3D foot scan: create custom insoles from a smartphone

• In short

  A 3D foot scan captures foot morphology directly from a smartphone, using MyFit mobile photogrammetry, to support the design of custom orthotic insoles. Three capture methods are available depending on the clinical need: impression box scanning, weight-bearing or non-weight-bearing foot scans. This approach does not replace insole manufacturing, but provides a usable 3D model as a design basis, with no dedicated scanner.

A 3D foot scan now makes it easier to capture foot measurements for the design of custom orthotic insoles and foot orthotics.

Traditionally, insole manufacturing relied on manual methods that could be time-consuming, operator-dependent and difficult to scale across multiple sites.

Thanks to mobile 3D scanning, podiatrists, orthotists and healthcare professionals can now capture foot morphology directly from a smartphone, using a faster, more accessible solution designed for real-world clinical workflows.

What is an orthotic insole?

Orthotic insoles, also known as foot orthotics, are devices designed to be placed inside shoes to improve how pressure is distributed across the foot.

They may be prescribed to support postural disorders, relieve certain types of pain in the feet, legs or back, or address specific walking-related needs.

Prescribed by a physician or podiatrist, they can then be manufactured by a podiatrist, orthotist or specialized professional. When custom-made, they must precisely adapt to the patient’s foot morphology to ensure better comfort and effectiveness.

How to choose the right type of insole?

• Orthotic insole

Orthotic insoles are prescribed to correct poor pressure distribution under the foot and support certain postural disorders.

Adapted to the patient’s morphology and needs, they can help improve comfort while walking, standing or as part of a specific treatment plan.

A 3D foot scan provides precise morphological data to support the design of custom orthotic insoles.

• Comfort insole

Comfort insoles are designed to improve pressure distribution under the foot and optimize support surfaces.

They can be offered in standard sizes or custom-made, depending on the user’s needs and the expected level of personalization.

Thanks to mobile 3D scanning, professionals can recommend a more suitable size or design insoles that better match the foot morphology.

How to create custom insoles?

Before manufacturing custom insoles, a podiatric assessment is required. This step helps evaluate the patient’s needs, posture, pressure points and the corrections to be made.

Manufacturing can then rely on different methods, such as manual assembly, thermoforming or 3D printing. But whatever the method used, the quality of the final result first depends on the precision of the measurement process.

This is where the 3D foot scan comes in. It does not replace the insole manufacturing process: it captures the foot morphology to generate a usable 3D model, which then serves as a basis for design.

Thanks to mobile 3D scanning, podiatrists, orthotists and healthcare professionals can perform this acquisition directly from a smartphone, without a dedicated 3D foot scanner.

Main manufacturing methods

Manual assembly and bonding

This method relies on manually assembling the different components that make up the insole. It remains widely used, but depends heavily on the professional’s expertise and the time available for manufacturing.

Thermoforming

Thermoforming consists of heating the materials, then molding the insole directly from the foot impression, often using a silicone cushion. This method provides a personalized fit, but requires dedicated equipment and handling in a clinic or workshop.

3D printing

3D printing makes it possible to manufacture custom orthotic insoles from a digital model of the foot. It offers a high level of personalization, but also requires a complete digital workflow, from measurement acquisition to manufacturing.

3D foot scan from a mobile device

How does it work?

With MyFit Solutions, a 3D foot scan can be adapted to different professional use cases, depending on the practitioner’s needs and the type of insole to be designed.

• 3D scan of a foam impression box: a foam impression box is used to capture the patient’s foot impression. The box is then scanned with the dedicated mobile application to generate a usable 3D model. This is notably the case for our client HB Form.
• Weight-bearing 3D foot capture: the patient’s foot is placed flat on the floor in a weight-bearing position. The practitioner then performs the scan directly from a smartphone to capture the foot morphology under load.
• Non-weight-bearing 3D foot scan: the foot is scanned without ground support, by moving the smartphone around the area to capture. This method generates a precise 3D model of the foot according to the clinical or technical need.

MyFit Solutions now favors capture using smartphone rear cameras, compatible with both iOS and Android devices, to provide a more flexible and easier-to-deploy solution.

This approach makes it possible to perform a 3D foot scan without dedicated hardware, while generating usable 3D data for the design of custom orthotic insoles.

Impression box, weight-bearing, or non-weight-bearing: which method should you choose?

Method	Principle	Best suited for
Impression box scan	Digitizing an existing physical impression	Continuity with an existing production flow
Weight-bearing	Scanning the foot flat on the ground, under load	Analyzing weight distribution in real conditions
Non-weight-bearing	Scanning the foot with no ground support, smartphone moved around it	Specific clinical or technical need

The benefits of mobile 3D scanning for the foot

Mobile 3D foot scanning is performed directly from a smartphone application, without a dedicated 3D scanner or additional equipment.

This approach offers several benefits for podiatrists, orthotists and healthcare professionals designing custom orthotic insoles or foot orthotics.

• Fast acquisition

  A foot scan can be completed in just a few seconds, generating a 3D model that can be used for design.

• Precise and reliable results

  The captured data is directly accessible from the connected web platform, making it easier to design insoles and integrate 3D data into professional workflows.

• Flexible scanning locations

  The scan can be performed in a clinic, pharmacy, healthcare facility or directly in the field, depending on the patient pathway.

• Easy to use

  The scanning experience is guided step by step, making it easier for teams to adopt and deploy.

• Fewer hardware constraints

  Unlike traditional 3D scanners, this approach relies on a compatible smartphone, reducing equipment costs and simplifying large-scale deployment.

Mobile 3D scanning therefore becomes a more accessible, flexible and field-ready solution for creating custom insoles.

FAQ