1. A method for digitizing an impression mold, the impression mold characterized by a surface, the method comprising: a. supporting the impression mold on a stage; b. translating the impression mold in at least one direction; c. characterizing a plurality of distances from the surface of the impression mold to a fiducial reference along a periodic sequence of distinct lines of sight; and d. merging the plurality of distances to form an image of the surface of the impression mold.