Scan Photogrammetry
Android + RealityScan
→ Unreal Engine 5
In this tutorial we cover the complete workflow for turning real-world objects into game-ready 3D assets using nothing but your Android phone, the free RealityScan mobile app, and Unreal Engine 5. No expensive camera rigs. No desktop scanning hardware. Just your phone, a free app, and UE5.
? What Is Photogrammetry?
Photogrammetry is the process of using overlapping photographs of a real-world object or environment to reconstruct a detailed 3D mesh with textures. Software analyzes multiple photos, identifies matching features across images, and triangulates the geometry and surface color automatically.
The result is a high-fidelity 3D model derived directly from reality — perfect for game assets, architectural visualization, films, or metaverse content.
→ Workflow at a Glance
Phone
App
Export
Engine 5
📋 Requirements
| Tool / Software | Platform | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Android phone (Android 7+ / ARCore support) | Mobile | Required |
| RealityScan (by Epic Games) | Android / iOS | Free |
| Sketchfab account | Web | Free |
| Unreal Engine 5 (5.7.4) | Windows / Mac | Free |
| Epic Games Launcher | Desktop | Free |
1 Setting Up RealityScan on Android
RealityScan is Epic Games' official mobile photogrammetry companion app. It leverages your phone's ARCore sensors — gyroscope and accelerometer — to track the orientation of each photo, giving the reconstruction algorithm additional context that improves accuracy.
Download & Sign In
Search "RealityScan" on the Google Play Store. Install and sign in with your Epic Games account (the same one used for UE5).
Check ARCore Support
RealityScan requires Android 7.0 (API level 24) or higher and ARCore support. Most Android phones from 2018 onward qualify.
Create a New Scan Project
Tap the "+" button to start a new project. Give your scan a name and description for easy identification later.
2 Capturing Your Object
Photo quality and coverage are everything. The 3D mesh is only as good as the images you feed it. Follow these principles:
Use Diffuse, Even Lighting
Avoid direct sunlight and harsh shadows. Overcast days outdoors or a softbox indoors produces the most consistent texture extraction.
Shoot with 60%+ Overlap
Each photo should share at least 60% of its content with adjacent photos. Walk slowly around the object in overlapping orbits — one ring low, one middle, one high.
Capture 50–150 Photos
For small objects, 50–100 shots is typically sufficient. Larger or more complex objects benefit from 150–200+ photos. Quality beats quantity.
Follow the AR Guide Overlay
RealityScan shows a real-time AR overlay indicating coverage. Green areas are well covered; red areas need more shots. Fill all areas before finishing.
Avoid these common mistakes: Shiny, transparent, or highly reflective surfaces (glass, mirrors, chrome) cause reconstruction failures. Subjects must remain completely still — even leaves moving in the wind will cause artifacts. Keep your camera settings (exposure, white balance) locked for consistency.
3 Processing & Exporting via Sketchfab
Once you've captured enough images, RealityScan uploads them to Epic's cloud servers for reconstruction. This process is fully automatic.
Upload to Cloud
Tap "Process" in the app. RealityScan sends your images to Epic's photogrammetry cloud, which runs the reconstruction algorithm and generates a textured 3D mesh.
Review the Result
Once processed (usually a few minutes), the app shows a preview embedded via Sketchfab. Inspect for holes, artifacts, or missing geometry. Use the "fix unconnected images" option if needed.
Export from Sketchfab
Open your model in Sketchfab (you'll be upgraded to Pro for one year free). Download the model as FBX or OBJ with its texture maps (Albedo, Normal, Roughness).
Sketchfab Pro tip: Your first upload upgrades your account to Sketchfab Pro for a full year — completely free. This gives you access to higher download quality and more monthly model uploads.
4 Importing into Unreal Engine 5
With your exported FBX (or OBJ) and texture files in hand, it's time to bring the asset into Unreal Engine 5.
Create or Open a UE5 Project
Launch Unreal Engine 5 via the Epic Games Launcher. Open an existing project or create a new one (Game → Blank is a clean starting point).
Drag FBX into Content Browser
Locate your downloaded FBX file in Windows Explorer and drag it directly into the Content Browser panel in UE5. The FBX Import dialog will open.
Enable Build Nanite
In the import dialog, check "Build Nanite". Nanite is UE5's virtualized micropolygon system — it handles millions of polygons at real-time performance, so no manual LOD optimization is needed.
Import Textures & Create Material
Import the Albedo (Base Color), Normal Map, and Roughness textures separately into the Content Browser. Create a new Material, plug them into the correct slots, and assign it to your imported mesh.
Place in World & Adjust Scale
Drag the static mesh from the Content Browser into the viewport. Use the scale handles or enter precise values in the Details panel to match real-world dimensions.
5 Optimization Tips for Game Use
Use Lumen for Lighting
Scanned assets look best under UE5's Lumen global illumination system. It handles dynamic lighting and reflections on photogrammetry materials without manual lightmap baking.
Trim the Mesh Background
RealityScan often includes background geometry around your subject. Use UE5's built-in Modeling Tools (Shift+5) or a DCC like Blender to clean the mesh before importing.
Compress Textures Properly
In the Texture settings in UE5, set Base Color to DXT1/BC1, Normal Map to BC5, and Roughness to BC4 for optimal GPU memory usage.