A 3-D camera system (10) includes a light source (12) and a grating (14) spaced at a predetermined distance from the light source (12). The light source (12) and grating (14) project a shadow of the grating (14) on an object (16). Images of the object (16) with the grating (14) shadows projected thereon are captured by a sensor (18) in a video camera (17). A processor (19) converts the images to a three dimensional bit map of the object (16). The light source (12) includes a plurality of at least three rows of light sources (20) defining a matrix (22) whereby different rows of the matrix (22) may be illuminated to produce different grating (14) shadows on the object (16).
