While 3D printing has been rapidly advancing and the list of the best 3D printers changes on an almost weekly basis, 3D scanning technology has been making slower but steady progress toward becoming a consumer-friendly technology. With many 3D scanners dropping in price to around the cost of an entry-level 3D printer or laser engraver, it’s a great time to get started and learn about the technology. While some of these scanners launched several years ago, they remain competitive due to continued software updates and strong performance when capturing geometry.

To explain it simply: most 3D scanners work by capturing a point cloud and stitching it together to make a 3D model. This can easily add up to hundreds of thousands or millions of points, so there is a lot of data to process, align, and stitch together to create a 3D model. Some 3D scanners include an onboard computer to simplify the workflow, typically at the expense of a slightly longer processing time than a fast computer. If you’re proficient in mesh editing and 3D modeling, a 3D scanner that uses a computer for mesh clean-up offers more flexibility but may require more hands-on effort.

There’s a 3D scanner for almost every application, from CT scanners that can accurately capture the inside of a model to cell phone apps that can make a 3D model from pictures in minutes. Before buying a 3D scanner, it’s worth doing some research to understand what aspects are most important for your project. Consider what you want to accomplish, and read through some of these tips to get you started on your journey into the world of 3D scanning.

The Best Consumer 3D Scanners You Can Buy Today

Best Overall 3D Scanner

The Creality Sermoon P1 is a handheld all-in-one 3D scanner that uses both structured light and blue lasers to quickly and accurately capture geometry. The standout feature of the Sermoon P1 is the integrated touchscreen, which allows users to edit point clouds, create and repair 3D models, and even export the file just by using the onboard computer, no desktop PC required.

The bright 6-inch LCD on the Sermoon P1 is equally readable indoors and outdoors, so users can go through the entire editing process and create a 3D model without needing to put the 3D scanner down. Whether it was scanning sculptures outdoors, automotive components, or consumer products, the Sermoon P1 performed exceptionally during testing, although the color textures lacked detail.

The Sermoon P1 launched at $3,299, a price point that moves into prosumer territory and likely won’t appeal to casual or first-time users. The 22-line laser mode is ideal for scanning large parts quickly, and the ability to go back into single-laser mode to scan deep recesses makes this a compelling option for reverse engineering.

More: Creality Sermoon P1 3D Scanner Review

Best 3D Scanner for Beginners

Originally launched in 2023, the 3DMakerPro Mole uses NIR structured light to provide marker-free scanning capable of accurately capturing dark objects without any surface prep or spray. The base package for the Mole doesn’t support color texture capture, although it can capture greyscale textures which may be useful in certain applications. The Mole requires a wired connection to a computer, although an optional grip is included to connect to a smartphone.

The automated turntable is especially beneficial to beginners, and it can capture a full revolution of an object automatically. When enabled, this mode will detect the turntable, remove it from the scan data, and capture 320 frames all in a single operation without any manual work. This worked well during testing and will take out much of the guesswork around positioning for beginners.

The Standard package of the Mole is available for $649, but the extra $100 for the automated turntable in the Premium is easy to justify given the more automated workflow it enables. The Mole is ergonomically designed and easy to hold, and while the software can sometimes struggle with tracking thin objects the Mole is still worth looking at for a first 3D scanner for a beginner.

More: 3DMakerPro Mole 3D Scanner Review

Best Prosumer Laser Scanner

The Creality Sermoon S1 combines NIR structured light and blue laser scanning modes into a single unit and also includes a camera specifically for capturing color textures. The Sermoon S1 is capable of high-precision scanning and capturing deep recesses in the single laser mode, and can also use up to 34 laser lines simultaneously at a high frame rate for capturing large models quickly.

The NIR mode allows for marker-free scanning, making it an appealing choice for applications where it isn’t practical or possible to add tracking markers to a model. While the NIR mode provided high-quality geometry during testing, the color texture wasn’t up to expectations and is unlikely to be a selling point of the unit.

Available starting at $2,399, the Sermoon S1 is similar in specifications to the more expensive standalone Sermoon P1 but offers a higher FPS capture rate and a 34-line mode for the blue laser. The optional $299 Scan Bridge accessory adds a wireless mode for using the scanner without being tethered by cords.

More: Creality Sermoon S1 3D Scanner Review

Other 3D Scanners We Tested

▶️ 3D MakerPro Toucan

The 3DMakerPro Toucan is an all-in-one 3D scanner that enables a computer-free workflow thanks to onboard processing and a touchscreen LCD. With an upper limit of 15 FPS, the Toucan worked well for small, detailed objects but struggled with tracking loss on larger objects. Sharing a name with the notably colorful bird, the Toucan unfortunately performed poorly during testing when capturing color textures.

The Toucan has two laser modes: Class 1 and Class 3R, with the latter being a more powerful laser that can capture sharp detail but is not safe for applications that involve scanning people. Using tracking markers enables very accurate scans, and the alignment in JMStudio usually works well, but getting the file off the Toucan requires a USB-C thumb drive or a transfer via Wi-Fi.

The Standard package starts at $1,499, but another $200 will buy the Premium package, which includes a portable tripod that doubles as a handle as well as a carrying case. Designed for users who put a high value on portability, the Toucan is a solid 3D scanner for general use or field work.

Read: 3DMakerPro Toucan 3D Scanner Review

Shopping Tips for the Best 3D Scanners

Here are a few important points to consider when choosing the best consumer 3D scanners.

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The 3DMakerPro Toucan looks and feels more like a digital camera than a 3D scanner, and it even has a thumbwheel to adjust exposure. Designed for convenient on-the-go 3D scanning, the Toucan uses a blue laser structured light system with both a Class 1 and Class 3R laser to capture point clouds. These can be edited, fused into a 3D model, and exported all on-device, no computer required. The $1,699 Premium bundle reviewed in this article includes a manual turntable and carrying case and has everything you need to make a 3D model in well under an hour after unboxing.

While the name Toucan evokes the colorful bird, the Toucan 3D scanner ironically struggled most with creating color textures. Geometry is crisp and sharp using the Class 3R laser and “Ultra Mode” to create dense point clouds, but the applied color textures look unfocused and blurry. If you are more comfortable with a keyboard and mouse and want to do your editing on a computer, you can also use the JMStudio software for more granular editing on a PC or Mac.

Specifications: 3DMakerPro Toucan

Included in the Box: 3DMakerPro Toucan

The 3DMakerPro Toucan is available in two packages: Standard and Premium. The Standard package includes the Toucan scanner, a power adapter, a calibration board and stand, a manual turntable, and a set of reflective markers. The Premium package (covered in this review) includes all of this as well as a tripod and a carrying case. 3DMakerPro also includes a silicone case and a wrist strap in both packages.

Design of the 3DMakerPro Toucan

The 3DMakerPro Toucan looks like an elongated point-and-shoot camera from the early 2000s: silver body, LCD screen on the back, and a wheel selector and shutter button on the right shoulder of the unit. The metal body of the Toucan features a metal construction with a satin finish, recessed screws, and a small exhaust vent on the bottom of the unit, all giving a high-end feel. The rubber grip on the back is a comfortable resting place for your palm during scanning, and the diamond texture provides enough grip to keep it from slipping during use.

The wheel and button combo seems like a winner, but I was caught off-guard when I went to start my first scan: I clicked the button and nothing happened. As it turns out, the button only works in the “Single Shot” mode by acting like a typical camera shutter. This makes sense for that mode, but it was a little frustrating to keep clicking it before every scan only to have to go back and click the button on the back of the LCD.

3DMakerPro was serious about skipping the computer with this scanner: the Toucan features an 8-core 2.5 GHz CPU, 256 GB of storage, and 32 GB of DDR4 RAM. There is a USB-C port on the bottom of the Toucan for charging with the included power supply as well as a recessed power button and a thread for a tripod or other stand. Add in a 6600 mAh battery and you can see why the weight of the unit is around 735 grams, just slightly too heavy to hold comfortably with a single hand for any extended period of time.

Unlike the highly ergonomic and easy-to-hold Mole, 3DMakerPro has gone in a more aesthetically-driven direction with the Toucan. While the scanner looks very premium, the sharp edges and flat surfaces make it awkward to hold comfortably for extended periods of time. The included silicone case is a welcome addition and makes the scanner significantly more comfortable to hold, but the Toucan doesn’t fit into the included carrying case while it’s wrapped in the case. Unfortunately, the silicone case is naturally sticky and tends to attract dust and dirt which has to be wiped clean regularly.

Software for 3DMakerPro Toucan

The 3DMakerPro Toucan uses the onboard computer to capture, process, and even export scan data and doesn’t require any other software (or even a computer) to generate a 3D model. Scan settings like laser type, frame rate, color capture, etc. can all be adjusted right on the Toucan using the large integrated LCD screen on the back of the unit. Once complete, the model can be exported as a mesh 3D file straight to a thumb drive. This onboard workflow is the primary differentiator of the Toucan, which is advertised as a portable, handheld 3D scanner.

The Toucan can also be used with the 3DMakerPro JMStudio 3D application, but it doesn’t have quite the first-party experience you might expect. The Toucan can’t directly connect to a computer with a USB connection, and instead has to transfer scan data via Wi-Fi. Once the scan data has been transferred, the project can be opened and processed like a normal scan. I wasn’t able to connect the Toucan to my computer with a USB cable, and instead had to transfer files over Wi-Fi or a USB-C thumb drive, which was not included.

Transferring scans from the Toucan to my computer proved to be a challenging experience. The Toucan doesn’t support transfer of scan data over the integrated USB-C port, which is only used for charging. Instead, the Toucan connects via Wi-Fi and the “Import from Device” operation is used to transfer scan data. I had issues with this connection dropping multiple times mid-transfer, and the Wi-Fi connection was inconsistent despite stable network conditions.

Transferring a 1.2 GB scan took about seven minutes, and another three minutes to decompress the file once transferred to my computer. At these speeds, it’s much easier to just export the file to a USB-C thumb drive and then upload to a computer from there.

The processing in JMStudio (and the onboard Toucan software) involves cleaning the point cloud, converting it to a mesh, repairing and simplifying, and then adding an optional color texture. The process is similar between the app and the onboard software, and the Toucan is capable of processing scans entirely onboard without needing to export anything to the JMStudio software.

3D Scanning and Alignment with the 3DMakerPro Toucan

The 3DMakerPro Toucan has two laser modes: Class 3R and Class 1. Class 1 products are generally classified as safe for general use, while Class 3R laser products require additional safety considerations. The Toucan will show a warning before switching to the Class 3R laser mode every single time, something that I appreciated while using. The Class 3R laser is used for high-precision scanning and complex surfaces, while the Class 1 laser is used for more general use.

My favorite model to test a 3D scanner is a small toad sculpture because it has a high amount of surface geometry detail as well as complex paint. Using the manual turntable and the included tripod, I used the Class 3R laser in Near Mode, and enabled Color Scanning. The Toucan has a guide to indicate ideal scanning distance and will throw a warning if you are too close or too far from the model, and the brightness can be adjusted using the wheel on the top of the unit.

The Toucan kept a consistent 15 FPS during scanning, which made for an impressively fast first capture that took only about a minute. After running the Structural Optimization and Statistical Noise Removal processes, the result was a point cloud with 6.8 million points that was about 619 MB in size. This is an impressively dense point cloud, and the captured detail was crisp and clear even before converting to a triangulated mesh. The processing was done entirely on the Toucan, and these operations took under 5 minutes total to complete.

In order to create the complete model, I ran two more scans and then used the automatic Align feature to create a single point cloud with all the points aligned correctly. The automatic alignment worked well, but I had to adjust the overlap from 90% to 100% to get the best results. Once everything was aligned, the last step was converting the model into a watertight mesh and reducing the triangle count. The final model has 400,000 triangles and is only 26.5 MB in size, an impressive reduction from the nearly 1.5 GB of point cloud data used to make the mesh.

Unfortunately, the color texture was washed out and I was surprised to see blurriness on some of the surfaces and a general lack of clarity. I ran the Texture Mapping process a few times just in case I had missed something, but I wasn’t able to improve the overall quality of the color texture. A simple brightness or contrast slider would have been ideal for color textures like this, but neither the Toucan nor the JMStudio app offer this functionality.

The Toucan has a “Base Removal” tool which will automatically detect a flat surface under a model and trim the points from the point cloud. This is a very useful tool in handheld mode and also worked well when using the included manual turntable. It works well for models that are organic or curved, but it would sometimes identify flat faces on models I scanned and fail to capture those surfaces.

I only used a single rotation of the turntable to capture this scan of a concrete bunny, but the dense point cloud still had 2.4 million points and was more than enough to create a smooth mesh in the fusion step. There were a few small holes under the chin and in some of the areas that the scanner didn’t capture, but the Repair Gaps tool handled them easily. The final triangulated mesh had 499,062 faces and was 38.2 MB in size after the simplification step.

The generated triangle mesh was exported as an .stl and printed on a Bambu Lab X1-Carbon using PLA filament. The curves of the model were accurately captured, and the scale appeared perfect without any adjustment. Because I used the geometry tracking mode, the surfaces were all captured accurately and the model looked just like the original.

I wanted to try a model with a more complex surface, so I used this life-size 3D print of my skull that was made from a CT scan. This model has several deep recesses and lots of surface detail, so it’s a great test for a scanner like the Toucan which has an advertised capability of scanning into deep holes.

I used the Ultra Mode for quality and rotated the model three times to capture as many of the surfaces as I could. After removing the surfaces manually, I processed the point cloud using the One Click Process set to “High Quality”. The final triangulated mesh had over 3 million faces, and the visible banding from the CT scan is clearly picked up by the Toucan.

3D Scanning using Marker Mode with the 3DMakerPro Toucan

The 3DMakerPro Toucan is also able to capture scans using markers, which are used for alignment on large, complex, or otherwise difficult to capture surfaces. I typically use a Milwaukee impact driver covered in tracking markers as a test because it has curved surfaces, repeating patterns, and multiple flat planes which make it a challenge for most scanners. Using Near Mode, the Toucan failed to register the tracking dots and I had to switch to Far Mode to capture the model.

The resulting scan in Far Mode had 3.7 million points, the majority of which were captured from surrounding surfaces and needed to be trimmed away before fusion. After removing the surfaces, the point cloud for just the drill was reduced to 266 thousand points, a fraction of the original point cloud. The resulting mesh lacked sharp detail and was really only useful as a rough form.

Scanned using the Class 3R laser in Ultra Mode, the detail is significantly sharper and the fused model has multiple sub-millimeter details present. The scan is so accurate that the paper-thin markers are clearly visible in both the point cloud as well as the mesh.

3D Scanning Color Textures with the 3DMakerPro Toucan

The 3DMakerPro Toucan features a dedicated 48MP RGB camera for capturing color textures, and has the ability to add color textures to a scan by simply enabling the “Color Scanning” option before starting a scan. The captured point cloud appears in full color, which is an interesting way to see a model during scanning. To test out the color texture, I scanned a banana using the “Ultra Mode” scan quality, Class 3R laser, and a high frame rate.

Unlike the other workflow steps, the texture operation on the Toucan has no adjustable parameters. The only thing a user can do is click “Texture Mapping” and hope that everything comes out as expected. There’s no brightness, contrast, UV mapping, etc. and the final texture is not editable on the Toucan.

The “Texture Mapping” operation on the Toucan can take anywhere from 10 to 20 minutes to complete, which can feel like an eternity if you’re trying to quickly evaluate a scan out in the field. The lack of a “time remaining” estimate isn’t ideal, instead there is only a single progress bar that loads in the middle and stays there until the texture is complete. After my experience with the 3DMakerPro Lynx and Mole in the past, it’s disappointing to see that the color texture feature hasn’t been developed further in the JMStudio software.

The resulting color texture is blurry and not usable for most applications. The text on the sticker is illegible, and the seams from where the scans were aligned are present and not blended together. Given the amount of time this operation takes, I would expect the output to be at a higher quality or at least have adjustable parameters for the end user.

3D Scanning Outdoors with the 3DMakerPro Toucan

The mobile-first design of the Toucan lends itself well to scanning outdoors, so I took it to a park to test it out. The large wooden sign at the entrance of the park had deep engravings, a rough texture, and looked visually interesting enough to be a challenge to scan. Because I was outside, I used the scanner in the Class 1 laser mode in case anyone walked by or could otherwise see the laser.

The Toucan lost tracking several times during scanning, and it took me five attempts to capture the entire sign using the Far Mode. The scanner was typically averaging about 11 FPS during the scan, and I really struggled to move in a continuous motion without losing tracking. I ran into this tracking issue frequently during testing, and the scanner would sometimes drop tracking even under ideal circumstances.

The point cloud is dense and captures the visible surface well, and using the One Click Process feature at Medium quality resulted in a mesh with clearly visible woodgrain and legible text. Given the large size of the sign, the 132MB mesh has an impressive amount of visible detail. I was mostly interested in picking up the fine detail in the woodgrain, and the Toucan did a great job at that.

Unfortunately, the color texture was muddy and didn’t capture the woodgrain, paint, or other details I was hoping to pick up. For something simple like this, it would most likely be easier to use a program like Blender or ZBrush to paint color on the model.

Bottom Line

The 3DMakerPro Toucan is targeted at anyone who has used a 3D scanner and wished they didn’t need to be tethered (via USB or Wi-Fi) to a computer in order to capture a scan. The 8-core 2.5 GHz CPU is fast enough to handle most of the processing jobs in under a minute, with the only exception being the surprisingly long texture mapping operation. The onboard storage (256 GB) was more than enough to store dozens of scans, and the LCD made clean-up work and basic mesh editing a breeze. However, the tracking issues and the lackluster color textures are significant limitations for anyone using this in a professional context.

The Toucan is priced at $1,499 for the Standard package and $1,699 for the Premium package, which includes the tripod and carrying case. The $200 difference is worth it if you plan on carrying the scanner with you anywhere, as the tripod and the carrying case are both very useful additions for the price. While the Toucan doesn’t quite make the list of the best 3D scanners, it’s still very capable and worth considering for structured light 3D scanning in the field without a computer if generating a color texture isn’t a priority.

If you don’t need the integrated processing and are comfortable with a smaller maximum scanning volume, scanners like the 3DMakerPro Mole offer a similar workflow for a fraction of the price. The onboard computer and fully integrated workflow of the Toucan are compelling additions at this price point, with the similarly-designed Creality Sermoon P1 offered at $3,299, nearly double the price of the Premium package.

If you’ve ever wanted to skip the design process and just scan an object directly into your 3D printer, then Creality’s Sermoon S1 is worth looking into. This pricey bit of kit makes very good scans of small to large non-organic objects and comes with easy-to-use, AI-assisted clean-up software.

The scanner has a bit of a learning curve and takes patience to use. Its $2,699 price tag makes it too expensive for most makers to use just for the novelty of it, especially when AI modeling software can more easily make replicas from photos snapped with your phone. However, this is a valuable prosumer tool for those who need accurate and precise scans of objects as a jumping off point for CAD software or Blender.

Creality has come a long way since the frustrating CR-Scan Lizard I reviewed four years ago. It’s much easier to operate as a handheld device, though it still needs to be tethered via cable or wifi (with an optional bridge unit) to a computer. It still needs marking dots for the blue laser line mode, but often you can simply place the dots on a turntable rather than the object itself.

If you want a truly handheld, self-contained unit, Creality’s Sermoon P1 is available for $600 more. The P1 trades portability for a slight reduction in speed and accuracy.

Theoretically, the Sermoon S1 can be used on the go if you have a powerful laptop to run it. Sadly, my little web surfing laptop struggled to keep up, and I had better results when tethering it to my desktop PC. The optional Scan Bridge (currently $299) gives the S1 a comfortable pistol grip while also removing the tangle of cords for greater maneuverability.

The S1 can scan people in NIR mode, but the technique takes practice and a subject willing to stand very still for at least a full minute or two. I asked my husband to scan me and it had trouble with my hair, even when I pulled it into a ponytail. However, a skilled artist would be able to take that scan and fill in the gaps. Creality’s software offered an AI feature to fix my face, but it didn’t work due to the quality of the scan, which seems counterintuitive.

Specifications: Creality Sermoon S1

Included in the Box: Creality Sermoon S1

The Creality Sermoon S1 comes with a hard pelican case for travel, plus required cables and a substantial packet of reflective marking stickers.

We also received the optional handheld “Scan Bridge” to provide power and Wi-Fi, which comes with a soft travel bag.

Software is available to download for free on the Creality website.

Design of the Creality Sermoon S1

The Creality Sermoon S1 is a handheld scanner that weighs about a pound and looks rather like an old school landline phone receiver with a nonskid grippy surface on the back. An array of lights is on the business end of the scanner. Because there is no screen on the device itself, you will need to plug it into a computer and use the monitor for feedback on your scanning. Creality has a phone app for the Sermoon S1, but it did not work well for me.

The scanner has a play button to start and stop scans, as well as a button to adjust the lights and a toggle for zoom.

The scanner has a quick-release on the bottom to snap into the optional Scan Bridge, and a threaded screw for attaching to a tripod. On its own, the Sermoon requires a power cord for operation; the Scan Bridge has a rechargeable battery.

The computer screen will give you video feedback of the scan, as well as a shaded graphic “heat map” of the screen with an indicator to let you know if you are holding the scanner close enough to the object or moving too quickly.

Getting Started and Calibrating the Creality Sermoon S1

The Creality Sermoon S1 includes a glass calibration board that is used to calibrate the scanner before use. The calibration process involves laying the glass board down on a flat surface and gradually moving the scanner around in a controlled manner. This process takes about 10 minutes, and can be a bit tricky, so moving slowly and gradually is the best move here.

Creality offers free software for the Sermoon S1 called CrealityScan that is compatible with both Windows and macOS. This software is used for scanning, cleaning up, and texture generation.

A “User Guide” section contains helpful tutorials and best practices for various skills, as well as general information about 3D scanning and mesh cleanup.

PC or Mac

The Creality Sermoon S1 is compatible with both Windows and Mac.

Creality suggests the following configurations for Windows: i7-Gen10 CPU, Nvidia GPU (8GB VRAM), 32GB RAM, Windows 10/11(64-bit). Minimum configuration: i7-Gen7 CPU, Nvidia GPU (6GBVRAM), 16GB RAM, Windows 10/11 (64-bit).

And these configurations for macOS: M1/M2/M3/M4 series, 16GB RAM.

CR Studio saves files as proprietary project files, STL, and OBJ. STL and OBJ files can be imported to the modeling software of your choice for further touch-up or transformation.

Blue Laser Line 3D Scanning with the Creality Sermoon S1

The Creality Sermoon S1 uses blue laser line scanning for detailed geometry capture, and offers three different blue laser scanning modes: 34 crossed laser lines, 7 parallel laser lines, and 1 single laser line. The 34 crossed laser line mode is intended for fast scanning on large objects, the 7 laser line mode is best for capturing fine details, and the single laser line is intended for scanning deep holes that would be difficult to capture otherwise.

The Sermoon S1 can be used to scan very large objects, like cars, which could then be used to provide detailed measurements for custom parts and accessories. While I didn’t need to do any auto repair while testing the Sermoon S1, we did use it to scan a scooter motor. The scan was dropped into TinkerCad (my software of choice) to design an electric launcher for a giant fighting top I hope to take to Open Sauce this summer.

The scanner had no trouble with the reflective metal surface and provided extremely accurate information for placing several screws to hold the motor into the 3D printed housing. I used a small turntable that was provided with the Creality CR Lizard for this job.

I also scanned this statue of a fox, which is about 9 inches tall, using a large turntable that Yuriy Melnik (Laser 3D CNC) sent over. Melnik is a scanning expert and travels around the country demoing scanners for Creality. The table is 3D printed and randomly covered in the same marking dots that come with the Sermoon S1. The software made quick work of cleaning up the scan thanks to the table. The resulting scan was incredibly detailed and printed out phenomenally on my Bambu Lab H2D in Inland Grey PLA.

NIR with the Creality Sermoon P1

We attempted to scan a person – me – in NIR mode. The NIR is safe to point at people, and is the same technology used in your smartphone’s facial recognition scanner. The light is not visible, and my husband, who operated the scanner, had to rely on watching the computer monitor to see where it was pointed.

Our results were promising, but my hair refused to play nice and would not scan completely. There may be some trick to this type of scanning, and I should probably talk to Yuriy again before attempting any more human scans. Our first attempt was using the Scan Bridge and my laptop, which simply did not have enough memory (or battery life) to handle a large scan. Switching to the PC wasn’t a ton better, but again, a better PC or simply more practice might be needed. If I were more of an artist, I could probably fill in the gaps.

I will show you the color texture this scan produced against my better judgment; it's the last image in this set. It shows potential, but again, it's not perfect.

Bottom Line

The Creality Sermoon S1 is a powerful, high-precision tool that comes with fairly decent software. You’ll still want access to CAD or other graphic design tools to make full use of the Sermoon’s capabilities. After a few days of fiddling around with the scanner, I could really see its potential, but there is a serious learning curve to getting the best results.

Creality has made huge advancements in technology since its first foray into scanning. The software leans heavily on AI to make it easier to use, but there are still limits. You also need to make sure your computer is up to the task.

The scanner was able to handle every surface area we tried, with just the human scan being a bit difficult to complete. It did well on both flat and shiny surfaces and on objects with a lot of texture.

The Creality Sermoon P1 is a handheld, standalone 3D scanner that packs a long list of features in a single enclosure that can comfortably fit in your hands. Blue laser scanning allows for high-resolution captures using either a 22, 7, or single laser mode, and the NIR (near-infrared) mode can capture geometry with no markers in a variety of lighting conditions. The bright 6-inch LCD screen allows users to align, edit, and mesh 3D scans right on the device, with no computer required. At $3,129 for the complete bundle, the Sermoon P1 is more expensive than most consumer 3D scanners, but the impressive results will help justify the cost for professional users.

The Sermoon P1 excelled at creating detailed 3D models during testing and performed impressively when scanning indoors, outdoors, both with and without tracking markers. Complete 3D scans can be captured, edited, and even shared directly from the device, while maintaining high scan quality. For users who want more control, the CrealityScan app allows for precision editing on a Windows or macOS machine.

Specifications: Creality Sermoon P1

The Sermoon P1 offers multiple scanning modes that can be used with the scanner in standalone, wired, or wireless mode. As a result, the specifications can vary depending on the specific combination of settings and configuration selected by the user. The spec sheet below is a general guide, but be sure to read through the full list of specifications on the Creality site if you are looking for the full breakdown.

Included in the Box: Creality Sermoon P1

The Creality Sermoon P1 arrived in retail-ready packaging that would look right at home on the shelf of a Micro Center or Best Buy. The Sermoon P1 is sold as a bundle, which includes a carrying case, a glass calibration board, the 3D scanner, a power supply, a USB-C cable, an extra battery, and a set of reflective marker dots. The carrying case is sturdy and well-made, and has enough room to comfortably fit all the included accessories and everything you need to scan on the go.

Design of the Creality Sermoon P1

The Creality Sermoon P1 is essentially a 3D scanner with a built-in computer, making the LCD more than just a simple source of feedback during the scanning process. Users can create, modify, and even export meshed data directly from the unit, no computer required. The 6-inch LCD touchscreen on the rear of the unit is bright and responsive and behaves similarly to the LCD on a cell phone, with a touch-and-drag menu bringing up typical settings like screen brightness, Wi-Fi networks, etc.

The rubber grips on the side of the unit and included wrist cord highlight the mobile nature of this scanner, which has clearly been designed as a mobile counterpart to the Sermoon S1, which requires a constant connection to a computer to operate. The Sermoon P1 itself has an advertised weight of 830 grams and feels comfortable to hold with both hands. The included wrist strap is a low-cost insurance policy against dropping the Sermoon P1 during a scan, and the scanner has a ¼ thread on the base of the unit that allows it to be used with a tripod or other stand.

The Sermoon P1 includes an extra battery, which is a welcome addition given the mobile-first nature of the scanner. The battery has a USB-C port right on the side, so it can be charged by either inserting it into the scanner and charging or by plugging directly into the included power supply. Creality claims the battery can be charged to 80% in ~50 minutes, and I was able to charge from about 20% to 100% in under an hour for both batteries. For anyone used to shooting video with a battery-powered DSLR camera, running out of power while in the field can be a tough situation, and it’s a smart move by Creality to include the extra hot-swappable battery.

Most consumer scanners like the 3DMakerPro Mole are handheld units which are tethered to a computer during use, limiting the user in where they can effectively create a 3D scan. By integrating the processing capabilities of the Creality scanning software directly into the unit, the Sermoon P1 can be tossed in the included carrying case and brought anywhere in the world to capture and process 3D scans, no computer required.

My only concern with the design of the Sermoon P1 is the enclosure around the sensors (laser, camera, and LEDs). The perimeter around the lens is nearly flush with the glass, meaning the clear protective layer could be scratched or damaged if laid down flat. Most cell phone cases include a small rim that extends past the “camera bump” to prevent this type of damage. Examples of this type of case can be found on sites like Makerworld, such as an enclosure for the Creality Otter 3D scanner designed to protect the lenses.

Getting Started and Calibrating the Creality Sermoon P1

When I turned on the Creality Sermoon P1 for the first time, a video played that showed the full scanning process with some helpful tips on preparing a model for scanning. I was surprised to discover the scanner had an onboard speaker, which played an audio track with narration during the scanning demo. While experienced users will likely skip through this video, it’s a nice addition for first-time users who are new to 3D scanning. During most operations, the Sermoon P1 will also show tips related to scanning while the operation is processing, a nice way to help users pass the loading time.

The Creality Sermoon P1 includes a glass calibration board that is used to calibrate the scanner before use. The calibration process involves laying the glass board down on a flat surface and gradually moving the scanner around in a controlled manner. This process takes about 10 minutes, and can be a bit tricky so moving slowly and gradually is the best move here.

Installing the Software for Creality Sermoon P1

Creality offers a first-party software for the Sermoon P1 called CrealityScan that is compatible with both Windows and macOS. This software offers essentially the same workflow steps as the onboard software on the Sermoon P1: scan data capture, point cloud fusion, meshing, and texture generation. When the Sermoon P1 is connected to this software via Wi-Fi or a USB cable, the LCD on the rear of the scanner is disabled. A nice touch is the “User Guide” section, which contains helpful tutorials and best practices for various skills, as well as general information about 3D scanning and mesh cleanup.

I’m using CrealityScan 4.1.7 on macOS 26.3 for this review, using a 2021 M1 Max MacBook Pro with 64 GB of RAM. With this computer, the scanning frame rate in NIR mode is up to 30 FPS using a wired connection, a substantial increase over the 18 FPS frame rate in standalone mode. This improved performance comes at a price: the Sermoon P1 needs to be tethered to the computer with a USB cable during scanning and the rear screen is disabled during scanning.

The workflow for the desktop CrealityScan app is the same as the standalone scanner: alignment, meshing, mesh editing, and exporting. The operations are laid out in a linear sequence, making it easy to follow as you go through the editing phase. CrealityScan also has a “One-Click Process” which will go through all the steps automatically, without any adjustment or input needed from the user. I found this to work pretty well for simple objects, but for more complex models with lots of geometry or holes it would be better to use the individual operations with more granular control.

Blue Laser Line 3D Scanning with the Creality Sermoon P1

The Creality Sermoon P1 uses blue laser line scanning for detailed geometry capture, and offers three different blue laser scanning modes: 22 crossed laser lines, 7 parallel laser lines, and 1 single laser line. The 22 crossed laser line mode is intended for fast scanning on large objects, the 7 laser line mode is best for capturing fine details, and the single laser line is intended for scanning deep holes or recesses that would be difficult to capture with a NIR or photogrammetry approach.

Automotive applications are a common use of high-resolution 3D scanners: products like aftermarket covers, clips, and other accessories require a quality model to build from, something that automotive OEMs typically don’t publish. An example is this carbon fiber window switch panel on a Mazda CX-3: it looks simple but the compound curve may be difficult to intuitively 3D model without a scan or model to reference. Using the included reflective markers, I placed about a dozen of them at random intervals and switched the Sermoon P1 to laser mode.

For my first pass, I used the 22 crossed laser line mode to capture the bulk of the geometry. This mode is much faster than I was expecting, with the scanner operating at 53 FPS and the geometry filling in almost immediately. After scanning the entire area, I did a second pass using the 7 laser line mode to capture some of the fine detail around the transition between the door panel and the switch cover.

In the center of the panel is a recess where the rocker switch for the window is located. Neither the 22 or 7 laser line mode was able to penetrate all the way to the bottom of this recess, so I switched to the single laser mode which is intended specifically for this type of application. Using the single laser, I worked slowly and carefully and was able to capture the complete cavity. The Sermoon P1 has a “remove tracking markers” function, which will remove the markers before creating the final mesh.

Scanning this switch panel was an eye-opening experience, with the Sermoon P1 surpassing my expectations at every turn. The 22 crossed laser line mode captured a large amount of geometry quickly, and switching between this and the other laser line modes was a seamless experience to complete the scan. From here, bringing the model into a traditional CAD or surfacing program would be the next step to create a parametric solid model to build from.

I’ve tried to scan the badges on the Orange amplifier a few times, but I’ve never had much success. After placing a few tracking dots on the front of the grille of the amp, I used the 7 laser line mode to capture both the bottom and top badges. The Sermoon P1 averaged around 41 FPS during the scan and despite the repeating pattern of the grille in the background, the scanner didn’t lose tracking or get confused when moving it manually.

The bottom badge looked sharp and detailed, with only a small amount of distortion around the crisp edges. The top badge had the majority of the detail present, but the sub-millimeter text on the bottom of the badge didn’t quite resolve. For a quick pass without any scanning spray or other preparation, I was happy with the result and felt confident the results could be improved further with some time spent adjusting the scan parameters.

The laser line scanning mode also works when tracking markers are placed on a turntable, with a marker-free object placed in the middle. I scanned a Tom Sachs Nike GPS sneaker by rotating the turntable as well as moving the Sermoon P1 around the model during the scan. My goal was to capture the text on the bottom of the outsole, as well as aligning multiple scans to create a full model of the sneaker. I used the 7 laser mode and scanned the sneaker three times: once with the outsole facing down, and then twice more to capture each side.

When rotating a model manually (flipping it over, etc.) during the scanning process, the resulting scans need to be aligned in space before the point clouds can be fused. This is typically a difficult process, with most auto-alignment processes picking the wrong features to use as landmarks or just failing to align properly. I used the Automatic alignment on the Sermoon P1, and was impressed to see it perfectly aligned three scans in under a minute.

Scanned with the 7 laser line mode, the text on the bottom of the shoe is clearly legible, and the wear on certain parts of the outsole can be clearly identified. The fabric also showed a good amount of detail, with stitching on the laces visible in the 3D model. I wasn’t expecting such a fast alignment process, and it’s even more impressive that it is completed on the device.

3D Scanning Outdoors with the Creality Sermoon P1

The standalone mode of the Creality Sermoon P1 allows users to bring the scanner to places that would be difficult or impossible if they also needed a computer, internet connection, and power supply. Scanners like this typically work best on an overcast day where the amount of directional light is minimal and the overall lighting on objects outside is uniform. I brought the Sermoon out with me on a day like this and captured a few objects out in the wild to test it out.

The Sermoon P1 has features that are designed explicitly for this type of scan, and I was impressed with how detailed the captured model was. Using the “Large (500 - 2000 mm)” mode with the tracking set to “Geometry”, I scanned a large brick sculpture using the NIR structured light mode. When scanning such a large object, the frame rate dropped to around 3 FPS, which meant the tracking would occasionally drop when I walked around a corner or zoomed in to capture a small detail.

The geometry of the scan is impressive: accurate, sharp, and even very small tool marks on the edges of the bricks are picked up and represented in the meshed model. This high resolution comes at a price: this model in a meshed form takes up about 3 GB of data on the device, and the exported model was 416.7 MB after cleanup. The Sermoon P1 ships with 256 GB of storage, which is enough to capture dozens of large objects like this without running out of space. If storage runs low, models can be exported to the CrealityScan desktop app to free up space on the device.

Unfortunately, the color texture wasn’t as sharp as the geometry from this scan and had several major issues. There is a clear line around the middle of the sculpture where the brick texture seems to split and diverge. Without an intuitive way to remap the texture on the device and no controls to adjust it, the only option for users here would be to export the model and manually edit the UV mapped texture. There are a few areas where shadows seem to start and stop abruptly, which is caused by the color texture not blending between scans (more on that in the next section).

Scanning sculptures made from bronze can be a challenge, especially when they are located outdoors. There is a wide range between the darkest areas (typically indentations or recesses) and the lightest areas (surfaces reflecting direct sunlight), and the geometry can be hard to capture because of this variance. This is typically a job for photogrammetry, but I wanted to test the Sermoon P1’s ability to successfully scan a bronze sculpture. I attempted to scan the head of a sculpture located in an urban plaza, and was impressed with the results.

Using the default scanning resolution for NIR standalone mode, I saw an average of between 14 to 18 FPS during the capture and captured 1,410 frames and 60,762 points. The scanner handled the bright spots around the sculpture incredibly well, and the tracking didn’t drop even when light was reflected directly into the lens. Because I was only interested in capturing the head of the sculpture, I worked my way around in a circle to capture under the chin, behind the ears, etc. and was able to capture everything I needed in only a few minutes.

I used the integrated point selection tools to isolate the area that I wanted to keep and deleted the rest, which only took a few seconds of processing time. From the point cloud, I was able to fuse, mesh, and add a color texture all from the standalone Sermoon P1 unit, no computer required. The entire post-processing workflow took about 20 minutes; a truly impressive feat for a handheld scanner. The color texture was a little blotchy due to the reflective nature of the material, but the geometry was crisp and accurate to the model that I scanned.

3D Scanning Color Textures with the Creality Sermoon P1

In 3D modeling, “color texture” typically refers to a UV mapped image that is a separate file from the geometry of the model. For instance: the scan of the toad above is composed of two primary pieces of data: a 3D model containing all the geometry in the model, and an image that contains information on how it is UV mapped (or wrapped).

Most users of the Creality Sermoon P1 will likely be using it for reverse engineering, geometry capture, or other applications where color texture isn’t a concern. For anyone interested in also capturing color data, Creality offers a “Texture” operation that allows NIR scans to have a color texture applied to the scan data.

The Sermoon P1 uses an onboard Qualcomm ISP chip, RGB camera, and integrated lighting to capture color textures on a model during scanning. These textures can be baked on a model after the meshing step, but CrealityScan offers limited adjustable parameters and instead offers a one-click texture function. Using this texture function will allow a user to export an .obj file with an associated color texture.

The result is underwhelming, and the color textures have a patchwork appearance where the seams form between scans. Most photogrammetry software will typically blend textures by finding edges or transitions and gently interpolating or averaging between them to prevent hard edges or seams from forming. The Sermoon P1 does not have any adjustable parameters for texture generation, so if the result isn’t acceptable, the user doesn’t have many options for fixing or improving it.

Despite the poor color texture, the geometry from the NIR scan is still impressive. There were only a few small holes around some of the deeper recesses, and the software was easily able to identify and fill them without disrupting the surface of the mesh. Exporting the .stl from CrealityScan resulted in a manifold (watertight) file that was 50 MB in size and was immediately ready for 3D printing.

Printed on a Bambu Lab X1-Carbon, this toad model looks and feels identical to the original. All of the geometry (bumps, ridges, grooves, etc.) of the original sculpture are present, and the scaling appears to be very accurate to the original model.

Bottom Line

The Creality Sermoon P1 is a standalone 3D scanner capable of capturing small objects, large objects, and everything in between without requiring extensive preparation work or CAD editing. The onboard software can isolate specific areas of a scan, align multiple scans, and generate mesh files thanks to the 8-core 3.36 GHz CPU and 24 GB of RAM. The three blue laser modes all have unique use cases, and can be combined to quickly scan a large surface and later go back to capture a deep hole or fine geometric texture.

The Sermoon P1 is available as a bundle for $3,129 direct from Creality, which includes the scanner as well as all the accessories required to bring it out into the field. The price of this bundle will keep it out of the range of most hobbyists and users looking to start exploring 3D scanning, especially with less-expensive units like the 3DMakerPro Mole available for under $400. However, for professionals with an application-specific use case who are willing to pay for results, the Sermoon P1 is a compelling choice.

The Sermoon P1 created accurate scans in both laser and NIR modes, and the tracking was impressive in a variety of controlled and uncontrolled environments. The mesh editing (smoothing, hole filling, etc.) worked well both on-device as well as using the CrealityScan macOS app, and I didn’t see a major difference between using the two. The color textures were disappointing given the price point, and that shortcoming is the only major critical point I found when using the Sermoon P1.