Laser imaging and 3-D printing?

[Checksum]

I know the traditional way to get a good replica of an actors face is to cast and pour a silicon or foam duplicate. This process obviously requires the actor to get covered up to the nostrils with silicone or plaster.
My question is. Can they scan the actors face with a laser imaging deal and then just print out copies with a 3-d printer? I have not heard of this but I dont see why it cant be done.

 

[8 perf]

Laser scanning is done quite a lot now a days for digital face replacement on a cg character. I don't see why it couldn't be done for sculpture work, but i think to get every nook and cranny, and nuance of an actors face at any given moment, a true life cast would still be best.

 

[Howlrunner]

As far as I'm aware, Arnie's bust in the deleted scene from T3 was created in exactly the way you described.

 

[ataris121]

and as a base for a prostetic sculpt i dont see why any small misses would be too big of an issue. Might make the edges a little rough but beyond that it sounds awesome and probably cheaper.

 

[OldSkoolEffects]

I would think alginate and plaster is far cheaper than laser scanning for something where you are making a physical thing like prosthetics. If you're digitizing it, sure, scanning the actor is probably faster and easier.

 

[Checksum]

I was just wondering if this type of thing has caught on yet? I imagine a good laser scanner is probably still expensive and we all know you can definitely get a 3D printer. But I would have thought that a good laser scanner would take a better and more detailed shot of a human face.