Artec Twins: 3D Software for Large-Scale Digital Twins
Artec Twins is Artec 3D's software for processing, merging, visualizing and analyzing very large 3D datasets. It is where Artec Jet and Ray II scans become a usable digital twin: register the capture, fuse it with data from other sources, explore it in real time, and pull out measurements, volumes and deviations for your project.
From Capture to Digital Twin
Twins is the next step after the scan. Capture the site with an Artec Jet, then bring everything together in Twins.
Capture
Walk, drive or fly the Artec Jet through the site. Add fixed-position Ray II scans for key structures and Leo scans for close-up detail.
Process & Merge
Register the Jet trajectory, align multiple scanners into one project, and fuse them into a single seamless point cloud or mesh.
Analyze
Measure distances, calculate volumes, cut sections, fit CAD primitives and compare the scan to your design model.
Deliver
Export to standard point cloud and mesh formats for BIM, GIS and CAD, or present the site as a photorealistic Gaussian Splat walkthrough.
Point Clouds, Meshes and Gaussian Splats in One Project
Keep all three data types side by side and switch whenever the job changes, using the same capture.
- Point clouds as the accurate record of the site, at any size
- Meshes for volumes, sections, inspection and as-built checks
- Gaussian Splats for photorealistic presentations and walkthroughs, including reflective and glass surfaces
Built for Reviewing Whole Sites
Fly through billions of points at up to 200 FPS on your own workstation, with nothing thinned or split.
- Trajectory display shows the full Jet capture path, so you can verify coverage and plan the next scan
- Overlays for height, color, normals and intensity reveal details hidden in the raw data
- First-person mode for virtual walkthroughs and remote inspection
- 360° panoramic color for Jet and Ray II scans
More of What Artec Twins Does
One model from many datasets
Combine scanner, drone, satellite and smartphone data of different scales and resolutions into a single continuous model, with high detail where it matters most.
Navigate billions of points
Fly through city-scale scenes at up to 200 FPS on your own workstation, with the full dataset intact. No decimation or tiling needed just to view it.
Photorealistic scenes
Generate and render Gaussian Splats from photos or point clouds, including reflective and translucent surfaces that are hard to show with traditional meshes.
Your data stays with you
All processing and storage happen locally on your PC. Work offline, keep sensitive client and facility data in-house, and meet data governance requirements.
Measurement and Analysis Tools
Turn scan data into engineering answers without exporting to third-party software.
Scan-to-CAD comparison
Overlay point clouds and meshes on the design model to see exactly where as-built differs from design.
Volume calculation
Quantify stockpiles, excavations and material from mesh data, and track change over time.
Profiles and cross-sections
Check gradients and clearances, isolate structures and compare geometry to design intent.
CAD primitive fitting
Fit planes, cylinders and spheres to check flatness and pull dimensions from the scan.
Georeferencing
Ground control points and georeferenced point clouds place every object in real-world coordinates.
Distance mapping
Map deviations between point clouds, meshes and CAD references to validate tolerances.
Also included: sectioning with per-segment mesh settings, plus the editing, quality inspection, reverse engineering and AI Photogrammetry tools from Artec Studio.
Artec Twins or Artec Studio?
Both come from Artec 3D. The right one depends on the size of what you scan.
| Artec Twins | Artec Studio | |
|---|---|---|
| Built for | Sites, buildings, infrastructure and large scenes | Objects, parts and people |
| Main scanners | Artec Jet and Ray II, combined with any Artec scanner | Leo, Eva, Spider II, Micro II, Point II, Neo |
| Dataset size | Billions of points, 100+ km² (24,700+ acres) scenes | Object-level scan data |
| Data types | Point clouds, meshes and Gaussian Splats | Meshes and point clouds |
| Typical output | Digital twins, as-built records, volumes, BIM/GIS exports | CAD models, inspection reports, 3D printing files |
Capture the Data: Artec Jet and Ray II
Twins is built for large datasets, which makes it the natural partner for Artec's LiDAR scanners. Use either one, or both in the same project. You own the hardware, the software and the data.
Artec Jet
Mobile SLAM LiDAR for mapping large environments on the move. Walk, drive or fly it through sites, tunnels and infrastructure. We quote the Jet and Twins together so you see the full cost of the workflow.
Explore the Artec Jet
Artec Ray II
Long-range laser scanner for capturing building exteriors, structures and large objects in high detail from fixed positions.
Explore the Artec Ray IINot ready to buy equipment? 3DMakerWorld provides 3D mapping and reality capture services using the Artec Jet. See the results on your own site first.
3D Mapping ServicesTechnical Specifications
Compatibility and system requirements
| Compatible Artec scanners | Artec Jet, Eva, Leo, Metrology Kit, Micro II, Point II, Ray II, Spider II, plus discontinued models (Eva Lite, Micro, Point, Ray, Spider, Space Spider and others) |
| Third-party data | Scans from other brands import in standard point cloud and mesh formats |
| Operating system | Windows 11 (x64) |
| Minimum hardware | Intel Core i7 or equivalent (8+ cores), NVIDIA RTX 4060 8 GB |
| Recommended hardware | Intel Core i9 or equivalent, NVIDIA RTX 4090 24 GB |
| Data storage | Local on your PC, works offline |
File formats
| Import | Artec projects, scans, meshes and point clouds; Gaussian Splats (PLY); CAD (SAT, STEP, IGES, X_T); photos (BMP, JPG, PNG, TIF) and video (MOV, MP4, AVI, M4V, 3GP) |
| Export: point clouds | LAS, LAZ, E57, PTX, BTX, XYZ, RCP |
| Export: meshes | OBJ, PLY, STL, WRL, AOP, ASC, E57, XYZRGB, Disney PTEX, USD, USDZ |
| Export: Gaussian Splats | PLY |
| Export: CAD | STEP, IGES, X_T |
| Export: measurements | CSV, DXF, XML |
| Reference targets | OBC |
Licensing options
| Annual subscription | US $6,840 per year, billed annually. Full access to Artec Twins, including major feature updates and new algorithms |
| Lifetime license | US $17,100, one-time payment. Permanent access to the version purchased |
| Multi-year subscription | Discounted pricing available. Contact us or email sales@3dmakerworld.com for details |
Why Buy Artec Twins from 3DMakerWorld
Gold-Certified Artec reseller
We sell, support and use Artec hardware and software every day, including the Artec Jet for our own mapping and reality capture work.
See it before you buy
A live Zoom demo walks through Twins with real Jet data so you can judge the workflow against your projects.
The right license for your work
We help you choose between an annual subscription and a lifetime license, and quote Twins together with a scanner when you need both.
Two offices, nationwide service
Lenexa, KS (Kansas City) and Naperville, IL (Chicago). Reach us any time at sales@3dmakerworld.com.
Artec Twins FAQ
What is Artec Twins?
Artec Twins is Artec 3D's software for processing, merging, visualizing and analyzing large-scale 3D datasets. It handles billions of points, combines data from multiple scanners and sources, and works with point clouds, meshes and Gaussian Splats in one project.
How much does Artec Twins cost?
Artec publishes US pricing of $6,840 per year for an Artec Twins subscription, billed annually, and $17,100 for a lifetime license as a one-time payment. Discounts are available on multi-year subscriptions. Contact 3DMakerWorld for details and a formal quote, including pricing when Twins is purchased together with an Artec scanner.
Should I choose a subscription or a lifetime license?
An annual subscription includes major feature updates and new algorithms as Artec releases them. A lifetime license is a one-time payment for permanent access to the version you buy, without future major updates. A lifetime license suits teams that want to own the software outright, while a subscription suits teams that want the newest features.
How is Artec Twins different from Artec Studio?
Artec Studio is built for object-level scanning, inspection and reverse engineering. Artec Twins is built for environments and large scenes: billions of points, multi-source data fusion and Gaussian Splats. Twins also includes Artec Studio's editing, inspection, reverse engineering and AI Photogrammetry tools.
Which scanners work with Artec Twins?
Artec Twins processes data from the Artec Jet, Eva, Leo, Metrology Kit, Micro II, Point II, Ray II and Spider II, as well as many discontinued Artec models. It is the processing software for Artec Jet data. Scans from other brands can be imported when they use standard point cloud or mesh formats.
Can I combine Artec Jet data with other scans?
Yes. Twins registers and fuses data from multiple scanners in one project, for example a Jet capture of an entire site, Ray II scans of key structures and Leo scans of fine details, plus drone or satellite data for surrounding context. The result is one seamless model without duplicated overlap.
Where is my data processed and stored?
Everything runs locally on your own PC. Nothing needs to be uploaded to a cloud service, so you can work offline and keep full ownership and control of client and facility data.
What computer do I need to run Artec Twins?
Artec Twins runs on Windows 11 (x64). Minimum hardware is an Intel Core i7 or equivalent with 8 or more cores and an NVIDIA RTX 4060 8 GB. Artec recommends an Intel Core i9 or equivalent with an NVIDIA RTX 4090 24 GB, especially for Gaussian Splat generation and very large datasets.
Does Artec Twins support georeferencing?
Yes. Artec Twins supports ground control points and georeferenced point clouds, so data sits in a real-world coordinate system and fits into GIS and surveying workflows.
What is Gaussian Splatting?
Gaussian Splatting is a rendering technique that reconstructs scenes with photographic realism, including reflective and translucent surfaces that point clouds and meshes struggle to show. In Artec Twins it is used for client presentations, virtual walkthroughs and remote inspection, alongside the measurable point cloud and mesh data.
What file formats can Artec Twins export?
Point clouds export to LAS, LAZ, E57, PTX, BTX, XYZ and RCP. Meshes export to OBJ, PLY, STL, WRL, USD, USDZ and other formats. Gaussian Splats export as PLY, CAD as STEP, IGES or X_T, and measurements as CSV, DXF or XML.
Can I see a demo before buying?
Yes. 3DMakerWorld offers a free live Zoom demo of Artec Twins using real Artec Jet data. Use the form on this page or email sales@3dmakerworld.com to schedule one.
Book a Free Demo or Get a Quote
Tell us about your projects and we will show you Artec Twins with real Jet data, then quote the license, or the scanner and software package, that fits.