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Case study

Anamorphic content: out of screen 3D illusion

Have you ever seen those images that seem to "pop out" off the wall or off the floor when viewed from a certain angle? Or those paintings that transform into something completely different depending on where you stand? That's called anamorphosis! It's like a trick played on our perception. Artists "distort" images on purpose, creating an optical illusion that makes us see something in 3D where, in reality, there's only a flat image. Anamorphosis is a fascinating artistic technique that shows us how tricky our perception can be. It's an art form that invites us to look at the world from a different perspective and question what is real and what is illusion.

Study about the LED display that was used to promote "Nike Japan’s Air Max Day 3D Billboard", in Tokyo (Japan):

Research using Google Earth to acquire information about the display's dimensions and technical specifications:

Research of the Cross Shinjuku display in Tokyo (1 of 4)
Research of the Cross Shinjuku display in Tokyo (2 of 4)
Research of the Cross Shinjuku display in Tokyo (3 of 4)
Research of the Cross Shinjuku display in Tokyo (4 of 4)

3D recreation, in Blender, for superimposition and mockup purposes:

3D recreation of the display in Blender (1 of 6)
3D recreation of the display in Blender (2 of 6)
3D recreation of the display in Blender (3 of 6)
3D recreation of the display in Blender (4 of 6)
3D recreation of the display in Blender (5 of 6)
3D recreation of the display in Blender (6 of 6)

Simplified visual illustration of my anamorphic content creation process in Blender in three stages:

First: 3D scene capture; Second: Camera Projection into a 3D object with the same geometric shape of the destination display; Third: Projection transferred onto a plane with the final resolution of the destination display.

The three stages of the anamorphic process in Blender

One of my main objectives concerning anamorphic content was the possibility of creating interactive anamorphic content in real time. Something that I have yet to see, except on flat or only slightly curved screens.

As above, in the illustration of the three stages of my work process in Blender, below is also my fully functional prototype projected on an L-shaped curved screen, in real time, using the Godot Engine:

My first attempt to demonstrate an anamorphic animation on a real large scale flat LED display:

Personal demonstration a little more elaborated. This time for a corner LED display:

Dodge Challenger on a corner LED display, in anamorphic

Superimposed 3D mockup over a photo of the display's structure at Simtech's factory, being built for Resorts World Sentosa:

3D mockup of the Dodge Challenger for the Resorts World Sentosa display
3D mockup superimposed on the display structure at Simtech's factory

Anamorphic animation created only as a personal project and for testing purposes on the first anamorphic display built by Simtech for Resorts World Sentosa:

The anamorphic animation on Simtech's first anamorphic display

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