The little program is available on Google Play

Sep 20, 2014 06:41 GMT  ·  By

Would you like to be able to make a 3D printer out of any photo? We don't doubt it, but unfortunately that's not possible outside some applications and services designed specifically for it. Fortunately, Autodesk is looking out for you.

On any other day, we may have said that Autodesk is looking out more for its own self interest than yours, but we can't really accuse it of that perfectly valid business practice this time.

It's a simple reason really: the app it has just released through Google Play is totally free. It is called 123D Catch.

The 123D Catch application

Designed for the Android operating system platform, the app will allow you to make 3D scans of objects just by moving around them with your smartphone's or tablet's camera pointed at the object or objects of interest.

The software has actually been available on the Apple App Store for months, so it was about time the rest of the world got a slice of the pie.

We can definitely see a full flood of new 3D objects and models making their way into online repositories like Thingiverse after this.

You don't even need to jump through any hoops to share files, or even have them 3D printed if you own a printer, or have access to a print service.

Just make a 3D virtual model and then use the 123D Catch Web App to generate an STL file, slice models, even send them to your home 3D printer over Wi-Fi or 3G.

Alternatively, you can upload your model to Shapeways or other websites, to have them 3D print it for you at a quality perhaps unachievable on your home printer.

Comparison to Intel's RealSense 3D scanners

Intel revealed, both at IFA 2014 and more recently, that it hopes to see a 3D sensor/scanner inside all tablets by the end of 2015.

Its technology revolves around the RealSense 3D scanner, which can build a 3D model, in full color, of anything you scan with it, in just a minute or so.

The 123D Catch Web App for Android (and iOS) doesn't make the scan quite as fast perhaps, but it will definitely prevent the Android/Apple mobile communities from falling behind in this.

Who knows, maybe some 3D sensor or another will replace the rear cameras in those sectors, as Intel means for them to do on tablets and laptops.

Anyway, if you own a 3D printer or just want to take some 3D scans of stuff for the kicks, all you need to do is drop by Google Play, search 123D Catch and hit download.

123D Catch Web App (6 Images)

123D Catch Web App scan examples
123D Catch Web App can tell shadows apartYou get different options for editing
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