The simple answer is yes! While a wall can give you a perfectly smooth and flat surface to work on and give you some decent results, a lot of your projected light will be lost as the wall does not have a reflective surface. Projection screens are purpose built to optimise the light coming from your projector and diffuse it back to you evenly, some screens can even boost the brightness of your projector, this is called gain factor, which we will look a bit more into below.<o:p>
A projector and screen go together like spaghetti and meatballs! While you can have a projector without a screen, they are best together. A screen will help to bring out the bestin your projector and there are a range of fabric types that can even enhance what the projector is outputting. Projection screens have a special reflective coating that ensures that the light is evenly reflected back to you, rather than being absorbed, which can be the case when projecting straight onto a wall. So while you do not have to use a projector screen, we would strongly recommend it to ensure that you get the most from your projector! If you can’t use a projector screen, you can consider using screen paint - this will replicate the reflective surface of a projection screen on your wall. You can take a look at our range of projector paint here.<o:p>
The DIY hologram pyramid is a simple device that can be made by manipulating a sheet of plastic into the shape of a pyramid with its top cut off. The device creates a 3D-like illusion for the viewer and makes an image or video appear as if it were in midair. It works on the principle of Pepper's Ghost.
Theoretically, the principle of holography from the year 1860 is quite simple: By means of a sheet of glass, special lighting, and using the reflective properties of the glass, the impression or optical illusion is created that objects or persons appear and disappear. The technology at that time was, of course, rudimentary due to the weak light sources, such as oil lamps and candles, and the images that appeared were only faintly recognizable or very transparent. For that reason, mainly ghosts, phantoms, or other inexplicable phenomena were shown, which also led to the naming of Pepper’s Ghost – after the inventor John Henry Pepper and his ghostly technology.
Illustration – Pepper’s Ghost now and then
Today, Pepper’s technique of illuminating an object, which is naturally reflected in the glass pane or foil, has been replaced. High-performance projectors reproduce the 3D animated holograms via mirrors or by directly projecting them onto the glass panes – high-quality screens are also used. Modern 3D holograms have only become possible due to the immense progress made in projector technology and the high-performance computers capable of generating the 3D animations.
3D holograms are a completely new, innovative way of presenting products and impressively displaying their USPs to potential customers three-dimensionally. Unlike conventional forms of presentation, such as product films, customers gain a far more realistic, more detailed impression of the products being displayed. Furthermore, holograms are not only useful for displaying concrete products three-dimensionally, they can also realize visual effects such as fire, rain, fog, or smoke, which other forms of presentation are unable to achieve. Even a conventional diagram becomes a genuine eyecatcher when presented as a 3D hologram.<o:p>
3D holograms make it possible to display products in a fully unique way. For instance, a hologram can be used to create a visually appealing and stylistically perfectly coordinated environment that precisely matches the product.
A backdrop of virtual golden rain is an ideal way of displaying precious jewelry such as watches or colliers; it can cause rain or snow to fall on an all-weather tire, or the sun to shine on it; industrial machines can be created live as if by magic before the very eyes of the audience – the possibilities are endless and there are visualization options to suit every product.
No other technology manages to similarly present the advantages of a product like 3D holograms. Observers feel that they are being directly and emotionally appealed to and the incomparable display draws them to the products being presented.
3D holograms are an ideal way of presenting complex material in an illustrative, straightforward manner. In the process, they forge ahead into new, previously unknown dimensions that cannot be generally reached using sketches, drawings, photos, videos, or PowerPoint presentations. They open up completely new options for explaining rather complicated information to potential customers in a simple, easy way. In the end, these are not only a benefit for potential customers, but also constitute an invaluable competitive edge.
In this day and age, in which we can easily be tempted to believe that we’ve already seen everything, it is invaluable to be able to surprise customers with something new. A 3D hologram helps you do so impressively and leads not only to the product presented being permanently embedded in the customer’s memory, but also the company that makes it. Moreover, the use of holograms means the product is presented as being innovative and in touch with the latest trends. With a 3D hologram, you can exploit the unbelievable element of surprise that this trendsetting technology offers, as it generates attention like no other and impresses your customers in the long term.
To display a 3D hologram, three things are usually required:
1. A hologram projector (also known as a holography pyramid or holography display), which makes the holographic 3D projection possible.
2. A 3D hologram that is projected straight into the room and displays the content (in our example, the whiskey that virtually flows into the glass).
3. A real object or product that is displayed by the hologram (in our example the glass).
Hologram projectors are available in various sizes, which are optimally adapted to suit various purposes and products. 3D holograms offer a wide variety of applications.
Holography is the next stage of photography and conventional film and its three-dimensionality creates completely new possibilities for use, such as for product presentation. A 3D hologram displays products, objects, and animated sequences three-dimensionally and enables seemingly real objects or animations to appear to float completely freely in space. Unlike a conventional film on a standard screen, a 3D hologram is visible from all sides, which means the observer can walk around the hologram, enabling an absolutely realistic-looking image to form.<o:p>
A particularly interesting point – unlike 3D television or Virtual Reality, a 3D hologram can be seen by everyone without 3D glasses, which is an incredible advantage for use at trade fairs, exhibitions, and similar events.<o:p>
This method of using 3D holograms opens up a completely new, revolutionary way of presenting products. The products are displayed in a high-quality, exclusive and innovative way and the needs of the corresponding target groups are precisely taken into account at the same time.<o:p>
It is also recommendable to use an acoustic backdrop perfectly coordinated to suit the 3D hologram, including background sound and special sound effects. It lengthens the attention span and sub-consciously embeds the product being presented even more deeply in the minds of the audience.<o:p>