ScanTech iReal Color 3D Scanners Review

Updated Jan 31, 2021 3370

In this article, we will talk about ScanTech iReal 3D scanners that were designed to work with people, art objects, and archaeological artifacts. They don’t provide the highest levels of accuracy but can offer high scanning speed, quality color capture, and the ability to work with complex surfaces, including hair and eyes.

About ScanTech

ScanTech was founded in Hangzhou, China — a large industrial city — in 2011. The company specializes in developing and manufacturing professional solutions in the field of 3D technologies. The list of metrological equipment produced by the company is impressive. It includes hybrid 3D scanners, as well as compact handheld laser models, high-performance devices that work using the structured light technology and photogrammetry systems.

ScanTech press releases often mention an innovative development center that was made with a Norwegian company named Metronor — one of the leading European manufacturers of photogrammetry technologies and metrological systems. The center allowed ScanTech to take a leading position on the market of industrial 3D and metrological systems. The devices are utilized in the automotive industry, energy engineering, aerospace industry, architecture, and design.

After reaching steady positions on the market of high-accuracy industrial 3D scanners, the company focuses on growing in market segments where high precision is less important than scanning speed and color capture.

ScanTech iReal 2E

Source: 3d-scantech.com

ScanTech iReal 2E is a portable color 3D scanner that was specially developed for capturing mid-sized and larger objects with different surfaces, including black and glossy ones.

Source: 3d-scantech.com

iReal 2E uses the VCSEL technology of structured infrared light that allows for quick capture of a texture without using markers.

Source: 3d-scantech.com

iReal 2E is a perfect tool for scanning people. A person can’t be standing completely still but the image capture processing algorithms compensate for small movements. Using non-visible infrared light doesn’t cause any discomfort and is fully safe for vision. Moreover, scanning software can successfully process the captured images of eyes and colors that are usually very problematic for the majority of 3D scanners.

Source: 3d-scantech.com

Apart from a wide range of abilities in 3D scanning and image processing, the iReal 2E stands apart because of its small size, low weight, and ease of use.

ScanTech iReal 2S

Source: 3d-scantech.com

The iReal 2S 3D scanner is an update to the iReal 2E. The main difference is the inclusion of an additional light source: apart from the infrared light, the iReal 2S uses blue light.

While keeping all of the strongest points and features of the predecessor, the iReal 2S offers high scanning speed and accuracy, as well as intelligent image alignment, fully automatic post-processing using proprietary algorithms and good color reproduction. But due to using blue lights, this device is better than the iReal 2E at capturing the details while processing the textures and small details.

Technical Specifications

Parameters. / Model	iReal 2E	iReal 2S
Light source	infrared	blue	infrared
Light source visibility	invisible	visible	invisible
Safety	Class 1 (safe)	LED (safe）	Class 1 (safe)
Point distance	from 0.2 to 3.0 mm	from 0.2 to 3.0 mm	from 0.5 to 3.0 mm
Accuracy	up to 0.10 mm	up to 0.10 mm	up to 0.15 mm
Volumetric accuracy	up to 0.30 mm/m	up to 0.20 mm/m	up to 0.25 mm/m
Color scan	yes	yes
Color reproduction	24 bit	24 bit
Scanning speed	1, 500,000 measurements per second	1, 500,000 measurements per second
Optimum working distance	350-650 mm	350-650 mm
Scan area	850 x 800 mm	520 x 510 mm
Supported file formats	OBJ, STL, PLY, ASC, SK	OBJ, STL, PLY, ASC, SK
Connectivity	USB 3.0	USB 3.0
Weight	850 g	910 g

Pros and Cons

The main advantage of the ScanTech iReal 3D scanners is their ability to offer high-quality scanning of people that aren’t standing still. The devices successfully process the details that are traditionally difficult to scan such as eyes and hair, while providing alignment by geometry and texture.

It must be mentioned that the ScanTech iReal, as well as the majority of other ScanTech products, are more affordable than similar 3D scanners by other manufacturers.

The main drawback is a lower scanning accuracy compared to the industrial 3D scanners. ScanTech iReal is good for scanning the human body, as well as art objects and other objects where the correct color reproduction is more important than the accuracy and metrological properties. It's better to use more accurate 3D scanners for reverse engineering purposes or metrology.

The Competition

Source: proto3000.com

The Creaform Go!SCAN SPARK can be considered the device that is closest in its parameters to the ScanTech iReal scanners. Similarly to them, it’s easy to use and can provide good results while working with complex surfaces.

The disadvantages of the Creaform Go!SCAN SPARK compared to the iReal devices include:

a significantly larger weight and larger dimensions;
using bright white light which isn’t comfortable when scanning people;
smaller scan area;

But Creaform Go!SCAN SPARK provides higher accuracy of the measurements, which makes it a better choice for solving engineering or industrial tasks.

Type	ScanTech iReal 2E	ScanTech iReal 2S		Creaform Go!SCAN SPARK
Light source	infrared	blue	infrared	white light
Point distance	0.2- 3.0 mm	0.2- 3.0 mm	0.5- 3.0 mm	0.200 mm
Scanning accuracy	up to 0.10 mm	up to 0.10 mm	up to 0.15 mm	50
Volumetric accuracy	up to 0.30 mm/m	up to 0.20 mm/m	up to 0.25 mm/m	0.05 mm + 0.15 mm/m
Color scan	yes	yes		yes
Color reproduction	24 bit	24 bit		24 bit
Scanning speed	1, 500,000 measurements per second	1, 500,000 measurements per second		1, 500,000 measurements per second
Working distance	350-650 mm	350-650 mm		400 mm
Scan area	850 x 800 mm	520 x 510 mm		390 x 390 mm
Supported file formats	OBJ, STL, PLY, ASC, SK	OBJ, STL, PLY, ASC, SK		OBJ, STL, PLY, ASC, SK, DAE, FBX, MA, TXT, WRL, X3D, X3DZ, ZPR, 3MF
Weight	850 g	910 g		1, 250 g

Application

The ScanTech iReal 3D scanners are widely used for scanning people and objects with comparable sizes to get 3D models that can be utilized in healthcare, the fashion industry, in movie and television productions as well as for video games development (including AR and VR) and for creating 3D print-ready objects. The following reasons make the ScanTech iReal devices perfect for such purposes:

using infrared light, in this case, is perfectly safe and can be used for scanning a human including their eyes without causing any discomfort;
sing blue light for scanning can guarantee full interference protection and perfect efficiency;
using the Super HD file format provides high-quality texture capture.

Scanning of a person

Scan mode: infrared light

Duration: 4 min.

Upper Body Scan

Scan mode: infrared light

Duration: 2 min.

Source: 3d-scantech.com

Hand Scan

Scan Mode: infrared light

Duration: 30 sec.

Leg Scan

Scan Mode: Blue light

Duration: 1 min.

Source: 3d-scantech.com

Foot Scan

Scan Mode: blue light

Duration: 1 min.

Source: 3d-scantech.com

Scan Examples

Apart from scanning a human body and its parts, the ScanTech iReal 3D scanners are widely used for working with various archaeological artifacts and art objects

Rabbit model by iReal 3D scanner by 3dscantech on Sketchfab

Scanning a Ganesha model By iReal 3D scanner by 3dscantech on Sketchfab

3D Face Scan by White light 3D Scanner iReal by 3dscantech on Sketchfab

Conclusion

The high-speed color 3D scanners ScanTech iReal should be used in cases when rapid scanning and correct color reproduction are more important than microscopical accuracy of measurements. These devices are optimal for working with people and the objects that