TORONTO, CANADA – Despite the abundance of excitement about 3D printers, many consumers haven’t been quite sure what do with them, especially since 3D modeling software can be harder to learn than one might think. There are online file marketplaces where you can download and print 3D models that others have created, but the power of 3D printing comes in the ability to make personalized items. The ability to really see your creativity come to life with 3D printing has not yet been made available to the general public…until now.

“The Photon 3D scanner allows anyone to take a physical object and turn it into a digital 3D model on your computer. It works by shooting dual laser lines at an object as it rotates 360 degrees, taking pictures with a HD camera along the way, and using software to create a digital 3D model on your computer in as little as 3 minutes. Once the file is created, it can be modified, reproduced on a 3D printer to create copies of the original object, used in animations or 3D designs, or saved to keep a digital archive. At a current price of $599 (less than a tablet), this is the first 3D scanner that is affordable for the home consumer market.” – Drew Cox, Matterform

Launched via a 35-day crowdfunding campaign on Indiegogo, Matterform blasted through its initial fundraising goal of $81K in week 1 and has now raised 4X that amount (over $330K). With 2 weeks to go in the campaign, the Photon has been featured as one of the top projects on the Indiegogo platform and written about by publications such as Techcrunch, Ars Technica, National Post, Ponoko, etc. Backers include key industry names such as Chris Anderson (Wired), Bre Pettis (Makerbot), and Diego Porqueras, owner of the Deezmaker 3D printer retail store and designer of the forthcoming “Bukito” 3D printer. “I’m a backer—it looks really promising,”Porqueras told Ars Technica. “We’re definitely keeping an eye out for that.”

There are 2 weeks remaining in Matterform’s crowdfunding campaign. The company has not yet released information about when they will sell the scanner on their own official website after the campaign or how much they will be selling it for - but it's likely it will be more expensive than the special intro prices on the Indiegogo campaign, and will definitely be shipping later. Thus the best way to get one as soon as possible at the special pricing level is through the Indiegogo campaign: http:// www.indiegogo.com/projects/photon-3d-scanner