3-D holographic images deliver impressive realism, need no glasses
by Margery Conner, Technical Editor -- EDN, April 8, 2010
Zebra Imaging has developed 3-D holographic images that can replace expensive, bulky, and time-consuming models at construction sites. You can put these displays into a briefcase, hop onto a plane, and show the on-site construction foreman just how a project should look.
The company burns each image into photopolymer film with intersecting laser beams. Each holographic image starts with a 3-D digital model. If no such model exists, the company can create it by scanning geospatial terrain, digitizing an object, or creating a digital model from scratch using computer graphics or engineering software.
For geospatial applications, terrain data may exist for a region of interest. For architecture and other applications, Zebra accepts many 3-D digital file formats, including those exported by Catia, Maya, Alias, 3D Studio Max, and AutoCAD software. After Zebra receives a 3-D digital model, the customer specifies the size, color, flexibility or rigidity, and opaque- or transparent-mounting options for the hologram.
Imaging times for 2×2- and 2×3-foot tiles are approximately two and three hours, respectively. The cost of a hologram depends on color, quantity, and size. Prices start at $499 for a 12×12-in. hologram, $699 for a 12×18-in. version, and as much as $1999 for a 24×36-in. hologram. Zebra can also mass-produce the images.
