3D Projection Mapping on buildings

What is 3-D Projection Mapping?

3-D projection mapping, according to Wikipedia, “is any method of mapping three-dimensional points to a two-dimensional plane,” But basically they input information about the surface upon which they’re projecting and detail an animation around it using three-dimensional effects like shadowing, foreshortening and Y-axis movement. Using the technique, it’s possible to match the video to the building and animate whatever dreamlike, unique or ruinous episode you want to transpire it.

There are at least two ways of understanding how to make a video mapping projection:

1) Prepare images to project on a surface/façade. Images can be projected as if the building was a huge flat screen. The building itself creates a mask and you will not need to do all the calibration work that video mapping normally requires.

2) MASKING. As in the word, masking is about creating masks (a sort of opacity templates) with the exact shape and position of the different elements of the building, space architecture, 3D object etc. On those masks, or in the space between this masks, is where the video is going to be projected, using a simple alpha-channel technique.

I love it when technology is put together in new and innovative ways. 3D projection mapping allows for a 3D animation to be played by a projector onto any building. This is quite new and it is flourishing nowadays. The reason of its success is that the public gets somehow emotionally involved in the show. It is not just “another cool visualization”, but it is surprising and exciting and involves physical as well as virtual space.