3D scanner manufactuer Artec Group has unveiled its Shapify Booth, which can scan an entire body in 12 seconds and use the resulting file to 3D print a life-like figurine called a “Shapie.”
Already rolled out in two ASDA supermarkets in the UK, Artec hopes the scanning booths will catch on in similar U.S. retail stores like Walmart, theme parks and other major tourist sites.
From documenting pregnancies and capturing precious moments to creating personalized wedding cake toppers and birthday souvenirs, the possibilities are truly endless.
How does it work? Upon entering the Artec Shapify booth, four wide-view, high-resolution scanners circle around the individual, detailing every portion of their figure down to the wrinkles on their clothes. With 700 surfaces stitched together using Artec’s advanced algorithms, a file is then ready to 3D print the life-like replica.
While the use of 3D scanning with printers is nothing new, Artec’s Shapify is arguably among the first full-body scanners positioned for mainstream use in retail locations.
“The Shapify Booth will be the first experience many people have with 3D scanning and printing technology,” Artyom Yukhin, CEO of Artec Group, said in a press release. “As a kid, you may have gotten into a photo booth with your friends and had a strip of pictures printed out to commemorate the occasion. Our goal is to have this generation do the same thing, but add another dimension and in the end have a 3D printed figurine to solidify the memory.”
Interested in learning more? Check out the company’s official site here. Want a 3D-printed selfie? You can even scan yourself right from home and get a figurine sent to your home in the mail.
Pingback: 3-D Printing: Incredible Technology That Comes With a Price | Courts & Sports