Starting with the basics
Every keepsake scan begins with the same technology as a standard medical ultrasound: harmless high-frequency sound waves that bounce off your baby and are turned into an image. The familiar 2D ultrasound shows flat, grey cross-sections — wonderful for medical measurements, but not always easy for parents to 'read'.
3D, 4D and HD 5D are all about presenting that same information in a way that looks more like the baby you're picturing.
What a 3D ultrasound shows
A 3D ultrasound takes many 2D slices and combines them into a single dimensional image — a smooth, sculpted portrait of your baby's surface. Suddenly you can see a nose, a set of lips, a rounded cheek. It's a still image: think of it as a photograph of your baby's face.
For many parents, the 3D scan is the moment pregnancy feels real — the first time they see a recognisable little person.
What a 4D ultrasound adds
A 4D ultrasound takes that 3D image and adds the fourth dimension: time. Instead of a single still, the picture updates many times a second, so you watch your baby move in real time. A yawn, a stretch, a hiccup, a hand drifting past the face — 4D turns a portrait into a live home video.
If 3D is a photograph, 4D is a film — and it's often where parents first glimpse their baby's personality.
And where does HD 5D fit?
You may also see HD 5D Live on our menu. HD 5D isn't a different scan — it's an advanced way of rendering the 4D image. It adds a movable virtual light source plus warm, skin-toned colour, so the picture gains realistic highlights, soft shadows and depth. The result looks remarkably like a newborn photograph.
So the family tree is simple: 3D is the sculpted still, 4D adds motion, and HD 5D adds cinematic lighting on top.
Which one should you choose?
There's no single 'best' option — only what's right for you:
- Want a beautiful, frameable portrait? 3D delivers it.
- Want to experience your baby's movement and personality? Choose 4D.
- Want the most lifelike, photo-real keepsake? HD 5D Live is the ultimate.
The good news: our Treasured 4D and Signature HD 5D packages include 3D imaging too, so you don't have to choose between them — you get the whole experience in one visit.
Frequently asked questions
What is the main difference between 3D and 4D ultrasound?
A 3D ultrasound produces a still, sculpted portrait of your baby; a 4D ultrasound shows that image moving in real time, so you can watch your baby's live gestures.
Is 4D ultrasound better than 3D?
Neither is 'better' — they offer different things. 3D gives a beautiful still portrait; 4D adds live motion. Many packages include both.
What is HD 5D ultrasound?
HD 5D Live is an advanced rendering of a 4D scan that adds realistic lighting and warm skin tones, producing the most lifelike, photo-like images.
