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PROJECTION MAPPING

WHAT IT IS

HOW IT'S DONE

GRID MAPPING

SERVICES

EXAMPLE PROJECTS

Rendering of dome complex with exterior projection on main dome

TURN ANY SURFACE INTO A MOVING CANVAS

How you look at the world is everything, at least we think so. Lumen & Forge specializes in this process. With projection mapping, everyday objects from mannequins to skyscrapers can be transformed into an illusionary wonder. Any space can be turned into an awe-inspiring fantasyworld.

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Painting of an astronaut on a roller coaster in space

Video technician working on a projection mural indoors

Projection Mapping Grid - Sphynx and obelisk at the Luxor Casino Las Vegas

kaleidoscopic visuals - projection mapping - tree visuals - visuals on tree canopy

What is projection mapping?

To put it simply, projection mapping is the art of mapping video content onto any shape or surface. While it sounds simple, the process is meticulous and software heavy. The art lies in lining up the imagery without distortion to enhance the architecture they’re beamed onto. It gives the audience the entranced feeling that the images are real and right in front of them.

3D PROJECTION MAPPING

3D projection mapping takes video mapping to the next level, which takes an object of any shape or size and brings it to life using content that is custom made for the object itself.

Traditional video mapping involves projecting content onto a flat surface, where 3D projection mapping can be used to transform any 3D shape into a lifelike display. For example, let’s take a simple white cube. With traditional video mapping, we would project onto the sides separately, using a different projector for each surface of the cube. However, with 3D projection mapping, we would use or create custom content specifically tailored to fit the cube. This would allow us to put unique, optical illusions within the cube, such as adding a spinning ball of fire inside of it, or making the cube look as if it is melting or crumbling away.

If you imagine this on a larger scale, such as with 3D building projection – we could make the building appear to change materials, have it look as if it is on fire, give audiences a peek inside the building’s walls and so forth. With 3D projection mapping, the visual possibilities are limitless. From realistic animations and video to abstract projections to entire story driven scenes, projection mapping is a canvas for your imagination. The art of projection mapping accentuates real life through video, taking a benign object and making it look however you want.

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Projection mapping luxury home | Video projection | 3d projection mapping

HOW DID PROJECTION MAPPING COME ABOUT?

Projection mapping can be used for essentially any purpose. While the technique has been used since the late 1960s, projection mapping as we know it did not come about until the early 2000s. It was first used mainly as an enhancement to live-music stages but today can be found in virtually any industry. From branding, product showcases, live-music events, trade shows and virtually anything that could benefit from a memorable guest experience, projection mapping takes experiential marketing to another level.

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PROJECTION MAPPING USES AND INSPIRATION

With projection mapping, the possibilities are endless. Here are a couple of inspirational applications for which projection mapping can be an eye catching feature:

A fashion show or window display utilizing mannequins to showcase various outfits. With 3D projection mapping, we could bring these mannequins to life by changing the colors of the clothing, adding facial expressions or changing outfits entirely.

A building projection on a storefront, with mapped visuals enhancing products in the window display.

A car show, with vehicles changing colors or wraps with the optical illusion of a holographic effect projected on the vehicle. With 3D projection mapping, we could even add passengers to the vehicle, simulating a family enjoying a country ride while beautiful passing landscapes can be seen through the windows.

An interactive gallery, with 3D mapping art, we can create the illusion that statues react to guests’ movement. For example, we could program the statue to react to guests as they wave, triggering a wink and a smile and even activating a vocal response to the guest.

A cinematic projection mapped time-lapse of a building under construction. Using 3D projection mapping, we could simulate the building being built in high-speed right before your eyes.

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GRID MAPPING

A very integral part of projection mapping is something called grid mapping. This is arguably the most challenging aspect of 3d projection mapping as it requires pixel perfect corrections to properly match the object’s surface.

To give you a better idea of what this is, we’ve documented the process behind projection mapping a painted mural. We built and mapped an interactive mural using a two-projector solution at the Worldmark by Wyndham hotel in Anaheim: