Frank DeFreitas Holography | Allentown, PA | Phone: 610-770-0341 Holographic Mastering with Xographs (lenticulars)Publishing Notes Updated 9 October 2011 Mission Statement: This project proposes to create 3D laser holograms from 1903 Ives' parallax stereogram, autostereoscopic barrier, and xograph / lenticular master images, thereby eliminating H1 master holograms, including those made from pulsed lasers.  A: The photo (click to enlarge) shows a rough (test) 3D hologram generated from the laser-illuminated image of a 1960's 3D Xograph (lenticular) postcard. The upper image shows the final hologram (best of several); the left-hand lower image shows detail of the postcard; and the right-hand lower image shows the holography table with the best shot I could take in the laser-lit lab area. Q: What is a xograph? A: The Encyclopedia Britannica states: "In the 1960s a three-dimensional print was developed, essentially an illustration bearing two views, superimposed, of the same image taken from slightly different angles, on a transparent mount striped with a multitude of imperceptible parallel strips (a cylindrically embossed lenticular screen is placed in contact with the film and a shutter behind the lens is arranged to scan the subject during exposure.). On account of these strips, each eye, looking at the print from a different angle, sees only one image. The three-dimensional illusion is produced when this binocular vision is interpreted by the brain." Q: And how is this related to three-dimensional holograms? A: In essence, and in the test made here in my lab, the Xograph lenticular acted as the 'master' hologram, although a Xograph or lenticular is not a hologram at all. It functioned just the way an H1 hologram acts to create an H2 copy hologram. Q: What is the benefit of the Xograph acting as a hologram master? A: The benefits would be several fold. For instance, these lenticular images are now being made using inexpensive desk top PC's and printers. In other words, just about everyone has the ability to make one right in their own home just by getting the materials to do so. Fuji has a print service for owners of their new 3D digital camera, so they can be delivered right to your door. A master hologram is no longer needed, since the hologram master is replaced by the Xograph. And, perhaps most importantly, scenes that can not be made into a hologram directly, such as outdoor or shots remote to the lab, can now be brought into the lab via the Xograph / lenticular or parallax barrier system / autostereoscopic screen. Q: What are the disadvantages to this method? A: Well, there are always negatives associated with positives, but in this case they are minimal. One example would be that the resulting hologram would just be a duplicate of the original Xograph, so why make a hologram at all? And that is a valid point. For instance, the parallax present in a full-method hologram portrait (one made from a pulsed laser hologram master) will always be greater than one generated from a Xograph or an A-S screen. But that doesn't mean that the resulting hologram cannot be unique unto itself, nor does it mean that it doesn't leave creative ways of using the Xographs. Plus, people love holograms. Period. A hologram is probably the coolest thing in the world to be in. Probably the biggest drawback is that the hologram is going to contain all of the lighting issues that any hologram has. In other words, with the hologram copy, if the lighting is not just right, the image is nearly worthless. In fact, this is where the original Xograph has the advantage over the holographic copy. But that has always been the price to pay for having a hologram made and displayed -- so it is nothing new. Q: What potential uses do you see down the road? A: There's definitely some potential here -- although I'm not sure it would go beyond instructional value, or a good DIY project for amateur / hobbyists. Once completely worked out, however, it does have the potential to duplicate any vintage lenticular as a hologram, or any newly made lenticular, for that matter. If one could create a new, modern, lenticular portrait, then one would be able to use that lenticular portrait to create a hologram copy -- bypassing the need for a pulsed laser system to create the master, providing of course, that the quality of the final hologram copy can be brought up to standard. And I think that we can get pretty darn close, because modern methods are creating extraordinary images with very little intrusion from the lenticular screen overlay. If the overlay isn't visible in the lenticular piece itself, it is not going to be visible in the final hologram. All of a sudden 3D holograms could be made of friends, family, loved ones, pets, vacations, boats, cars, you name it. Once again, it is important to remember that with this lenticular master to hologram copy method, parallax would be limited to the same amount that would be present in the master lenticular. The holographic copy is not going to add anything to the dimensional aspects of the original. Therefore, the hologram may be perceived as just a gimmick, since it is only a reproduction of what already existed in the first place. But people spend a lot of money on gimmicks, just to have that certain something that someone else doesn't have -- it is human nature, and if you understand human nature, you have better than half the battle won. Q: What other potential uses or methods do you see? A: I am also very interested in the use of the new parallax barrier system / autostereocopic screens, such as those recently released with the Fuji FinePix Real 3D W3 camera, and their new stand-alone viewing screen. This screen could take the place of a standard LCD panel, and holograms would be able to be recorded directly, even live. Q: Is there any past history with this? A: I'd like to say that I have no idea if this has ever been done before, or to what extent or form it may have been done, and I am in no way making such claim as to be doing something that has not been done before, etc., etc. On the other hand, this isn't very difficult to figure out. I can't imagine that someone, somewhere, never used a xograph / lenticular in the capacity of replacing their master H1 hologram. But who knows, right? It's not what you do, it's what you do with what you do that is important to me (if that makes any sense). And, obviously, if this has been done before, no one did anything with it. update: I have received the following from my holo friend Bob Hess in California, and I include it here as an FYI to everyone:
Q: Any last technical thoughts on the process? A: Well, a point to remember is that although the visual image of the 3D Xograph / lenticular appears 3D to the eye, in actuality it is a flat surface (plane) with multi-perspective 2D images, overlain with a lenticular screen. Therefore, one is not projecting / focusing a 3D volumetric image per se from the Xograph surface (master). It is a 2D (flat) plane of multi-perspectives interlaced. This is quite different from an H1 laser transmission hologram master of a 3D object, where the reconstructed optical wavefront itself occupies a given volume of space. This has both its advantages, and disadvantages. One advantage is that the copy is being recorded right at the emulsion, and at that plane only. Therefore, without a real or virtual segment of the image, it reconstructs very cleanly in a wider range of lighting conditions. Even though the viewer is seeing a 3D image, it is actually a 2D plane providing several flat perspectives (it isn't a multiplex, integral or stereogram, however). In other words, something perceived in the distance is not really in the distance when it comes to reconstruction. One does give up the variations in image planing that is the hallmark of many H1 to H2 transfers. What you have in the master Xograph, you'll have in the resulting hologram. But that can be adjusted during the preparation phase, before the Xograph is even printed. As mentioned before, the benefit is that one does not have to have an H1 hologram at all to serve as the master with this. One can make a great lenticular portrait, even using their own computer and printer, and then use that as the master to create a hologram copy, as was done here with the Xograph from the 1960's. Q: What are your next steps? A: Well, I hope to have a little fun with it. It has been fun so far. I have the stereo cameras, even a quad lens camera for lenticulars. I'd like to see what potential I'd have with the Hologram of the Moon, now that I could transfer it from a Xograph / lenticular to a white-light viewable hologram. Sort of a Moon 2.0 version that makes it more accessible to the public, compared to a laser-viewable hologram. I think I'll continue to experiment now that Fall has finally arrived, and Winter is not too far behind. It is the perfect time to begin. I'll continue to update this section, providing I have anything to update it with. Or someone can get onto my mailing list, which is where I make updates. More information on doing that can be found on this contact page. -- Frank DeFreitas Where Do You Want To Go? . . . HoloKids | How To Make | Ask a Question | Holography Workshops | Collecting Moon Hologram | Holographic Light Art | Links | Careers | Online Exhibit Laser Pointer Holography | Holo Podcast | Holographic Universe Holo Videos | Civil War Holography | Contact Information Allentown, Pennsylvania Holography Home |
