Scan a real object

Photo Scan

Measure a real object from many photos, with no imagined back. Apple's Object Capture, built into macOS.

Download for macOS All models

One of several local engines in 3D Mate. Switch per model, any time.

Photo Scan runs fully offline on a Mac inside 3D Mate. It is not AI generation: it uses Apple's Object Capture, built into macOS, to measure a real object you own from many photos of it (around 30 works well, from as few as 8), reconstructing an accurate, textured 3D model on-device with nothing to download and nothing uploaded. It needs 8 GB of unified memory (16 GB recommended) and no extra disk, since it is part of macOS. Use it when you have the real object and want its true shape rather than a guess from one image. For single-photo AI generation instead, see TRELLIS.2 4B or the full model library.

A real street monument, filmed on a phone and rebuilt by 3D Mate.

What it is great at

  • Built into macOS. Nothing to download, and it works on the first run.
  • Measures the object it actually sees, so the back is real, not imagined.
  • The most accurate option when you can photograph an object from every angle.

Trade-offs

  • Needs a set of photos, 20 to 60, walking all the way around. It cannot work from a single picture.
  • Only for objects you physically have and can photograph.

At a glance

Unified memory
8 GB minimum, 16 GB recommended
On disk
None. Part of macOS.
Typical speed
Minutes, with photo count
Exports
GLB, USDZ, OBJ, STL, PLY
License
Part of macOS
Works offline
Fully on your Mac. No internet or cloud, nothing uploaded.

The original model

Object Capture PhotogrammetrySession docs

Try Photo Scan on your Mac.

Download for macOS See pricing

Free to try. Install Photo Scan from inside the app, in a click.

FAQ

Does Photo Scan run offline on Mac?
Yes. Photo Scan runs entirely on your Mac, fully offline and on-device. No internet connection, no cloud account, and nothing you import or generate ever leaves your machine.
Do I need an internet connection or an account to use Photo Scan?
No. Once 3D Mate and the Photo Scan engine are installed, everything runs locally on Apple Silicon. You can generate 3D models with Photo Scan on a Mac that is completely offline.