I spent more time tinkering with the art pipeline.
The model used is a pathfinder for the style, not a final in-game asset.
On Cross polarization and photogrammetry
In case you need to do photogrammetry on small props, shooting them in the black void is the way to go. The idea is that if everything around the object is pure black, it will be ignored by the photogrammetry software and you can simulate taking pictures in a 360 degree sphere.
For that to work well you need to make sure to remove all reflections from your model. Having diffuse paint helps, but what really does the trick is using the cross polarization technique.
That involves adding a polarizing filter in front of your light, and another one at 90 degrees in front of your camera. Doing so removes all specular reflection coming from the light.
From the sources I found, they recommend using a strong flash. The polarizing foil removes a lot of light, and having to shoot with a high f-stop also reduces the exposure.
However I found I can get away with a cheap ring light (light, not flash. Gives out light continuously) and just increase the exposure time. Since my object is static this gives the same result.
To turn the object I hacked together something out of an old skateboard wheel, a wooden stick and a cardboard tube. The tube is painted black with Maxx Darth from “Green Stuff World”. But anything really black will do. Then I just painted marks on the wheel and added a nail to turn the thing
The cool thing with the cross polarization is that you can prop up your object on shiny plastic and it will still be black in the picture. (here I used the keycap remover from my keyboard)
The camera is a Nikon D610 I could borrow from my dad. Luckily he also had a macro lens I could use. However any long focal length lens will do.
I tried using my phone, but that just wasn’t working well.
Instead of directly touching the camera, which would shake the camera creating a blurry image I used Digi Cam Control, an open source software to control your camera from your PC.
And finally I plonked all the photos into Meshroom with the “Photogrammetry Object Turntable” preset and just let it run at default settings.
References:
Cross polarization tutorial (youtube)
Meshroom Photogrammetry software
Digi cam control