Projection Mapping (also called Video Mapping or Spacial Augmented Reality) is a relatively new technology that allows a designer to use an irregular surface as a projection screen. While it was first used in 1969 (using 8mm film- see video below) at Disneyland to premiere a new attraction, high resolution, digital 3D usage is just recently becoming popular. Video mapping uses a combination of strategic measurement (cue points), video and audio editing, timelines and and an extreme burst of creativity.
Projection Mapping has been used to wrap moving images around buildings, walls, random objects and anything else you can think of. The shape of the object does not matter. Using the mapping software, you are able to simulate the objects, any holes or spaces in the object and any bends or odd shapes using points. Some of the newer software allows you to hook up various projectors in advance to allow you to trace the surface you want to project on (see the DynaMapper link below).
One of the keys to video mapping are the projectors. You can start with one projector if you are just starting out but the bigger the project, the more projectors you could possibly use. One of the demonstration videos below used roughly 60 projectors.
If projection mapping is something that piques your interest, I would suggest starting with learning basic and some advanced video editing techniques. Mapping involves intermediate editing skills but also (unfortunately) quite a bit of math (CLICK DRAMATIC SOUND EFFECT BELOW)
The task is hard and it is incredibly time consuming but the result of the effort (as shown in the videos below) makes all of the hard work worth ever second.
Disneyland (1969)- Haunted Mansion- one of the first known uses of video mapping
Here is a great video about how 3D Video Mapping is used to turn the Atlanta Hawks’ basketball court into a projection surface that seemingly makes the court disappear.
This entire performance of Michael Jackson from the 2014 Billboard Awards used projection mapping
This is a video of video mapping being used on the largest surface ever (at that point) during the grand opening of the Atlantis Resort in Dubai.
Finally, this is my favorite. This was created using 360,000 lumens of light. To put this in perspective, the projectors in classrooms average between 2000- 4000 lumens.
SOFTWARE– This software can be pretty expensive but they all have trial versions if you want to test it out. There are also a lot of open source options available for free.
http://www.millumin.com/
http://www.madmapper.com/
http://dynamapper.net/
Awesome post! Yeah this tech is really cool, especially now that it’s becoming more widespread in stadiums and such. (just plz don’t use a lot of tax dollars k?)
Thanks for showing a lot of the free projection mapping tools, those are sooo awesome. I’m actually studying the math behind this stuff, and it’s alright-ish. The code behind it is a lot better however.
Since quality projectors are hard to come by and sacrifice some color and resolution, I don’t think they will be the future of projection mapping.
Instead, something like solid photon light might become the future: http://www.iflscience.com/physics/crystallized-light-reveals-potential
We can only hope 😀