3D body scanning turns a person into an accurate digital model in minutes, and it is a service we handle regularly at our Glendale studio. Customers come to us for custom busts and figurines, costume and prop fitting for film and TV, wearable product development, and personalized gifts. If you have wondered how a full-body or head scan works, what it costs, and how to prepare, this guide walks through what we have learned in more than 22 years of 3D work in Los Angeles.
How 3D Body Scanning Works
Scanning a person is different from scanning a machined part. People breathe, blink, and shift their weight, so speed matters as much as resolution. We typically use one of two approaches:
- Handheld structured light scanning. The scanner projects a light pattern and captures geometry and color as we move around the subject. It works well for heads, busts, hands, and feet, and a full pass usually takes a few minutes.
- Photogrammetry. Many photos taken from different angles are processed into a textured 3D model. When the photos are captured at the same instant, motion is essentially frozen, which is helpful for full-body poses, children, or pets.
After capture, the raw data is cleaned, aligned, and merged into a watertight mesh. Hair, eyelashes, and fine fabric folds are often refined by hand in sculpting software so the final model looks natural. You can read more about our equipment and deliverables on our 3D scanning services page.
Common Uses for 3D Body Scanning
Custom Busts, Statues, and Figurines
A head or full-body scan can be scaled to a tabletop figurine, a life-size bust, or anything in between. We often pair the scan with 3D printing in resin for fine facial detail, or in full-color material when the customer wants skin tones and clothing colors printed directly. Scans can also serve as a master for molding and casting in bronze or resin.
Costume, Prop, and Wardrobe Fitting
Productions in Los Angeles use body scans to build armor, masks, prosthetic appliances, and helmets that fit an actor without repeated in-person fittings. A digital double of the performer lets designers sculpt pieces directly on the body in CAD, then print or mold them with confidence.
Wearables and Ergonomic Products
Product teams scan heads, hands, wrists, and feet to design headphones, eyewear, gloves, braces, and grips that follow real anatomy. The scan becomes reference geometry in SolidWorks or Fusion 360, and our product design team builds the part around it.
How to Prepare for a 3D Body Scan
A little preparation makes a noticeable difference in scan quality and in how much cleanup time your project needs:
- Wear matte, solid colors. Shiny, sequined, very dark, or sheer fabrics are hard for scanners to read. If clothing matters for a figurine, bring the actual outfit and we will advise on it.
- Style hair close to the head. Loose, flyaway hair scans poorly. Slicked-back hair, a bun, or a cap gives cleaner results, especially for fitting work.
- Remove reflective jewelry and glasses unless they are part of the final piece.
- Choose a pose you can hold. Relaxed, supported poses work best. Arms slightly away from the body help capture underarms and sides.
How Much Does 3D Body Scanning Cost?
Pricing depends on what you scan and what you need at the end. As a general range, a head or bust scan with basic cleanup often falls in the low hundreds of dollars, while full-body scans with detailed hand sculpting, color textures, or fitting-grade accuracy cost more. Printing, painting, and casting are quoted separately based on size, material, and finish. Scanning several people or poses in one session usually lowers the cost per scan.
Deliverables typically include an STL or OBJ mesh for printing, a textured OBJ or FBX for visualization, and, for engineering work, a cleaned reference model ready for CAD.
Book a 3D Body Scan in Los Angeles
Whether you need a family figurine, a costume-ready digital double, or anatomy data for a new wearable, eCadCam handles 3D body scanning, cleanup, design, and printing under one roof. Visit our studio at 4212 San Fernando Rd, Glendale, CA 91204, call us at 213.489.1173, or request a quote and tell us about your project.