Hi everyone,
I recently completed a full 3D scan of my Corolla using the Revopoint MetroX, and I wanted to share some of the results and my workflow with the community.
Since the car has black and reflective surfaces, it presented some additional challenges compared to scanning matte objects. This project was also much larger than the typical objects scanned with MetroX, making it a good opportunity to evaluate the scanner’s performance on a full-size vehicle.
This project was much larger than the typical objects scanned with MetroX, so it was a great opportunity to see how well the scanner performs on automotive-sized parts.
time spent: (total time: 10-12 hr, excluded post-processing)
place and remove marker: 35%
scan object: 10%
post-processing after scan: 55%
Scan Setup
- Scanner: Revopoint MetroX
- Object: Corolla
- Mode: Marker Scan
- Purpose: Creating a high-quality 3D model for future CAD design, reverse engineering, and custom automotive accessories.
Photos Included
- Marker placement on the vehicle
- Scan statistics from Revo Metro
- Alignment and merge results
- Final merged point cloud/mesh
Scanning Workflow
Because of the vehicle’s glossy black finish, I completed two full scanning passes using different object presets.
First Pass – Metallic / Shiny Object Mode
This mode was used to better capture the reflective painted surfaces and areas where strong reflections could affect the scan quality.
Second Pass – Black Object Mode
A second complete scan was performed using the Black Object preset to improve coverage and capture additional details on the darker body panels.
After both scans were completed, the datasets were merged together to produce the final model, combining the strengths of each scanning mode for better overall coverage and accuracy.
Scanning Strategy
One thing I learned during this project is that it is much easier to merge large automotive scans if each scan overlaps with multiple neighbouring panels, rather than scanning each body panel individually.
Instead of treating every panel as an isolated object, I intentionally included adjacent panels in every scan. This provides the software with more common geometry and markers, resulting in more reliable alignment and faster merge calculations.
Example 1 – Front Left Fender
The scan included:
- Front left fender
- Front bumper
- Left front door
- Part of the bonnet (hood)
This overlap provides sufficient reference features for accurate alignment.
Example 2 – Rear Boot
The scan included:
- Boot (trunk)
- Rear spoiler
- Left and right rear fenders
- Rear bumper
Again, the overlapping body panels greatly improved merge stability and reduced alignment errors.
Using this approach throughout the project made the registration process much more reliable, especially when dealing with a large object consisting of many individual scans.
Day1 scan: Rear
Day2 Scan: Right hand side+Front
Day3 Scan: front+Left hand side
Post-Processing Merge
The marker-based tracking was stable throughout most of the scanning process, and the final alignment produced a detailed model suitable for further processing. but i havent record the full scanning video, as i would like to use all resources to scanning.
Overall, I’m very happy with the scan quality and look forward to using this model or order “trackit SR” for future automotive design projects, as it might save up to 40% time for pre-scan preparation.
Thank you to the Revopoint team for developing the MetroX, and I hope this showcase is useful for anyone considering larger-scale scanning projects.