Digital holography has now grown to be a commercially available full-colour process. The state of the art facility for full-colour holograms that may now be printed as large as murals is situated in Toronto. The technology was developed in Canada.

The printing process begins as a series of digital files, typically derived from 3D computer graphics applications such as 3D Studio Max or Maya. Computer graphics production can be a labour-intensive, costly process when one wants to print a hologram of some pre-existing object, such as product shots or automobiles. This limitation greatly impedes the adoption of this technology as a viable medium for real world objects.

The R.A.I.L. (Real-world Acquisition & Image Liaison)  system is configurable for production using high-end digital photographic gear or high-definition & 4K cameras. The software will record living subjects and real objects with absolute precision, adjusting instantaneously for printer specifications. The optically encoded motors will be programmable and will “remember” pre-set compositions, providing exact camera-matched geometry for compositing real-world scenes with computer-generated imagery. This turn-key system can be used by professional photographers, holographers and others, around the world. Images can be FTPed from anywhere to the service bureau in Toronto for printing the next day.

In partnership with STM Holographics, the R.A.I.L. (Real-world Acquisition & Image Liaison) project saw the development of a new technology that enables easy, automated and low-cost capture of live subjects as 3D holographic images.

 

 

 

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Portrait of Margaret Atwood made with the RAIL device. Margaret appears in a tropical forest holding a colourful parrot.
Wednesday, February 22, 2012 - 6:45pm
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