Reviewing the Creality CR-Scan Otter 3D Scanner | Is it as good as they claim? |

In this video we are going to review the Creality Scan Otter 3D Scanner. This scanner represents a jump in technology allowing you to scan small to large objects with the same scanner. But is it any good? In this video we will look at some examples and talk about how it stacks up to the rest of the Creality Scanners.
Since the time of filming this video we are now a Creality Affiliate so if you want to buy anything from Creality and want to support the channel you can use our Affiliate link here.
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If you are buying the Scan Otter there is a 10% coupon available until the end of July if you type in OTTER10 at checkout.

[@KIDSSERIES-ws3wx]

I bought an Otter. The hardware is not bad, but the software is terrible. I cannot accept software that feels like it is from the last century in terms of workflow. The settings menu is locked away outside the scanning interface, making it a pain to optimize your settings for a scan because you always have to return to the homepage to restart the whole process. There are basically no editing options whatsoever, so even a simple clean-up requires you to export the model to other software. Plus, you really have to press the buttons on the scanner hard to ensure it starts the scan. The overall user experience was so poor that I ended up returning it.

[@LearnEverythingAboutDesign]

Thanks for sharing. I will note about the button to start the scan, i don't think it lets you start unless the light is green and you are the optimal distance from your target. I had a similar thing where i hit it a few times and believe it is based on the distance. The play button in the software doesn't seem to care but the on scanner one does. And as for editing you can clean up the raw points a bit but I agree with you, the software is really the handicap for this and all creality scanners and hopefully feedback like yours will help nudge some big improvements. I have already shared my thoughts with them on the software.

[@rbq14159]

Returned mine because of the sh***y software and thinking about getting the Einstar.

[@LearnEverythingAboutDesign]

Yeah sorry to hear that! Take note Creality.

[@ReenaYadav-hx5rw]

Their scanner requires a high-performance computer; otherwise, you will not get decent results. My friend bought one and was forced to buy a more expensive computer to use it properly. You should reconsider buying this scanner if you do not have a good computer.

[@LearnEverythingAboutDesign]

This is true of all 3d scanners. The required specs for the creality scan software is less than that of others but you do notice a big performance difference. My laptop is old but was a high end CAD laptop years ago and does well enough, but trying to scan with a lower end general use laptop without a high CPU speed and a Gcard with GPU could be rough.

[@Todestelzer]

I have the Raptor and you will be surprised how sharp and accurate the scans will be with it. You can scan deeper into holes or cavity’s too. The only downside is the Software, especially that it’s deleting the original point cloud if you are align 2 scans. I use cloud compare because of it. Unfortunately the Software of the Raptor is the same as the Otter or other Creality scanner’s using. The software is getting an update every month and the Raptor got 2 firmware updates in the time I used it as well. It printed some scanning targets with markers on it for the Raptor too.

[@LearnEverythingAboutDesign]

Thanks for the info! I really hope the software takes a leap forward as it would be ashame to have a low priced laser scanner only to be undone by the software needed to run it.

[@r.in.shibuya]

Software is not going to improve in products like these, Chinese hardware manufactures don’t invest in product support nor software. I’ll wait a few more years before these products get better at lower prices.

[@LearnEverythingAboutDesign]

I will say the hardware difference from the Ferret to this Otter is a pretty big jump, but software is still the sore spot.

[@Todestelzer]

Revopoint improved their software too. Isn’t Shining with their scanners a Chinese company too? Einstar got a rewind function recently. Creality is updating their software once a month. You can see this in their download section. Even offering older versions. The Raptor firmware got updated twice since I’m owning it too. And yes they have to work on their software. Especially deleting point clouds after merging for example. There is no smoothing or sharpening like in the Exstar software. A marker mode alignment for point clouds is missing too.

[@mao5990]

Nice video! Seems like they still haven't sorted out their software. I ended up selling my creality scanners to get a einstar as I couldn't handle the creality software unfortunately. It was quite useless for me for automotive stuff. Interested to see what the Raptor would be like, quite a good price for a laser scanner.. But yeah, they definitely need to sort out their software if they want to be serious.

[@Todestelzer]

The Raptor is using the same software as the Otter. For Automotive stuff the Otter or Einstar are probably better because they have a wider field of view. I have the Einstar and the Raptor. The Raptor is very good for small and medium size stuff but it needs markers in laser mode. It also can scan metallic or black parts without preparing if they are not too shiny.

[@LearnEverythingAboutDesign]

Sorry to hear that, but as mentioned in the video I agree. These scanners don't really have a hardware issue as they are getting very good. I think more processing options and a coordinate system alignment option would go a very long way.

[@mao5990]

@@LearnEverythingAboutDesign One thing that does look like a game changer is scanning dark parts with no prep! Scan spray costs add up in no time

[@grabejud]

will an i9 laptop with 3080 enough to process with this scanner? tia.

[@LearnEverythingAboutDesign]

I don't have personal experience with that so I can't say for sure. I know the RTX3080 is typically considered a gaming card. With the mesh processing it isn't as much rendering (like you would find in cad or vfx), but more about the available GPU for calculations. Im sure it will process but how well i can't say.

[@grabejud]

@@LearnEverythingAboutDesign thanks so much for getting back. seems to be the 3d scanner that ive been waiting for which is within the thousand dollar range

[@motoformprototyping]

Great vid as always, hope you will review the Raptor soon. I really like my Einstar but would like to upgrade. Would you say that the Einstar has any advantages over the Otter? I guess that the software is better for the Einstar, but would you agree that you need a very good pc for the Xstar? And that maybe you can get away with a less potent pc for the Creality software?

[@LearnEverythingAboutDesign]

Its a tricky one to compare the two. Both are IR structured light. The Otter captures at a higher framerate than the einstar. Einstar has a hybrid alignment which lets you use some markers on a part while the creality scanners are all marker or all geometry. I think the Otter is more versatile with the various scan size options and yes i think the base PC suggestions are lower than that for the Exscan stuff BUT I do believe Exscan is a better mesh processing tool.... So the otter would be good if you need more detail and smaller object scans than the einstar is capable of, but for the larger stuff i think the einstar still has a slight edge because of its software.

[@motoformprototyping]

@@LearnEverythingAboutDesign thanks, I will wait for more input on the Raptor

[@lgzu-v4f]

hi,do you sale blue laser scaner?

[@LearnEverythingAboutDesign]

I don't personally sell any scanners. Creality has the Scan Raptor which is a laser scanner, but I have not tested it yet.

[@JH-zo5gk]

I feel the ferrets biggest thing going it is the phone scanning. I can pull 5his thing out in DIA and scan the gargoyle. Scanned a life sized fireman statue in front of my local fire department. That's it wild card.

[@LearnEverythingAboutDesign]

The Ferret is much smaller/lighter and a great price. its the versatility to scan small things that it lacks.

[@ArhanKhan-bd4id]

I bought an Otter, and Im fed up with constant connection failures. Im pretty sure they have given me a faulty cable.

[@LearnEverythingAboutDesign]

Oh man that sucks! One thing I will say is to check your USB at the computer. On my desktop the front panel has 3 USB3.0 ports on it and one of them started giving me issues. Cables were fine but from so many uses im guessing the contacts just werent great. I can't use it for anything 3.0 data transfer related like moving scan projects around or scanning directly. IF you have a USBc on your computer you could try that. One thing I don't like about all wired scanners is that at the computer side the weight of the cable pulls down on the usb and can affect things. Anyway worth a shot. I had a problem with my printer and creality sent me a new part FYI, not sure if you contacted support or not (this was before i was an affiliate which honestly doesn't make a difference for support).

[@YTSIRAJM]

Please note that the actual cost is not just $900. The Otter scanner does not include essential accessories like a tripod or turntable. The absence of these accessories affects its convenience and accuracy in certain scanning scenarios.

[@LearnEverythingAboutDesign]

True, and I did note that in the video at the end that it doesn't come with the tripod or turntable. The only scanner of theirs that does is the Lizard to the best of my knowledge.

[@AntonChemk]

Awesome review! I was waiting for something like that. How would you compare the whole process of scanning and data processing from other scanners? How much time do you have to spend on the same item (let's say medium size) using different scanners? For example, the Einstar need more preparation but perhaps much easier post-processing worth the part preparation effort? Or is the time and effort spent transferring the point cloud to MeshLab and processing it there worth it for the improved Otter hardware?

[@LearnEverythingAboutDesign]

Great question! What I have found is that the processing takes longer in the Creality software but scanning actually happens pretty quick. Best I can tell Creality does a different sort of intermediate step with the raw data. In other scanners like the Einstar or scanners from Revopoint you are seeing all the points on the screen you capture. Creality has a nice interface where the on screen image changes from red to green when you have captured enough points. So it lets you know where you need to stay or move around to capture enough. The downside to this is if you are scanning and have an area that is say light green, it might actually get removed during processing if there aren't enough points. So I would say capture and tracking is actually pretty good and doesn't feel slow or laggy. The processing part in the software feels a little limited and more geared towards users who go for the one-click option to process their scans. Easy to use though.

[@ianjohnston3339]

Does anyone know if there are any open source projects out there with software that supports different scanners? This seems like an opportunity for someone smarter than me

[@LearnEverythingAboutDesign]

That would be great but none that I am aware of. There are some very high end professional software packages that I do believe can capture from certain scanners BUT I believe capturing via the provided scan software is still the only way to go. You can capture just the point clouds with no processing in many cases and send the raw points to another piece of software like Meshlab which is free, but meshlab won't capture them directly.

[@JH-zo5gk]

Just clicked video. Hoping it's good. Just sold my ferret to help fund this upgrade?!

[@LearnEverythingAboutDesign]

I think its a much better value proposition if you are ok with the Creality scan software. Since you have(had) a Ferret and are used to using that I would guess that is a yes.

[@Archangel3083]

I’ve watched soo many videos on scanners and I’m still lost on which hobby level one scans car panels the best?

[@LearnEverythingAboutDesign]

Yeah there is a lot of overlap. You can scan car panels with many of the different scanners. This Otter will scan a car fender just fine, so will the revopoint range and miraco, as will the shining einstar. The otter has some flexibility letting you scan small detailed parts as well as big parts, but as mentioned at the end of this video the software is really the areas these scanners could use improvement. I have another video planned with this scanner and ill be doing some car parts so if you are interested in the Otter wait a week or two until we can get that video out.

[@JH-zo5gk]

I get like max 16fps from ferret

[@LearnEverythingAboutDesign]

Yeah, i never saw the claimed 30fps with it, but did get up to 27fps on a desktop with the Otter.

[@mrgokarcik1084]

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