Voxelio Point Cloud Mode captures coloured AR depth samples on a supported iPhone and exports a PLY point cloud. Density, confidence and max-depth controls help define the capture. Inspect the points, coverage and scale after export; a point cloud does not contain a connected surface simply because it opens in a 3D viewer.
What is the deliverable?
A point cloud is a collection of spatial samples. Voxelio’s Point Cloud Mode produces coloured PLY data for point-based inspection and downstream analysis. It requires compatible AR depth support. If you need connected surfaces immediately, compare Mesh Mode and its OBJ + MTL workflow.
Keep the original PLY as the source capture. Any later filtering, registration or surface reconstruction produces a derived result that should be saved separately, so you can inspect what changed.
How should you define the capture area?
Start with a specific task: which surfaces or object region need to be represented? Remove avoidable clutter from the capture path and keep the scene stable. Identify areas that remain hidden or outside the intended range. A dense set of samples from one visible face does not establish complete coverage of an object.
Check that you have space to move safely and use the preview to review whether the area you need is being sampled. Device capability and available depth data determine whether the mode is available.
What do the controls change?
Density controls sampling. Confidence helps select which available depth samples are retained. Max depth limits the capture range. These settings change the dataset; they do not certify the resulting dimensions or remove every possible error.
Record the settings alongside the exported file when comparing sessions. Choose a small test region first, inspect the result, then expand the capture if the representation fits the task. Increasing density without improving coverage can produce a larger file without supplying the missing observations.
What should you inspect in the live preview?
Look for sparse areas, disconnected clusters and samples outside the target region. Consider whether moving objects or difficult surfaces are contributing unwanted points. Change one setting or the capture path at a time if you need to understand why the dataset changes.
The preview is a guide to capture, not an independent verification of accuracy. Keep track of gaps that would matter during analysis instead of smoothing them over in your description of the result.
How do you check a PLY export?
Open the PLY in a tool that supports point-cloud data. Confirm that it is interpreted as samples rather than a triangulated surface. Check whether point colours are present and whether the target area was captured. Review scale, coordinate orientation and point distribution before comparing it with another dataset.
A PLY extension alone does not describe every property of a file: the destination tool still needs to understand the data it contains. Preserve the original export and document any conversion or unit adjustment made downstream.
Should you turn the cloud into a mesh?
Only when the next task needs a connected surface. Surface reconstruction introduces assumptions between the samples. It cannot recover unobserved geometry as measured evidence. If you do reconstruct a mesh, compare it with the original cloud and inspect gaps and extrapolated areas.
Continue to the point-cloud to mesh workflow for this separate processing step. For a room mesh created directly in Voxelio, use the room-mesh capture guide. The sensor explainer describes why these outputs differ.
Is export paid?
Voxelio’s modes and export are free. Capture is subject to the current weekly scan allowance, which resets each week. Check the app for the allowance and device availability rather than relying on an unverified number in an article.