Why is a measurement missing or appearing in the wrong location?

If a measurement is absent from scan results, or a tape line appears at the wrong height on the 3D body model, the cause is almost always a landmark detection failure.

Measurement labels (Waist, Hip, Chest, etc.) are always correct — if you see "Waist," it is the waist measurement. What changes is where on the body the scanner places the tape line when landmark detection fails.

How landmark detection works

The scanner identifies the groin/crotch landmark first and uses it as a fixed reference point to locate all other measurements up and down the body. If the groin landmark is unclear — because of loose clothing, poor posture, or environmental interference — dependent measurements (waist, hip, and others) can also fail to place correctly.

This can cause:

A measurement that is absent from the scan results entirely
A tape line positioned at the wrong anatomical height on the 3D model (e.g., the waist tape drawn at hip height)
Skewed health calculations that rely on the affected measurement
Unreliable progress comparisons between scans

What causes landmark detection failures

Clothing

Loose, baggy, or layered clothing obscures body shape around the hips and groin — the area most critical for the initial landmark detection
Bundled or wrinkled fabric can appear as body volume to the infrared sensor

Posture and positioning

Leaning forward, backward, or to either side
Arms pressed too close to the body
Uneven weight distribution on the feet
Any movement during the scan

Scanning environment

Direct sunlight or bright ambient light entering the room
Objects or furniture within the scanner's field of view
Reflective surfaces near the turntable

Before the next scan: what to check

Clothing

Have clients wear form-fitting athletic clothing — fitted leggings or shorts and a sports bra for women; compression shorts and no shirt for men
Avoid loose, baggy, or layered clothing around the hips and groin
Keep clothing consistent across all follow-up scans for reliable comparisons

Posture and positioning

Client stands tall with neutral, upright posture — no leaning forward or backward
Weight is evenly distributed on both feet, placed on the foot markers
Arms held slightly away from the body in the A-pose — not pressed against the torso
No movement during the scan

Scanning environment

No direct sunlight or strong ambient light — close blinds or curtains
Nothing between the camera tower and the client
At least 17 inches of clear space on all sides of the turntable
Plain, non-reflective background

How to fix a scan that already has this issue

If a completed scan shows a measurement in the wrong location, you can manually adjust the landmark position in Styku Studio.

Open the scan in Styku Studio
Navigate to the Measurements section for that scan
Locate the incorrectly placed landmark on the 3D model
Use the measurement editing tool to drag the landmark to the correct anatomical position
Save the changes — the software will recalculate all affected measurements

For a full walkthrough, refer to: Can I change the location of measurements in a scan? in the Styku Business Portal.

If you are also seeing broader measurement inconsistencies

If weight, body fat %, or other values also look wrong — not just the position of one tape line — check the weight and height values recorded for the scan.

Open the scan in Styku Studio
In the Body Metrics tab, find the Body Composition section and review the weight and height values
If either value is incorrect, correct it via Settings > Edit Scan

An incorrect weight value can affect body fat % and other calculated metrics across the entire scan.

If this resolves your issue, no further action is needed.

If the problem persists, contact support and include: the affected client names or scan IDs, a description of what the client was wearing, photos of your scanning environment (lighting, background, turntable placement), and your current Styku Studio software version.

Applies to: Styku Studio V5, all Styku scanner models

Related Resources

How do I prepare a client for a Styku body scan?
How should I prepare for a Styku 3D body scan?
Why are my scan measurements inaccurate even though the scan completes successfully?