Introduction
This is a sort article about Projection Mapping, a new video technique, which allows virtually any surface to be turned into a projection screen. However, these projections are often far from being dull and are an art form of their own.
Projection Mapping, for many people, is a new thing, which has come to the popular conscience after the Diamond Jubilee Concert, where a Projection Mapping was done on to the side of Buckingham Palace – probably one of the most famous landmarks in the world for it to happen to. In case you didn’t see it, here it is below:
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But while as an art form it is relatively new, in general terms projection mapping events have been going on for a while – ever since digital projectors became powerful enough to provide the power to project efficiently onto buildings and be connected seamlessly together to create the overall effect.
While it is a relatively new concept, there are a large number of companies, mainly AV, who now offer the service and who provide a portfolio of their work online to view. One of the main uses of Projection Mapping at the moment seems to be around advertising and the launch of new products, especially new cars.
It is a relatively straightforward thing to achieve. Firstly you need to create a mask of the object (building, car etc) which you wish to project onto. This is how the software and therefore the projectors know how to not project an image on to something which is not the object. This mask is then the starting point for the effects which are created.
There is open source software available on the Internet, for MACs and PCs which allow people to create video mapping from their own bedrooms. Details of this software can be found at the end of this article.
Below I have placed a selection of different Projection Mappings from across the Internet:
[youlist pid=”PLFB49D302730C3920″ ]
Links
Projection Mapping Made Easy – this site is all about providing users with the tools so that anyone can produce video mappings themselves: http://createdigitalmotion.com/2009/03/projection-mapping-made-easy-with-free-mac-windows-projection-tools/
Video Mapping Blog – http://videomapping.tumblr.com/