How to add color to your scans using the internal camera or a panocam on a FARO Focus
In this video, Lukas will walk users through the color settings on the FARO Focus. He’ll demonstrate how to choose between the internal camera and the Panorama camera, providing insights on when and why to select each option based on your scanning needs. #learnwithlukas
When the Scan with Color feature is enabled, the scanner captures a series of color photographs after scanning the area. It performs an extra rotation, taking approximately 66 photos for each scan when using the internal camera. These images can be applied to the scan data within SCENE to enhance visual details.
Exposure Settings Explained (Internal Camera):
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Even Weighted Mode:
This mode determines exposure by averaging the light from the entire scene, without prioritizing any specific area.
Best Use: Ideal for scenarios where light is uniformly distributed, like when scanning outdoors at midday. -
Horizon Weighted Mode:
This setting uses light data primarily from the horizon to adjust the exposure.
Best Use: Perfect for bright light directly above the scanner, such as when performing outdoor scans at noon. -
Zenith Weighted Mode:
Here, the scanner focuses on light from above to set the exposure.
Best Use: Useful for conditions where light enters the scene from the side, like a dimly lit office with large windows. - High Resolution Scans
This setting will improve the color of the scan by taking 13 MP pictures instead of the 8 MP pictures. This process will not add any time to the scan itself but will increase the file size in order to capture the better color. This setting is only available to the Focus Premium. - High Dynamic Range (HDR)
The High Dynamic Range (HDR) imaging method merges images captured with different exposure settings to one image with a greater dynamic range of luminosity. When HDR is enabled, the larger number of captured images will result in a longer capturing time. The processing time will be longer in SCENE. - Night Mode
The night mode to improve the quality of the color photos in relatively dark lighting conditions. The image noise will be reduced in low light situations. However, enabling the night mode will increase the scan duration significantly. - Speed Mode
Speed Mode is like using higher ISO modes on old cameras/films or modern DSLR. This means Speed Mode increases the chip sensitivity which allows higher shutter speed in bright environments.
Panocam
The Panocam accessory is an external camera mounted on top of the Focus S, S+, or Premium scanners to accelerate color capture. While it improves speed, it does reduce color quality slightly. Since the PanoCam is positioned above the scanner, it creates a parallax effect, meaning some data captured by the Focus may not be fully colorized because the PanoCam and the laser are not aligned at the same point.
To enable the PanoCam after mounting it, navigate to Parameters > Color Settings > Panorama Camera. You’ll then be prompted to select the number of images: 1, 2, or 4. While more images enhance color detail, they also increase acquisition time and file size. For most cases, 2 images is recommended.
Calibrate Panorama Camera
If it’s your first time using the PanoCam or if you've switched the PanoCam, mounting bracket, or the Focus, you’ll need to calibrate it. To do so, tap Calibrate Panorama Camera. Perform this in a room with various patterns and objects while avoiding reflective, dark, or plain white surfaces. Once scanning is complete, process the scan in SCENE.