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; d. measuring a plurality of distances to a reference object of known shape during a course of translation of the impression mold; e. transforming the plurality of distances to the reference object to a common frame of reference; and f. merging the plurality of distances from the surface of the impression mold to the fiducial reference to form an image of the impression mold.