I did a search of the forum on this question, so forgive me if I missed the answer somewhere:
I have a project where I need to model some highly detailed surfaces of some coins. I plan on painting the coins flat grey to eliminate reflections/highlights, but I’m wondering what kind of detail I can expect to get from CaptureReality. Is this a feasible application? or should I be looking at some kind of laser-scanning?
Thanks for any insight 
Joe,
I’m gonna guess that if you have good enough pictures with enough coverage, you can get all the bumps and indents
Got a nice macro lens, a steady tripod, and a wireless trigger?
Luckily it shouldn’t take long to try out in RC. I would be very curious to see the results.
Hi Joe,
photogrammetry has no limits in terms of size. You can model a planet surface or an insect with images from an electron microscope. It only matters what your resolution in respect to the object is.
If you can use laserscanning depends highly on the size of the coin. I would consider it only for coins larger than half a metre! lol No seriously, you can’t expect an affordable laserscanner (which is still expensive) to pick up this kind of small detail. What you mean is probably a structured-light scanner, which uses related technology to photogrammetry.
Make sure that the paint is extremely thin. Better suitable is probably to spray-paint it to create an irregular pattern.
I have gotten quite decent (but noisy) results “scanning” a 20 cent coin under way less than ideal conditions. I used my smartphones camera even so no fancy zooming in on the coin or even coating on the coin at all.
https://support.capturingreality.com/hc/en-us/community/posts/115000784251-Cameras-recommendations
This is a macro scan of a very small plastic part about 3mm wide and 37mm long. The “fin-like” looking structures on the top are 0.2mm apart
True, I pictured freshly minted coins, but if they are well used, scratched and blunt, it should work without any paint…
Thanks very much for the replies - and the sample images. From what you’re all telling me, I’m thinking it’s possible. I do have a decent camera/lens, tripod, lights and remote - so I’ll give it a try :) Since the coins I’m modeling are very new, I’ll probably paint a very thin coat of flat primer and then add a random pattern with a very fine marker or pen. I’ll also try to post some results.
Thanks again for the help 
Hmm, when I hear about primer I think of thick layer.
If the coins aren’t made of gold, have you thought about staining them on purpose? Maybe with acid or something. Silver tends to put on a black coat that would be ideal.
Anyways, have fun with experimenting and let us know how it goes!