Footprint

Ever wondered how crime scene investigators manage to get such clear imprints of suspects’ footwear? If so, this 3D model could be just what you’re looking for. As you can see, the print, which was captured during a training session with the forensic team at the Luxembourg police department, using both Artec Leo and Space Spider, features an incredible level of detail.

In this case, everything from the branding to the condition of the outsole are clearly identifiable – details that would help make the footprint a valuable source of forensic evidence, if turned to by the prosecution in trial.

Capturing the print itself, which in this case was made in a common forensic Bio-Foam material, was quick and easy, taking less than one minute in total. When it came to processing the scan on Artec Studio, the software’s data quality overlay tool came in exceptionally handy, as a way of making sure that everything was picked up properly.

Once processed, it was simply a case of inverting the model, so that we were left with a 3D footprint that could be flipped and inspected from all angles. Compared to plaster casted prints, this one showed how switching to Artec 3D scanning is faster, more efficient, and contact-free, meaning that no forensic evidence was damaged in the process of making it.