Adrian Leo Guzman

3D Models

I always thought it was unfortunate that the full relevatory power of sculpture remained otherwise inaccessible to digitization. New AR / VR technology presents a new optimism in this, and this webpage is dedicated to spreading the word about it. Why would you have pictures of your sculpture on your webpage, when we can see it in all it's 3D glory?

This is what your sculpture could look like on your website. Try rotating and zooming:

Drag to rotate • Scroll to zoom • Right-click to pan

01. Capture Your Sculpture

Use photogrammetry apps to convert your physical sculpture into a 3D model. Walk around your piece with your smartphone camera, and the app automatically generates the 3D file.

Best Apps for Scanning

Polycam

iOS • Android

Best overall quality. Free tier available. Offers both photo and LiDAR scanning modes.

Luma AI

iOS • Android

Fastest processing. Completely free. Great for quick captures with excellent results.

Scaniverse

iOS only

Uses iPhone's LiDAR sensor. Free. Ideal for iPhone Pro users with instant scanning.

3D Scanner App

iOS only

Simple interface. Free. Good for beginners starting with LiDAR scanning.

Scanning Process

Place sculpture in well-lit area with even, soft lighting
Open your scanning app and start a new capture
Walk slowly around the sculpture in a complete circle
Keep the sculpture centered in your camera frame
Make 2-3 passes at different heights (low, middle, high angles)
Capture 50-100 photos total (apps guide you through this)
Stop capture and let the app process (5-30 minutes)

Common Issue: Shiny metallic surfaces can be difficult to scan. For reflective sculptures, try scanning outdoors on an overcast day or use diffused indoor lighting with white sheets.

02. Export Your Model

Once your app finishes processing, export the 3D model in a web-friendly format.

Export as GLB Format

GLB and GLTF are the standard web 3D formats
In Polycam: Tap Export → Select GLB
In Luma AI: Tap Share → Export → GLB
In Scaniverse: Tap Export → Choose GLB
Save the file to your phone or computer

Tip: Most apps automatically optimize file size. If your GLB file is larger than 10MB, consider using the app's compression settings for faster web loading.

03. Host Your Model

You need to make your 3D file accessible on the web. Two simple options:

Option A: Sketchfab (Easiest)

Create free account at Sketchfab.com
Click "Upload" and select your GLB file
After upload, click the "Embed" button
Copy the provided embed code
Paste directly into your website HTML

Option B: Self-Host (More Control)

Upload GLB file to your website server (like uploading an image)
Note the file path or URL
Use the display code in Step 4 below
Reference your uploaded file in the code

04. Add to Your Website

Copy and paste this code to display your 3D model. Replace the file path with your own.

Step 1: Add Script to Page Head

                <!-- Add this once in your <head> section -->

                <script type="module"
                src="https://ajax.googleapis.com/ajax/libs/model-viewer/3.3.0/model-viewer.min.js"></script>
            

Step 2: Add Viewer Where You Want It

                <!-- Add this in your <body> where you want the model -->

                <model-viewer

                  src="your-sculpture.glb"

                  alt="My sculpture"

                  camera-controls

                  auto-rotate

                  style="width: 100%; height: 600px;"

                  shadow-intensity="1">

                </model-viewer>

Tip: Replace your-sculpture.glb with either a relative path (sculptures/piece1.glb) or full URL (https://yoursite.com/models/sculpture.glb)

Customization Options

Add these attributes to the model-viewer tag to change behavior and appearance:

Basic Controls

camera-controls — Enables rotation, zoom, and pan
auto-rotate — Model slowly spins automatically
shadow-intensity="1" — Shadow darkness (0-2 scale)
exposure="1.2" — Brightness level (0-2 scale)

Advanced Options

poster="preview.jpg" — Shows image while loading
loading="eager" — Loads model immediately
camera-orbit="45deg 75deg 2m" — Sets starting camera angle
min-camera-orbit="auto auto 1m" — Limits zoom distance

Example: Full Custom Setup

                <model-viewer

                  src="sculpture.glb"

                  alt="Bronze abstract sculpture"

                  camera-controls

                  auto-rotate

                  shadow-intensity="1.5"

                  exposure="1.3"

                  poster="sculpture-preview.jpg"

                  style="width: 100%; height: 700px;">

                </model-viewer>

Pro Tips for Best Results

Scanning Success

Use soft, diffused natural light — avoid harsh direct sunlight
Plain matte backgrounds work best (avoid busy patterns)
Keep 3-6 feet distance from sculpture while scanning
Ensure 60-70% overlap between each photo
Move slowly and steadily — motion blur ruins scans
Capture top and bottom angles, not just sides

Display Optimization

Set viewer height to minimum 500-600px for comfortable viewing
Always include camera-controls for interaction
Use auto-rotate sparingly — it can be distracting
Add loading poster images for large files
Test on mobile devices — touch controls work differently

Performance

Keep model files under 10MB for fast loading
Most apps auto-optimize — use their compression settings
Sketchfab handles optimization automatically
Self-hosting gives you full control over file size

Common Issue: Model has holes or noise? You need more photos with better overlap. Rescan with slower movements and capture more angles.

Start Today

Download a scanning app, capture your first sculpture, and bring your work to life online. See the demo again ↑