For the best results, capture each room from multiple angles using a zigzag pattern. Position scans closer together around furniture and detailed surfaces to ensure sufficient coverage for 3D reconstruction.
Before You Begin
Before capturing indoor spaces for 3D content:
Select 3D Capture on your Gen5 camera
Turn on the Auto-height tripod by holding its button until the indicator lights fill, then connect it under Settings > Tripods
Ensure there is at least 1.6 m of unobstructed space above the tripod base to allow automatic height adjustments
Open curtains and doors, and turn on the lights
Keep furniture and other objects in the same positions throughout the capture
Keep people, pets and moving objects out of view while scanning
Note: During 3D Capture, the tripod automatically captures panoramas at two different heights, starting at the upper position and then moving to the lower position. The heights cannot be adjusted during the sequence.
Indoor Capture Guidelines
Scan density depends on the size of the room and the amount of detail it contains. Rooms with furniture, windows, mirrors and detailed surfaces require more scan positions than empty rooms.
Follow these recommendations when capturing indoor spaces with Gen5.
Scan in a Zigzag Pattern
Capture rooms using a zigzag pattern, alternating between positions close to and farther away from objects.
Avoid capturing scans in a straight line
Position scans approximately 1 m apart around small objects and 2 m apart around larger objects and detailed surfaces
Capture objects from multiple angles to provide sufficient coverage for 3D reconstruction
Include positions approximately 0.3–0.5 m from walls where appropriate.
Maintain overlapping views between adjoining spaces
Tip: The more detail an area contains, the more scan positions it requires. Avoid unnecessary scans in areas with plain surfaces and little detail
Capture Empty Rooms
For rooms with plain walls, floors and ceilings and no furniture, focus on capturing the corners.
Rooms approximately 20 m²: Capture one scan in each corner. Additional central scans are generally not required if the corners provide sufficient coverage.
Rooms approximately 40 m²: Capture one scan in each corner and an additional scan in the centre.
These recommendations apply to plain rooms without furniture or other detailed surfaces.
Capture Furnished Rooms
Furnished rooms require additional scans to capture objects and surrounding spaces from multiple angles.
Capture furniture from all sides
Use a zigzag pattern, alternating between closer and farther scan positions
Include additional scans in spaces between furniture
Capture room corners and areas that may be obstructed by larger objects
For furniture positioned in the middle of a room, move around the object rather than capturing scans in a straight line past it
Example: When capturing a room with a table in the centre, alternate between scans near the room corners and scans beside each side of the table. This provides multiple viewpoints of the table and its surrounding space.
Capture Windows
Windows require additional scan positions to provide sufficient visual information for 3D reconstruction.
Use three scan positions arranged in a triangle:
Capture one scan near each edge of the window, approximately 0.5 m from the wall
Capture a third scan approximately 2 m away, centred in front of the window
This helps capture the window and the view through it from multiple angles, reducing potential visual artefacts in the generated 3D content.
Note: Window scan positions can also provide coverage of nearby room corners, reducing the need for additional scans in those areas.
Capture Mirrors
Mirrors require two scan positions:
Capture one scan near one edge of the mirror
Capture another scan near the opposite edge
Unlike windows, mirrors do not require a third scan positioned farther away.
Continue capturing the rest of the room as usual to ensure complete coverage.
Capture Detailed Walls and Surfaces
For rooms with detailed walls, artwork, decorative finishes or ornate ceilings:
Add scan positions along detailed surfaces approximately 2 m apart
Alternate between near and far positions rather than following a straight line
Capture surfaces from several angles to provide sufficient information for 3D reconstruction
Reviewing Your Indoor Capture
Before moving to the next room:
Check ScanView for missing areas or gaps in coverage
Make sure all corners, windows, furniture and detailed surfaces have been captured
Confirm that the captured views overlap between adjoining rooms.
Add scans wherever additional coverage is required
Complete the room before moving on, and finish one floor before switching to another floor layer
Tip: Focus on capturing surfaces from multiple angles rather than simply increasing the number of scans. Good coverage is more important than unnecessary additional scan positions.