Methods for generating optical characteristics data of a dental object, including at least color characteristics, are disclosed. A probe is positioned in proximity to the dental object. The probe provides light to the object and receives light from the object, and the received light is coupled to a video camera, with the object positioned in the field of view of the camera. The optical characteristics data are generated based on camera data corresponding to the object and based on camera data corresponding to a color calibration standard generated with the color calibration standard in the field of view of the camera. The optical characteristics data may be stored in a record of a software database or used to prepare a second dental object.