Artec Studio Lite vs Pro: Which is best for you?
In 2025, Artec 3D made a break from tradition. Best known as an industry leader in professional 3D scanning, the company launched a standalone photogrammetry software: Artec Studio Lite. For the first time, Artec’s 3D data capture expertise was opened to anyone with an everyday smartphone. But this wasn’t a full pivot. Artec 3D continues to offer high-end 3D scanners and a premium Artec Studio Pro software. So, Lite vs. Pro. When would you use each solution? In this article, we explain which product is best suited to many popular 3D modeling applications.
Introduction
Without making this article too commercial, let’s start with a brief introduction. Based in Luxembourg, Artec 3D initially made a name for itself as a manufacturer of high-end, target-free 3D scanners. Many competitors still rely on targets (tiny round stickers) for tracking, which are often impractical to apply & remove. To this day, target-free capture is a big USP for Artec Eva, Spider II, and Leo – the company’s well-established handheld 3D scanning range.
All these devices are supported by Artec Studio, a comprehensive 3D data capture and processing software. One of the other things that makes Artec 3D scanning really stand out is its all-encompassing nature. To unlock digitization on any scale, the company has introduced Artec Micro II and Ray II, which can capture everything from tiny bugs to entire factories.
For those seeking a metrology-grade solution with peak accuracy, Artec Point has also been added to the range. So, the attitude from Artec 3D has always been “let’s give users as many tools as possible in the same ecosystem. That way, there’s bound to be a solution that meets their 3D scanning needs.” Now, using Smart Fusion in Artec Studio, users can even merge different types of data for ultra-detailed results at a scale previously thought impossible.
Artec Studio Lite very much builds on these foundations. The Lite version of Artec Studio brings even greater accessibility, generating realistic-looking 3D models from any photos or videos. But are there any drawbacks to the software? Let’s take a look at Artec Studio Lite’s feature set.
Artec Studio Lite: What does it have to offer?
As alluded to above, Artec Studio Lite is a bit different to Artec’s existing products. For the first time, the company is marketing a 3D data capture solution that doesn’t rely on its own hardware. All users need to do is capture and upload photos or videos. Artec Studio’s AI Photogrammetry algorithm does the rest, transforming data into beautiful 3D scans.
Artec Studio Lite may be cheaper than the full Artec Studio, but it still features many popular tools. Mesh editing essentials are still included, so users can tidy up 3D data, ensuring models are watertight where necessary for manufacturing. Reverse engineering and inspection tools like Autosurfacing, Boolean Operations, and Deviation Analysis are all still present.
The main difference between Artec Studio Lite and Pro is 3D scanning functionality. Simply put, Lite is a photogrammetry software – a very advanced one – but not a 3D scanning software. Artec Studio Pro not only offers all the great features mentioned above, it delivers outstanding 3D scanning results for higher-end applications that rely more heavily on accurate 3D data.
Artec Studio Lite vs. Pro: What’s the difference?
Artec Studio Pro is very much the “full fat” version of Artec’s flagship software. Users of any Artec 3D scanner can turn captured data into 3D models, then carry out essential mesh editing, repair, reverse engineering, and inspection tasks within the same intuitive interface.
This version also includes AI Photogrammetry, so it’s not like Pro users miss out on Lite’s photo or video-oriented features. In fact, Photo-texturing makes it possible to combine 3D scans and higher-detail photo textures for incredibly realistic results. Another factor is upgrades; each year, Artec 3D adds to its software – getting a subscription guarantees access to all the latest tools.
Essentially, Artec Studio Lite brings Artec 3D data capture to a new audience. Now, uploading photos or videos from any camera (whether it be a smartphone or a DSLR) is enough to generate polished 3D models. Most of the software’s tools are still available, but captured data isn’t quite as accurate as that of Artec 3D scans. This has an impact on potential applications.
Where can you use Artec Studio Lite?
Models made with Artec Studio Lite may lack precision, relative to those captured with Artec 3D scanning, but they’re certainly realistic enough for many practical applications. Areas like avatar creation, for example, don’t rely on geometry capture, so photogrammetry is ideal. CGI & VFX assets often fall into a similar category, so Lite has potential for all these users as well.
Realistic visuals aren’t just for TV shows, movies, and video games, they also allow for AR/VR simulation, digital archiving in heritage preservation, and iteration in product design. These applications are more than just theoretical, they’re playing out in the real world. One of our colleagues even used photogrammetry in Artec Studio to 3D print a nose guard for his broken surfboard – showcasing the technology’s 3D printing potential.
In some ways, Artec Studio’s photogrammetry also has unique/enhanced functionality, even when compared to Artec 3D scanning. Built-in scale bars allow models to be scaled for measurement, while the technology’s flexibility unlocks new possibilities. Generally, 3D scanners can’t be used in the sky or under the sea. Photos, on the other hand, can be captured from height (via drones) and underwater (with submersibles), allowing for 3D modeling in new environments.
This church 3D model, for instance, was created using drone data captured from the skies above Luxembourg. With Artec Studio, it’s easy to digitize many other large scenes & objects.
Where does Artec Studio Pro deliver better results?
Artec 3D has always prioritized generating the best possible 3D models. Generally, Artec Studio Pro sticks to this motto, delivering outstanding results for professional use cases. This is especially true where accurate geometry data is required. Let’s say you’re reverse engineering or inspecting an automotive part. Accuracy is vital to generating usable CAD data.
Take CP-E, an automotive modification specialist in the USA. The company actively uses captured data to boost vehicle power and performance. With Artec Leo, it was able to customize the exhaust of a Ford Bronco – this would be very difficult to achieve with photogrammetry.
The same can be said of inspection. As mentioned, Artec Studio Lite can be used to measure. But industrial metrology is a whole different ball game. Another Artec 3D scanning user, Ausco Products, demonstrates this perfectly with its inbound casting analysis workflow. The firm sources brake castings externally, so it needs to make sure they arrive to specification. Artec 3D scans capture with sufficient accuracy to identify deviations and do simulated stress testing.
Ultimately, these practical use cases show how potential adopters should consider the accuracy, tolerance, versatility, cost, and scale needs of their project when choosing their software.
Comparison: Photogrammetry vs. 3D scanning
Technology is another valuable point of comparison. Fundamentally, Artec Studio Pro is a 3D scanning and photogrammetry software, and Artec Studio Lite only supports photogrammetry. So, to a certain extent, the question is really whether photogrammetry is sufficient for your needs.
We have a whole other Learning Center article dedicated to Photogrammetry vs. 3D scanning, but here are the headlines. Though photogrammetry is more accessible (by virtue of everyone having a smartphone nowadays), results are still hardware dependent. High-resolution photos, for instance, are bound to capture more detail. Results are also more easily affected by the environment – inconsistent lighting can lead to glare and poor overall reconstruction.
Professional 3D scanning is generally better at capturing geometry i.e. the solid surface of an object, not just its aesthetics. In certain cases, a realistic appearance is enough. But turning off “texture” on a photogrammetry model generally leaves behind a less detailed model. Overall, it really depends on what your project requires: peak accuracy or accessibility and realism.
Interested in finding out more?
Artec Studio Pro is available in the form of annual and lifetime licenses. Artec Studio Lite offers a photogrammetry subscription, at a lower price. You can find out more and subscribe here.
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