduction due to camera movement
    3. Healing Brush Tool Examples
    4. Export color lookup tables
    5. Image sharpness and blur correction
    6. Introduction to color grading
    7. Applying the Brightness/Contrast setting
    8. Shadow and Highlight Detail Correction
    9. "Levels" correction
    10. Hue and saturation correction
    11. Juiciness correction
    12. Adjusting the color saturation in image areas
    13. Quick tone correction
    14. Applying special color effects to images
    15. Image enhancement with color balance correction
    16. HDR images
    17. View histograms and pixel values ​​
    18. Image color matching
    19. Crop and straighten photographs
    20. Converting a color image to black and white
    21. Adjustment and fill layers
    22. Curves correction
    23. Blend modes
    24. Target Imaging for Press
    25. Color and tone correction with Levels and Curves eyedroppers
    26. HDR Exposure and Toning Compensation
    27. Filter
    28. Blur
    29. Lighten or darken image areas
    30. Selective color correction
    31. Changing object colors
  13. Adobe Camera Raw
    1. Camera Raw
      2. system requirements
    2. What's New in Camera Raw
    3. Introduction to Camera Raw
    4. Creating panoramas
    5. Supported lenses
    6. Camera Raw 9 Vignetting, Grain, and Haze Removal0014
    7. Default key combinations
    8. Automatic perspective correction in Camera Raw
    9. Reversible editing in Camera Raw
    10. Camera Raw Radial Filter Tool
    11. Manage Camera Raw settings
    12. Processing, saving and opening images in Camera Raw
    13. Image enhancements with Camera Raw's improved Spot Remover
    14. Rotating, cropping and modifying images
    15. Camera Raw color correction
    16. Function overview | Adobe Camera Raw | Issues for 2018
    17. Overview of new features
    18. Processing versions in Camera Raw
    19. Making local adjustments in Camera Raw
  14. Fixing and restoring images
    1. Removing objects from photos using Content-Aware Fill
    2. Content-aware patching and relocation
    3. Retouching and fixing photos
    4. Image Distortion and Noise Correction
    5. Basic troubleshooting steps to solve most problems
  15. Image transformation
    1. Object transformation
    2. Crop, rotate and canvas adjustment
    3. Crop and straighten photographs
    4. Creating and editing panoramic images
    5. Deformation of images, shapes and contours
    6. Perspective
    7. Using the Liquify filter
    8. Content-aware scale
    9. Transforming images, shapes and paths
    10. Deformation
    11. Transformation
    12. Panorama
  16. Drawing and painting
    1. Drawing symmetrical ornaments
    2. Options for drawing a rectangle and changing the stroke
    3. Drawing details
    4. Drawing and editing shapes
    5. Paint tools
    6. Creating and modifying brushes
    7. Blend modes
    8. Adding color to contours
    9. Edit contours
    10. Painting with mix brush
    11. Brush Presets
    12. Gradients
    13. Gradient interpolation
    14. Fill and stroke selections, layers, and paths
    15. Drawing with the pen tool group
    16. Making patterns
    17. Creating a pattern with the Pattern Builder filter
    18. Loop control
    19. Managing pattern libraries and presets
    20. Drawing with graphics tablet
    21. Creating textured brushes
    22. Adding dynamic elements to brushes
    23. Gradient
    24. Draw stylized strokes with the Archive Art Brush
    25. Drawing with pattern
    26. Synchronizing presets across multiple devices
  17. Text
    1. Adding and editing text
    2. Universal text editor
    3. Working with OpenType SVG fonts
    4. Character formatting
    5. Paragraph formatting
    6. Creating text effects
    7. Text editing
    8. Leading and letter spacing
    9. Font for Arabic and Hebrew
    10. Fonts
    11. Troubleshooting Fonts
    12. Asian text
    13. Creating text
    14. Text Engine error when using Photoshop's Type tool | Windows 8
  18. Video and animation
    1. Video editing in Photoshop
    2. Editing video and animation layers
    3. Introduction to video and animation
    4. Video and animation preview
    5. Drawing frames in video layers
    6. Import video files and image sequences
    7. Create frame animations
    8. Creative Cloud 3D Animation (Preview)
    9. Creating timeline animations
    10. Creating images for videos
  19. Filters and effects
    1. Using the Liquify filter
    2. Using Blur Gallery group effects
    3. Filter basics
    4. Filter effects guide
    5. Adding lighting effects
    6. Using the Adaptive Wide Angle filter
    7. Oil Paint Filter
    8. Effects and Layer Styles
    9. Application of specific filters
    10. Image area feathering
  20. Saving and exporting
    1. Saving files in Photoshop
    2. Export files to Photoshop
    3. Supported file formats
    4. Saving files in other graphic formats
    5. Move projects between Photoshop and Illustrator
    6. Saving and exporting video and animation
    7. Saving PDF files
    8. Digimarc copyright protection
  21. Printing
    1. Printing 3D objects
    2. Printing with Photoshop
    3. Printing and color management
    4. Checklists and PDF presentations
    5. Print photos in a new image layout
    6. Spot color printing
    7. Duplexes
    8. Printing images on a printing press
    9. Photoshop Color Enhancement
    10. Printing troubleshooting | Photoshop
  22. Automation
    1. Create activities
    2. Creation of data-driven images
    3. Scenarios
    4. File batch processing
    5. Operation playback and management
    6. Adding conditional operations
    7. About actions and the Actions panel
    8. Recording tools in operations
    9. Add color mode change to operation
    10. Photoshop UI Development Kit for Plugins and Scripts
  23. Color Management
    1. Understanding Color Management
    2. Accurate color assurance
    3. Color settings
    4. Working with color profiles
    5. Color management of documents for viewing on the web
    6. Color management when printing documents
    7. Color management of imported images
    8. Perform proofing
  24. Content authenticity
    1. Learn more about content credentials
    2. Identity and origin of NFT tokens
    3. Connecting accounts for creative attribution
  25. 3D objects and technical images
    1. 3D in Photoshop | Common questions about deprecated 3D features
    2. Creative Cloud 3D Animation (Preview)
    3. Printing 3D objects
    4. 3D drawing
    5. 3D Panel Enhancement | Photoshop
    6. 3D Concepts and Tools
    7. Rendering and saving 3D objects
    8. Creating 3D objects and animations
    9. Image stacks
    10. 3D graphics workflow
    11. Measurements
    12. DICOM
      13. files
    13. Photoshop and MATLAB
    14. Image object count
    15. Combining and transforming 3D objects
    16. Editing 3D textures
    17. HDR Exposure and Toning Compensation
    18. 3D panel settings

You can copy images to your computer by connecting a digital camera or memory card reader to your computer.

  • The Get Camera Photos command in Adobe® Bridge® lets you upload photos, organize or rename them, and assign metadata to them.

  • If your digital camera or memory card reader appears as a storage medium on your computer, copy the images directly to your hard drive or to Adobe Bridge.

  • Use the software that came with your digital camera, Windows Image Acquisition (WIA), or Image Capture (macOS). For more information about using Windows Image Acquisition and Image Capture, see the documentation that came with your computer.

Some digital cameras allow you to import images using Windows Image Acquisition (WIA). When using WIA, Photoshop interacts with Windows and digital camera or scanner software so that images are imported directly into Photoshop.

  1. Select menu File > Import > WIA Support .

  2. Select a folder on the computer where the image files will be saved.

  3. Make sure Photoshop has Open Captured Images selected. If you are importing a large number of images, or if you plan to edit images at a different time, clear the Open acquired images check box.

  4. To save imported images directly in a folder named with the current date, select the Unique subfolder check box.

  5. Press Start .

  6. Select the digital camera from which images will be imported.

    If the camera name does not appear in the submenu, check if the software and drivers are installed correctly and if the camera is connected.

  7. Select the image or images to be imported.

    • To import an image, click the image in the thumbnail list.

    • Hold down the Shift key and select multiple images to import them all at once.

    • Select Select All to import all available images.

  8. Press the button Get photo to import the image.

Scanner software and drivers are provided by the scanner manufacturers, not by Adobe. If you have problems scanning, make sure you are using the latest version of the scanner software and driver.

Scan and import images from a separate scanning application

Most scanners come with a separate scanning application that you can use to scan and save images.

If the scanner manufacturer has not provided updated software and drivers that are compatible with current operating system versions, third-party scanning solutions may be required. The following third-party utilities are specialized scanning solutions and are more suitable for scanning a large amount of sensitive material:

  • VueScan
  • Silverfast

Using a dedicated scanning application allows you to retouch and edit images in Photoshop while scanning is in the background, which can increase efficiency.

If you are using a separate scanning application, save your scanned images as TIFF, then open them in Photoshop.

Some versions of the scanner software allow you to specify Photoshop as the external image editor after scanning is completed. Check the documentation that came with your scanner or contact the scanner manufacturer for more information.

  1. Start the scanning software and set the parameters as required.

  2. Save scanned images in TIFF format.

  3. In Photoshop, open the saved TIFF files.

Scan and import images using Apple ImageKit (macOS)

  1. Select menu File > Import > Images from device .

    Apple Image Capture application starts.

  2. Select the scanner you want to use from the DEVICES list in the left column.

    If the name of the scanner does not appear in the DEVICES list, check that the software and drivers are installed correctly, and that the scanner is connected.

  3. Select Create New Photoshop Document to open the resulting scanned image in Photoshop as a new document.

  4. Specify the color, resolution, size, destination folder, file name, and file format settings for the scanned image.

  5. Click Scan .

  6. The scanned image will open in Photoshop for editing.

Scanning and importing images using the WIA interface (Windows)

  1. Select menu File > Import > WIA Support .

  2. Select a folder on your computer where the image files will be saved.

  3. Press Start .

  4. Select in Photoshop Open received images (if there are few images to import and you want to edit them now).

  5. Select a unique subfolder if you want to store imported images in a folder named with the current date.

  6. Select the scanner to be used.

    If the name of the scanner does not appear in the submenu, check that the software and drivers are installed correctly, and that the scanner is connected.

  7. Select the type of image you want to scan: Color image, grayscale image, or black and white image or text.

    To specify custom settings, select Adjust Scan Image Quality.

  8. Press button Display . If necessary, move the bounding box handles to adjust the size of the scan area.

  9. Press Scan .

  10. The scanned image will open in Photoshop for editing.

Scanning and importing images using the TWAIN interface

The TWAIN plug-in is not supported by in available versions of Photoshop .

Video | Enhance a photo taken with a smartphone