To obtain a three-dimensional virtual reconstruction of a workpiece the workpiece is positioned on a display screen between the display screen and at least one imager wherein the imager acquires multiple images of the workpiece while (a) multiple light stripes are displayed and swept in a first directional orientation across the display screen, (b) multiple light stripes are displayed and swept in at least one second directional orientation across the display screen, and (c) multiple images for each position of the multiple light stripes at different exposure times are captured. From the multiple images, a difference caused by the workpiece in a width and a profile of the multiple light stripes is determined. That difference is used to calculate a depth value (z) of the workpiece at each imager pixel position (x, y). The calculated depth value is used to reconstruct a surface shape of the workpiece. In embodiments, the described transmittance light capture analyses are supplemented with reflectance light capture analyses.