Photogrammetry Capture
Walk around an object capturing dozens of photos. Apple's on-device Object Capture pipeline reconstructs a textured 3D model with realistic geometry.
3D Object Scanner
iOSWalk around a real-world object with your iPhone - NFC.cool runs Apple's on-device Object Capture to reconstruct a textured 3D model. Export the finished model into AR or any 3D tool.
What You Can Do
Preview & Refine
Review the model in 3D before exporting. Inspect the raw images captured during the session if you want to see what the camera saw.
AR Quick Look
Drop any scanned object into your living room via AR Quick Look. Share USDZ files with friends - they can view them right inside Messages.
Six Export Formats
Export a textured USDZ for AR Quick Look, or plain geometry as USD, OBJ, STL, PLY, or ABC for Blender and the rest of the 3D content pipeline.
From your Hand to your AR View
AR Quick Look in Messages
iOSUSDZ is Apple's native AR format. Share a scanned object in iMessage or AirDrop and the recipient can spin it, place it in their own space, and screenshot it - all from the message preview, no app install. Great for product previews, sculpture documentation, or just showing off.
Shortcuts & App Intents
iOSNFC.cool plugs straight into the iOS Shortcuts app with built-in actions: grab the last scanned NFC tag, write a message to a tag, open the scanner, or pull the last scanned QR code. Chain them into Shortcuts that scan a tag, parse its payload, and kick off whatever you want next - automation, logging, journaling, you name it. The same actions power the lock-screen Scan Button control on iOS 17+.
iCloud Sync across iPhone, iPad, and Mac
iOSScanned models live in your iCloud Documents folder, so the iPhone you scanned with, the iPad you reviewed on, and the Mac you'll edit on all see the same library. Snap on the go, finish on the desk.
Hardware & Export
Hardware Requirements
- iOS 17.0 or newer
- LiDAR required - iPhone Pro models (iPhone 12 Pro and newer)
- iPad Pro (2020) and newer also supported
Export Formats
- USDZ - textured, Apple's AR Quick Look format
- USD, OBJ, STL, PLY, ABC - geometry only (via ModelIO)
- Raw capture images (Platinum)
Free vs Platinum
| Free | Platinum | |
|---|---|---|
| Scan 3D Objects | ✓ | ✓ |
| Place Object in AR | ✓ | ✓ |
| Export 3D Models | ✗ | ✓ |
| Export Photos | ✗ | ✓ |
Frequently Asked
Does my iPhone need LiDAR?
Yes. Apple's Object Capture session requires a LiDAR-equipped device - that means iPhone Pro (12 Pro and newer) or iPad Pro from 2020 onwards. Non-Pro iPhones don't ship with LiDAR.
How long does a scan take?
A few minutes of walking around the object, then a couple of minutes of on-device reconstruction. Larger / more textured objects take longer.
Can I 3D-print the results?
You can export to OBJ and convert to STL in Blender, MeshLab, or any standard 3D tool. The model fidelity is best for medium-sized, well-textured objects.
What's the difference between this and the Room Scanner?
Object Capture (this feature) builds a single 3D model of a thing. The Room Scanner uses LiDAR and Apple's RoomPlan to build a floor plan of a space - walls, doors, furniture. Both need LiDAR; they answer different questions.
Ready to scan?