3-D Projection Mapping

Digital mapping on Notre Dame de la Treille was a show in itself. The mapping displayed everything from large hands appearing to sketch the building to leafy green plants sprouting out of the facade. At the end, the church lit up like a pinball machine in bright colors. Throughout the show, sound effects included church bells, ghostly-sounding choirs, and creaky doors.

For the United Arab Emirates’ 40th anniversary in December, Obscura Digital created a series of elaborate projections that illuminated the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi. The mosque is 350 feet tall and 650 feet wide; a team of more than 50 people worked on the project.

Incoming election results lend themselves well to the use of projection mapping. In 2008, NBC superimposed an interactive map on the ice skating rink at Rockefeller Center and projected the number of electoral college votes on one of the surrounding buildings.

This year's awards saw the introduction of video mapping, a projection-centric component used to introduce each of the category nominees and confirmed award recipients.

Hennessy Black's digital bonfire used digital mapping technology to recreate a live bonfire. It included four panels with a 3D video fire, as well as crackling sounds and incense to provide the aroma of a campfire.

Box Top Productions designed the three-dimensional mappings projected on the walls of the trading floor.

The Warner Brothers International Television Distribution gala filled the Burbank lot with digital mapping, costumed entertainers, and an array of pyrotechnic stunts and decor.

On the show floor of the Magic expo, two blank mannequins were mapped with 3-D projections of items from Lil Wayne's Trukfit clothing line.

As a new feature this year, Dell incorporated 3-D projection mapping into videos and transitions during the three keynote sessions.

Projection mapping—also known as 3-D mapping—has become a wildly popular tool for event marketers, and a Microsoft Research project extends the use of that technology even further. Designed as a form of immersive entertainment, a prototype dubbed IllumiRoom captures the forms and layout of a room via a Kinect for Windows camera and, with a projector, expands the visuals beyond the screen in real time. The system can even make it look like a room is moving.

The Council of Fashion Designers of America’s 2003 awards featured dramatic projections by Scharff Weisberg on a white, minimalist set, a clean yet impactful look the show updated with digital mapping projections in its 2011 iteration. 

Bravo's speech-bubble-shaped logo was also found in the 3-D backdrop for the presentation. Three-dimensional projection mapping technology cast moving graphics and videos onto this structure.

The 3-D projection mapping began after a thank-you speech from John St.