.png)
3D scanning for immersive production
Capture people for real-time worlds
XR projects live or fail on the quality of the human asset. When a face, body or full digital double has to sit inside a headset, on a mobile screen, or in a mixed-reality activation, the scan must hold up under close viewing and still remain practical for rigging, animation and real-time rendering. Mimic Productions provides 3D body scanning from Berlin and on location, using photogrammetry-based capture to record high-resolution topology and detailed texture maps for digital doubles, avatars and character pipelines.
For XR teams, that means more than creating a photoreal likeness. It means delivering scan data that can move into the next production stage without guesswork. The source capture can support character creation for virtual reality, augmented reality, mixed reality, metaverse environments and web-based XR experiences, where performance budgets and platform constraints matter. If you already have an existing raw scan, re-topology support can help prepare it for animation by reducing polygon count while retaining detail. That is useful when the body scan is part of a wider asset build rather than the final output.
Production challenges
What XR teams need from scan capture
Scanning for immersive content is not only about likeness. It has to fit the technical and production demands of the platform.
01
High fidelity, but usable
XR assets still need to be workable in real-time. Detailed body scanning is valuable only if the output can support rigging, optimisation and downstream character work without losing the features that make the person recognisable.
03
Schedule and location flexibility
Casting, approvals and production timelines often move quickly. A scanning setup that can operate in studio or on location helps keep talent capture aligned with XR builds, virtual events and character production planning.
02
Performance budgets matter
Headsets, mobile AR and web XR all impose constraints. Teams need scan data that can be interpreted for low-poly ceilings, texture workflows and platform-specific delivery, rather than a file that looks good only in a still render.
What your team gets
Why this fit works
01
Real-world likeness
Photogrammetry capture preserves geometry and textures for believable digital humans.
02
XR-ready asset base
Scan output can feed avatars, digital doubles and immersive character pipelines.
03
Studio or travel capture
Use a controlled Berlin studio or bring the portable system to set.
04
Next-stage support
Raw scans can be prepared for animation with re-topology when needed.
Capabilities and deliverables
Core capabilities
-
- 3D body scanning. Agree subject coverage and the downstream use of the captured detail.
-
- 3D face scanning. Identify the expressions and close-up detail required by the performance.
-
- 3D full body scanning. Agree subject coverage and the downstream use of the captured detail.
-
- Photogrammetry capture. Agree subject coverage and the downstream use of the captured detail.
-
- Digital doubles. Discuss the required result and production scope during the project briefing.
-
- Avatar character production. Define the character’s role, appearance and intended interaction setting.
-
- Re-topology for animation. Shape the asset around its proportions, intended views and downstream use.
-
- On-location scanning. Agree subject coverage and the downstream use of the captured detail.
Production approach
Built for immersive character pipelines
Mimic’s 3D body scanning service is a practical starting point for XR character work where realism and technical readiness both matter. The service captures high-resolution topology and detailed texture maps, with options for 3D face scanning, facial expression capture and full body scanning. That makes it suitable for digital doubles, photoreal avatars and character assets that need to hold up in interactive environments.
For XR teams, the key benefit is not just the visual result. It is the ability to move the scan into later stages such as sculpting, rigging, optimisation and real-time rendering. If the workflow requires it, existing raw scans can be re-topologised so they become animation-ready. That gives production teams a clearer handoff between capture and implementation, especially when the final use case is a headset experience, an augmented reality activation or a virtual event character.
Mimic’s Berlin studio offers a controlled environment for consistent capture, and the portable system can also travel to production locations. That flexibility is relevant for XR schedules that depend on talent availability, release timing or remote team coordination. The practical focus is simple: capture real people accurately, then hand over scan data that can be used for avatars, digital humans, body doubles, facial rigs and immersive character work.
Share the subject list, required coverage and intended use of the scans. Clothing, hair, reflective surfaces and the level of facial detail can affect preparation, so provide reference views and discuss the downstream modelling requirements before the session. For XR, specify the viewing device and interaction scenario, including how close the audience will get to the character.
Explore our 3D Body Scanning services and XR production.
Related production services: 3D Modeling for XR · Character Rigging for XR · 3D Body Scanning for Holograms.
How we work
From capture to handoff
01
Plan the output
Define whether the scan is intended for an avatar, digital double, body reference or animation-ready asset, so the capture setup matches the end use.
02
Capture the subject
Use the studio or portable scanning setup to record geometry and textures with the level of detail required for close inspection.
03
Prepare the data
Review the raw scan for the target pipeline and, where needed, apply re-topology to make the asset practical for animation and downstream XR use.
04
Deliver for production
Hand over the usable scan data for character creation, rigging, rendering or integration into the broader immersive experience.
Frequently asked questions
Questions from XR producers
Is 3D body scanning enough to create an XR avatar?
It provides the likeness base, including geometry and texture detail, but an avatar usually needs additional production steps such as character build, rigging and optimisation. The scan is best treated as the source asset that supports the rest of the pipeline rather than the finished interactive character.
Can you scan on location for a virtual event or shoot?
Yes. Our work includes Mimic offers a portable system and can work in Berlin or on location. That is useful when talent is tied to a set, event venue or production schedule and the scan needs to happen where the subject already is.
How does this help with real-time XR platforms?
The scan can provide realistic geometry and textures for characters that need to sit in real-time environments. For XR delivery, the practical part is preparing the asset so it respects platform constraints such as polygon count, performance budgets and rendering requirements.
Do you only scan full bodies?
No. The service also covers 3D face scanning and facial expression scanning. That matters for XR projects where the body is one part of the asset and expressive facial movement is equally important for presence and believability.
What if we already have a scan?
If you already have a raw 3D full body scan, Mimic can provide re-topology services to reduce polygon count while preserving detail. That can make the asset more suitable for animation and integration into an XR pipeline.
Is this suitable for medical or hardware projects?
This page is about visual capture for digital characters, avatars and immersive production. It is not a diagnostic or treatment service, and it does not provide hardware control systems. The focus is on scan data for content creation and real-time use.
Frequently asked questions