Introduction to Leica BLK-360 G1

Introduction to Leica BLK-360 G1 Laser Scanner

For detailed technical information, please refer to the user manuals provided when renting the scanner from CG Lab.

• Ideal for scanning
  • Large-scale environments such as architecture and landscapes
  • Dark environments, e.g., caves and nighttime scans
  • Creating digital doubles of spaces with real-world measurements, e.g., studios, exhibition halls, and galleries
• Not ideal for scanning
  • Small to medium objects, such as humans or smaller items
  • Reflective or transparent environment (e.g., architecture that is made out of dominantly mirrors or glass)
  • Moving objects (e.g., people, trees, traffic)
• Important Information
  • The Leica BLK-360 scans 360° horizontally and 270° vertically. There is a blind spot directly underneath the scanner.
  • To avoid “holes” in the scan caused by the blind spot, you must perform multiple scans from different positions.
  • A good scan requires at least two scans, but often more, depending on the complexity of the environment.
    • The first scan is typically placed near the center of the space.
    • Subsequent scans should be placed in different positions to ensure overlap and coverage. (see figures 1 & 2)
• Consistency During Scanning
  • The environment should remain unchanged during the scanning process.
    • Avoid differences such as doors being opened/closed, or objects being added/removed. Such changes can cause problems when aligning scans.
  • Choosing poor scan positions can also result in misalignment, so plan before starting.

Figure 1. Good scan locations: With plenty of overlaying areas due to Scan 01. Easy to align automatically.

Figure 1. Good scan locations: With plenty of overlaying areas due to Scan 01. Easy to align automatically.

Figure 2. Bad scan locations: No overlaying areas between the Scans 01, 02 and 03. These scans will have trouble aligning with each other.

Figure 2. Bad scan locations: No overlaying areas between the Scans 01, 02 and 03. These scans will have trouble aligning with each other.

Introduction to Cyclone FIELD 360 App

The Cyclone FIELD 360 app is available on the Google Play Store and Apple App Store. It connects to the Leica BLK-360 scanner, lets you control scans, align them in the field, and export results.

• Login
  • Use the credentials provided with the Leica scanner when renting from CG Lab.
  • If you are using a CG Lab iPad, the app is already logged in.

• Creating a Project
  • In the app, projects are called “Jobs.”
  • Create a job using your full name.
  • (Optional) Add a thumbnail image for quick reference.

• Connecting to the Scanner
  • Turn on the Leica BLK-360 and place it at the first scan location.
  • Wait until the scanner’s ring light turns green.
  • On your device, connect to the scanner’s Wi-Fi network.
    • The password is printed on the battery cap.
    • It is also noted on the CG Lab iPad.
  • In Cyclone FIELD 360, the BLK-360 should now appear under Connected Devices.
    • If not, restart the app or scanner and reconnect.

• Running a Scan
  • In your project/job, tap the red button at the bottom.
  • The scan menu lets you:
    • Assign a name to the scan (useful when doing multiple scans).
    • Choose scan density (higher = more detail but longer time).
    • Enable or disable images for texturing.
      • For details on texturing, see Workflow 01.
  • Start the scan. The BLK-360 will blink and rotate.
    • Stay out of view — the scanner captures everything.
    • For good practice, see the Introduction to Leica section.

• Aligning Scans
  • After each scan, move the scanner to the next location.
  • When the new scan is completed, you will be prompted to pre-align and then align it with the existing dataset.
    • Pre-align provides a rough placement based on geometry.
    • Align refines and locks the scans together.
  • Always align right after each scan.
  • If automatic alignment fails:
    • Try manual alignment.
    • If no alignment is possible, the scan position likely had too little overlap (see Figure 2).
  • If you skip or align incorrectly, you can always disconnect and re-align scans later from within the project.
• Bundles and Export
  • Once all scans are aligned, they form a Bundle: a collection of scans combined into one dataset.
  • Export the bundle as an .e57 file.
  • Save the file locally, then transfer via:
    • USB or iTunes, AirDrop, or cloud storage (depending on file size).

• Troubleshooting
  • Wi-Fi connection fails: Forget the network on the device, then reconnect with the correct password.
  • Error codes in the app: Restart both the scanner and the app.
  • App updates: The layout may change, but the core workflow remains the same. (scan → align → export the bundle)

Workflow 01: Creating a 3D Mesh with Texture Using Leica BLK-360

The Leica BLK-360 can be used to generate 3D meshes for games, animation, VR, and 3D printing.

• Step 1: Scanning
  • Start your scan with the Leica BLK-360.
  • In Cyclone Field, choose the desired scan density
  • Enable photo capture so the scanner records images for texturing.

Notes: The Leica camera is limited in quality and prone to lens flares. For high-quality textures, we also recommend taking photographs with an iPhone or DSLR immediately after scanning. These additional images can be used later to create higher-quality textures and to fill in areas the Leica cannot capture (e.g., under furniture or in tight spaces).

• Step 2: Exporting from Cyclone
  • After scanning and capturing photos, export your bundle as an .e57 file.
  • To combine the scan and images, and to create a 3D mesh with texture, we use the CG Lab software called RealityScan (free via Epic Games).

• Step 3: Processing in RealityScan
  • Import the .e57 file into RealityScan
    • In the import menu, enable georeferenced alignment if you encounter misalignment issues.
  • Import your additional photos.
  • Align the data, set the bounding box, and calculate the mesh (normal or high quality).
  • Texturize your mesh and, if necessary, simplify the mesh so it does not become too dense.

Note: Simplification is important for workflows where performance matters (e.g., games, VR, 3D printing).

• Step 4: Exporting
  • Export the mesh in a preferred textured 3D file format (e.g., OBJ, FBX).
  • Ensure that texture/material/vertex color is enabled when the export menu appears.

• Important Note on File structure
  • When importing an .e57 file into RealityScan, the software creates an .lsp file in the same folder (unless you define another location).
  • If you want to preserve your RealityScan project, make sure to store safely the .lsp and .e57 files together. Without both files, the project cannot be reopened on another workstation.
  • If you are importing the finished 3D mesh but still don’t have any texture, make sure to connect the color attribute in the material nodes. (see example in figure 4)

Workflow 02: Creating a Point Cloud Environment with Leica BLK-360

In many cases, point clouds are preferred for purely visual purposes. A point cloud offers a lightweight, emissive representation that the camera can move through, creating a transparent, volumetric effect.

• Option 1: From Mesh to Point Cloud (Blender Example)
  • If you have already created a 3D mesh (see Workflow 01), you can convert it into a point cloud inside Blender.
  • Use Geometry Nodes to scatter points on the surface of the mesh.
  • You can also call the vertex colors of the mesh to give each point the appropriate color information.

Note: This approach is flexible. You can adjust point size, shape, and appearance in Blender.

Geometry Node:

Figure 3. Mesh to Points Node - scatter points on the surface of the mesh, Set Point Radius Node - for adjusting point size, Set Material Node - For adding vertex color information on each point (see figure 4, for material setup)

Figure 3. Mesh to Points Node - scatter points on the surface of the mesh, Set Point Radius Node - for adjusting point size, Set Material Node - For adding vertex color information on each point (see figure 4, for material set up)

Material Node:

Figure 4. In the Shader Editor, add an Attribute Node and connect its output to the Base Color input of the Principled BSDF (or another shader). It is important to know the exact name of the vertex color attribute, by default it may appear as Attribute or Col. Type or paste this name into the Attribute Node, so the material reads the correct data. Make sure the Set Material node (in geometry node) is referencing the right material.

Figure 4. In the Shader Editor, add an Attribute Node and connect its output to the Base Color input of the Principled BSDF (or another shader). It is important to know the exact name of the vertex color attribute, by default it may appear as Attribute or Col. Type or paste this name into the Attribute Node, so the material reads the correct data. Make sure the Set Material node (in geometry node) is referencing the right material.
Notes: If the material is too dark, connecting the base color to emission color and raising the strength will brighten it. If it is too glossy turn up the roughness value.

• Option 2: Using Unreal Engine 5 (Direct .e57 Import)
  • Unreal Engine 5 supports point clouds directly through the LiDAR Plugin.
  • With this plugin enabled, you can import .e57 files without going through RealityScan.
  • After import, adjust size, type, and level of detail/streaming in the Details menu.

Notes: Avoid enabling collision on point clouds, as this leads to poor gameplay. If the original scan’s textures are insufficient, you will need to process the .e57 file in RealityScan first by applying textures using higher-quality photos. (see workflow 01)

• Option 3: Exporting Point Clouds from RealityScan
  • RealityScan allows direct export of point clouds in different formats:
    • .PLY → sparse point cloud
    • .LAS → dense point cloud
  • Ensure that your point cloud is texturized or colorized so that vertex colors are present on each point.

Notes: These exports are relatively fixed. You cannot easily change point size, shape, or color after export.