What does a point cloud look like when it has no color?
A 3D scanner does not only record the x, y, z coordinates for each returned signal captured by the sensor. Most 3D scanners also record the intensity information of the reflected light. During software processing, the intensity values are used to display different shades of gray or RGB colors for each point.
Black and white point cloud image
However, even when displayed with colors, 3D scan data can never appear as sharp and visually appealing as a photograph. This is because the purpose of a 3D scanner is to represent light from a technical perspective, which is fundamentally different from how cameras display images in photography.
