Projection Image Mapping

Video mapping uses various image display technologies in a new and innovative way. The main objective is to use projections tailored to the selected surface or object to shatter the viewer’s perception of perspective. A suggestive play of light on a physical object creates a new dimension, and changes the perception of a seemingly ordinary object.

When projecting on a flat surface, as long as the projector is square and aligned perpendicularly to that surface, the image will not be distorted. If your projector is in an oblique position – not exactly facing the part of the surface to be projected upon – the native, projected image looks distorted (the keystone effect). Using a projective transformation known as homography (2D image warping), you can adjust and easily pre-distort the image you project so that it appears undistorted on the flat surface.

But what if your surface isn't flat? When projecting onto an arbitrary 3D surface (a sphere, a box, a building façade, etc.), no matter how the projector is positioned and oriented towards the surface the resulting image will mostly look distorted or misaligned with the surface. So in order to achieve an undistorted look on an arbitrary 3D surface, you have to provide the projector with an image that depicts a view onto the surface from its own (the projector's) position.

Using advanced media server technology and over 30 years of projection and display engineering expertise, Quince Imaging is able to create the illusion of a 3D plain (x, y, z) – by manipulating the 2D image (x, y) being output from projectors – so it appears to contour to the variances of the 3D surface being projected upon. When this effect is combined with content that is specifically designed for this application, the resulting effect can create the illusion of 3D effects, and interactivity with the surface, to spectators viewing it.

Similar to the way motion pictures use computer-generated graphics that interact with real people to create a seamless illusion, projection image mapping uses computer-generated content – mapped to a real 3D surface, in real time – to create the illusion of the manipulation of those surfaces.