Photogrammetry
3D models built from photographs
Also known as: Photo scanning · 3D scanning from photos · Structure from motion
Definition
Photogrammetry builds a 3D model from many overlapping photographs of a real object or place. Software finds matching points between the images, calculates the camera positions and reconstructs a dense mesh with texture. It is how many realistic rocks, trees and surfaces in scan libraries such as Quixel Megascans are made. The raw result is a heavy, noisy mesh that needs cleanup and retopology before it is game-ready.
In production
Shoot in even, overcast light with plenty of overlap, process in RealityCapture, Metashape or Meshroom, then clean the mesh, retopologize, bake and de-light the textures so no baked shadows remain. Photogrammetry gives realistic detail quickly, but stylized games rarely use it directly; artists often use scans as reference or as a base for sculpting and hand-painted textures.
Tools that use Photogrammetry
See also
Retopology
Rebuilding a clean mesh over a sculpt
High-Poly Model
The detail source for baking
Baking
High-poly detail → low-poly texture
PBR
Physically Based Rendering
Albedo
Base colour without lighting
Gaussian Splatting
Scenes made of splats instead of polygons
Stylized vs Realistic Art Careers
Choosing a direction for your portfolio