1. A method of obtaining a set of images from which a three-dimensional model of a surface may be made, the method comprising the steps of: applying a covering having a pattern to the surface to be modeled, the pattern of the covering as applied to the surface including locally non-repetitive pattern elements that have a uniqueness within the surface; and making the set of images of the surface after the covering has been applied, the pattern elements being perceptible in the images, features needed to make the model being extractable from the perceptible pattern elements, and the uniqueness of the perceptible pattern elements being used to correlate the extracted features.