A workflow recommendation for turning 105 hand-carved stone mountain sculptures into interactive 3D product pages, with AR "view in your space" on iPhone.
Scan 1-2 sculptures for free. Use Scaniverse (free, on-device) in photogrammetry mode, not LiDAR. Export GLB and upload it into a Shopify product's media, just like a photo. Shopify's native 3D viewer needs no app and auto-generates USDZ for iPhone AR.
Judge the result on the real product page. Look specifically at ridge and facet detail, that carved texture is the product's value.
Decide, don't guess. Crisp enough: stay free forever. Soft: subscribe to KIRI Engine (~$18/mo, ~$48/yr promo) for all 105 pieces, unlimited private exports, cheaper than Polycam.
iPhone LiDAR is built for room- and furniture-scale geometry. Its depth resolution is too coarse for hand-sized carved detail, and it rounds off sharp edges, exactly the ridgelines that make these sculptures worth $580 each.
Many overlapping photos capture far finer geometry and true stone texture. Matte stone is an ideal subject: no glare, no transparency, and plenty of texture for the software to lock onto.
| App | Cost | Exports | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| KIRI EngineRecommended for scale | ~$18/mo, ~$48/yr promo, limited free tier | GLB, FBX, OBJ, STL (unlimited, private) | Best all-round value once past the free-tier test, right choice for production on all 105 pieces |
| Polycam | ~$27/mo; free tier is GLTF only and public | GLTF, OBJ, STL, point cloud (paid) | Most polished editor, but pricier and the free tier forces scans to be public |
| Scaniverse | Free, on-device (Classic) | GLB, FBX, OBJ, USDZ, PLY, SPZ | Zero-cost way to test the whole pipeline before committing to anything |
Shopify's native 3D viewer is free and built into every theme. Drag a GLB file in like a photo and it's done. Only consider a dedicated app like Viewly ($0-$19/mo) later, if bulk uploads or a bigger 3D-forward layout become a priority. Not needed to start.
Free-tier scanning can struggle to fully resolve the finest carved ridge detail, and results depend as much on lighting and photo discipline as on the app itself. Don't commit to free or paid blind, the one-afternoon test on 1-2 sculptures is what actually settles it.
Scan 1-2 sculptures in Scaniverse, upload to a live Shopify product page, and judge the ridge detail together. That result tells us whether we stay free or move to KIRI Engine for the full catalog.