3D scanner

You can scan and create 3D models of your products in the Shopify app using the 3D scanner. 3D models are a great way to let customers interact with your products. Customers can preview 3D models directly in their space, or view the product from all angles. Consider how pairing a good 3D model can help supplement a set of high-quality, detailed images of your products.

Setting up your environment

Make sure you scan your model in a bright well-lit space. Use soft, diffused lighting to remove visible shadows on and around the product. If you have lamps or other light sources, then point them at a wall, ceiling, or floor to bounce light onto your product. Place your model on a flat, white or light surface and leave enough room to move completely around the product.

Product requirements and limitations

Certain physical characteristics of a product are more difficult for the 3D scanner to capture well enough to produce a usable 3D model. Before you start your scan, make sure that your product meets the minimum requirements and has the physical characteristics that will result in a high quality 3D model.

Minimum product dimensions

Products must be at least 3 in (8 cm) in length, width, and height to be detected by the 3D scanner.

Product characteristics

A product's physical characteristics directly impact the maximum quality of the 3D model. For example, if your product has a smooth and highly reflective surface, then it will be more difficult for the 3D scanner to capture and render a high quality 3D model.

The following physical characteristics are likely to impact the quality of your scan:

Physical characters of a product that impact render quality
Characteristic	Positive impact	Negative impact
Texture	Textured	Smooth
Pattern	Variation	No pattern or repeated pattern
Color	Variation	Monochrome
Finish	Matte	Reflective
Rigidity	Rigid	Soft or flexible
Thickness	Thick	Thin or fine elements such as hair and fur
Gaps	Small gaps or no gaps	Large gaps or multiple gaps

Scan your product

Now that you've set up your environment, lighting and product, you’re ready to scan your product. You will likely need 10 to 15 minutes to scan and build a 3D model.

The 3D scanner requires three separate scans to create a model. You can scan your product in one of the following configurations:

flip your product and scan each side.
leave the product in its initial position and scan from a high angle, then a low angle.

The 3D scanner will suggest one configuration or the other automatically. If the suggested configuration doesn’t make sense to you, then you can choose the other configuration instead.

Scan and add a model directly to a product

From the Shopify app, go to Products.
Tap the product that you want to scan or tap + to create a new product.
In the Media section, tap + or tap Add images, videos, or 3D models.
Tap 3D scanner.
Follow the 3D scanner prompts to scan your product.
After all scans are complete, tap Continue to build your model. Keep the Shopify app open and running until the 3D model is processed.
After your model is built, review it by rotating the model to view it from all angles and tap the expand icon button to view the model in your space.
Tap Add to product to add the model and return to your product.
Tap Save to upload the 3D model to your product’s media.

Scan a model and save to your device's files

From the Shopify app, go to Products.
Tap 3D scanner.
Follow the 3D scanner prompts to scan your product.
After all scans are complete, tap Continue to build your model. Keep the Shopify app open and running until the 3D model is processed.
After your model is built, review it by rotating the model to view it from all angles and tap the expand icon button to view the model in your space.
Tap Save to Files app to move the model to a folder in your Files app.
Tap Move to save the 3D model file in your desired location.

Best practices and troubleshooting

If you are having trouble completing your scan or getting a high quality 3D model, try the following steps while you scan your product:

You can resize the box around your product by dragging the handles to ensure your product fits completely inside the virtual box.
While you scan, make sure that the product doesn’t move and is centered in the scanner.
Tap Reset to restart the segment scan at any point.
Keep a steady hand. Move slowly and smoothly around your product during the scan to increase the focus and clarity of the captured images.
If spots on the dial or point cloud aren’t filled in, then tap the manual shutter icon in the bottom right corner to manually capture additional images. These images can help fill in gaps in the model.
Scan your product in both segment configurations to see which configuration creates the best results.

Not every product can become a high quality 3D model. If you follow best practices for your environment set up and scan process and still aren't able to create a high quality 3D model, then the product's physical characteristics are likely responsible for low quality.

Compatible devices

The following iOS devices are compatible with the 3D scanner:

3D scanner compatible devices
Device	Description
iPhone Pro	iPhone 12 Pro or newer running iOS 17 or later
iPhone Pro Max	iPhone 12 Pro Max or newer running iOS 17 or later
iPad Pro	iPad Pro models from 2021 or newer running iPadOS 17 or later