Projection Mapping & Technique

3D Projection mapping is a technique where a video is projected on to a 3D surface, often using the shape and features of the object as part of the projection.  Its been used quite a bit in advertising, using buildings as the canvas (often called Architectural Projection Mapping)


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2W6Eabefezg&feature=player_embedded - H&M advert in Amsterdam, the windows are used as part of the projection.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BGXcfvWhdDQ - Architectural Projection Mapping @ Branchage Film Festival 2009


More interesting is when more than one projector is used together to completely surround an object - 


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0wcFWLhzTNI&feature=related - Using 4 projectors linked up to a computer using a 3D model of the car to project, in the same way that texture would be applied to a virtual 3D shape on screen.


http://vimeo.com/16964831 - What David Hall calls 'Anamorphic Architecture' -

• "Process -
• Artists developed low polygon forms from basic primitives and through a series of deformations and replications produced a structure with minimal data. These structures where then developed (made planar) in order for them to be printed two dimensionally.
• 
  
• This enabled the surface to be re-constructed backto its original 3D form. As the object exists in 3D in both digital and analogue form this allows us to project animations and graphic back onto the object from the digital version with relative accuracy. In effect the form exists in digital and analogue spaces simultaneously.
• 
  
• The analogue and digital spaces are converging into what has become known as Augmented Space or Augmented Reality. This convergence will accelerate in the near future as LED architectural surface technology and motor actuators become cheaper."

The technology to do this is on a small scale is possible, but would take alot of development of technique which I'm not willing to do (again) so will stick to a still image.  What it does is inform of the ways object are distorted and played with by projection.  Unfortunately I don't have the equipment to effectively project on to a very deep 3D object because of a the shallow dof used - I should seek advice on equipment to get a better dof regardless.  Although using 2 projections on one object, possibly with a double exposure is possible.

I realise to make the image successful I need to stick to some of my original intentions of distorting space, not just a flat(ish) image juxt'd against the monument / person.