How to get a 3D product model with a phone

A phone and an app like Polycam will do the job

Do you want to show a product in 3D in your online store or in a presentation? Maybe you have no model at hand – and suddenly it looks like you need an expensive 3D scanner or a studio.

Good news: a smartphone is enough. With mobile apps like Polycam you can create the 3D model yourself – and often for free.

What is Polycam?

Polycam is a mobile app for 3D scanning with photos or LiDAR (on newer iPhones and iPads). It can turn an ordinary product into a realistic 3D model with texture, which you can then download in a format suitable for the web, augmented reality or further editing.

Where to download Polycam?

iOS (iPhone, iPad): App Store – Polycam
Android: Google Play –P olycam

How to use Polycam (the basic steps):

Open the app and choose a mode: Photo Mode – for all phones (photogrammetry) LiDAR Mode – if you have a device with LiDAR (e.g. iPhone Pro)
Light the object well and walk slowly around it from all sides (20–50 photos recommended)
Start the processing – you can choose cloud processing (better quality) or local
Export the result to a format: .GLB – ideal for Android, the web and Meta Quest (to get a glb model you need to export MESH – GLTF – the zip file then contains the glb file) .USDZ – ideal for iOS and augmented reality (usdz export requires an active paid plan).

💡 Recommendation: Scan smaller products on a neutral background. Shoot large products (furniture and similar) in good light and ideally outdoors.

What if my model is in a different format?

Did you get a 3D model from the manufacturer, but it isn't in the format you need (e.g. .obj, .stl, .fbx)?

No problem! You can convert it into more universal formats that work on the web, in an online store or for augmented reality:

🔁 The most common conversions:

.GLB → .USDZ: – use the online tool https://convert3d.org/glb-to-usdz/app – or Apple's usdzconvert tool (macOS)
.OBJ / .FBX → .GLB / .USDZ: – import into Blender, then export to the format you need – or use Vectary (a 3D editor in the browser)
.USDZ → .GLB: – trickier, but possible with Apple Reality Converter (macOS) or with Blender and a plugin

Summary

If you don't have a 3D model, it doesn't matter. Polycam and similar apps let you create one yourself right from your phone – and the output is easy to upload to your website or online store.

And if you already have a model, but in the "wrong" format – there are plenty of tools to convert it to GLB or USDZ and use its full potential.

Do you need help getting a model into augmented reality on Shoptet? Write to us – we'll be happy to help. Or try our Augmented Reality for Products add-on right away.