Scan to Sketch

Start with a 3D scan

Open a scan of a real object. Files that work: GLB, OBJ, PLY, or STL.

You can also drag a file onto this area.

Set the real size

Phone scans are only roughly the right size. Measure your real object with a ruler or calipers, then tell the app what you measured.

What did you measure?

You can type decimals (3.25), fractions (3 1/4), or add a unit (82 mm).

Text

Tip: press Shift+Enter for a new line in notes.

Message

How to scan an object

  1. Pick a good object

    Something between the size of your fist and a shoebox works best. Avoid things that are shiny, see-through, or solid black. Scanners can't see those well. Set it on a table with room to walk all the way around it. A newspaper or patterned cloth underneath helps the app track.

  2. Get a free scanning app on a phone

    Try Scaniverse (iPhone and Android), Polycam, or KIRI Engine. Free features change from time to time, so if one app won't let you export a file, try another. iPhone Pro models with LiDAR scan faster, but any recent phone can use photo mode.

  3. Scan slowly

    Use bright, even light with no harsh shadows. Keep the object in the middle of the screen and walk slowly in a full circle. Then do another circle from higher up, looking down, and a low one if you can. Most scans take 1–2 minutes.

  4. Export the file

    Choose GLB if you can, because it's a single file with colors. OBJ, PLY, and STL also work. If you get a .zip file, unzip it first: on a Chromebook, double-click the zip in the Files app and copy the files out.

  5. Move it to your Chromebook

    In the scanning app, tap Share or Export and save to Google Drive using your school account. On the Chromebook, click Open a scan, choose Google Drive on the left side of the file window, and pick your file.

  6. Measure the real object

    Use a ruler or calipers to measure one thing, like the height, and write it down. In the app, tap Set real size and type it in so every measurement and drawing is the right size.

🔒 This app never uploads your scan. It's opened and processed only on your device.