Scanning Tips

Follow these tips to get the best results from your PortalCam.

Lighting

Ideal Conditions

• Natural daylight — Open curtains and blinds
• Even lighting — Avoid harsh shadows
• Consistent brightness — Similar levels throughout the space

Avoid

• ❌ Direct sunlight on the lens
• ❌ Very dark rooms
• ❌ Flickering lights
• ❌ Dramatic lighting changes mid-scan

Movement

Best Practices

• Walk slowly — Half your normal pace
• Keep camera level — The app shows orientation guides
• Smooth movements — Avoid jerky motion
• Pause at doorways — Ensure good overlap between rooms

Avoid

• ❌ Running or fast walking
• ❌ Tilting the camera dramatically
• ❌ Spinning in place
• ❌ Sudden direction changes

Coverage

Overlap is Key

For best quality, capture areas from multiple angles:

• Walk through the same areas twice from different directions
• Scan corners from both adjacent walls
• Capture doorways from inside and outside the room

Don't Miss

• Ceiling details (angle up briefly if needed)
• Floor surfaces
• Corners and edges
• Areas behind furniture (if accessible)

Environment

Prepare the Space

Before scanning:

1. Remove moving objects — Pets, people, fans
2. Close doors to rooms you don't want
3. Turn off TVs — Moving images cause artifacts
4. Secure loose items — Curtains, papers, etc.

Challenging Surfaces

Some surfaces are difficult for any 3D scanner:

Room-by-Room

Small Rooms (Bathrooms, Closets)

• Stand in the doorway initially
• Move slowly around the perimeter
• Capture 360° from the center

Large Rooms (Living Areas)

• Use overlapping zigzag pattern
• Make multiple passes at different heights
• Ensure corners are captured from both sides

Hallways

• Walk the length slowly
• Pause at each doorway
• Capture in both directions if possible

Stairs

• Ascend slowly while scanning
• Pause at landings
• Consider doing a second pass descending

Quality Checklist

Before ending your scan:

• All rooms covered (check app preview)
• No large gaps in coverage
• Corners and edges captured
• Doorways scanned from both sides
• Good lighting throughout

Troubleshooting Poor Results