The 3D Holographic Projection Technology Based on Three-dimensional
Computer Graphics
Li Weiying
Department of Digital Media Arts，Shanghai JianQiao College，Shanghai China
lwy@mail.gench.com.cn
Abstract
This paper made a more detailed description of 3D
holographic projection, and explored the principle and
technology about holographic projection based on
computer three-dimensional graphics. It will have some
reference value for the future development.
1. Introduction
We can often see the three-dimensional holographic
communication technology in science fiction movies,
using the principle of three-dimensional computer
graphics, and the distant person or thing can been
projected in the air in the form of three-dimensional.
With the development of science, all the equipment are
miniaturization and precision, while the display device
cannot match, and people have a demand for a new
display technology to solve the problem. The 3D
holographic projection is precisely as this role.
2. 3D Graphics Principles
Since the computer graphics applications, the role
played becomes increasingly evident in various fields.
The computer screen is two-dimensional coordinate,
and how marked the space objects in the real world on
the computer screen? This is achieved through the
pipeline of three-dimensional observation: the steps of
computer-generated for three-dimensional scene view
are somewhat similar to the photo shooting process.
Firstly, place the camera corresponds to a viewing
position; then need to determine the direction of the
camera, that is, a camera which direction and how to
determine the upward direction of the photo; press the
shutter, in accordance with the camera “reductions
window"(the lens) size to trim the scene, and the light
project the camera film from the visible surface. The
general processing steps are for the three-dimensional
scene and the scene changing to device coordinates:
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modeling transformation--observing the
transformation--the projection transformation
--standardization of transformation and
clipping--viewport transformation. Once the scene
model being in the world coordinate system, the scene
will be to transited to the selected observation
coordinate system. Observation coordinate system
defines the observed parameters, including the position
and orientation of the projection plane (observation
plane), and the projection plane can be seen as a camera
film plane. Then,it is defined the window of the
two-dimensional reduction on the projection plane with
the camera corresponding to, and established the area of
three-dimensional reduction. The area of reduction is
called the View volume, which shape and size depends
on to reduce the size of the reducing window,
projection, and the boundary location of the selected
viewing direction. The observed coordinates of scene
will be changed into the coordinates of the projection
plane by the projection operation. The object is mapped
to the standardized coordinate system, and all part of
the observed in vitro will be clipped. The cutting
operation can be after the coordinate transformation
device-independent completing (the world coordinate
system to the standardized coordinate system). In this
way, the coordinate transformation can be combined in
order to maximize efficiency.
The most basic operation used in the above model
transformation is the geometric transformation. The
geometric transformation is also known as modeling
transformation, and it is generally used to construct the
scene or given the type described with complex
object-level of made from multiple parts combination.
For example, a car made from the front, body, wheels,
engine parts, each part can be described as second-class
combination, and so on, layer by layer down in the
hierarchy description. Therefore, the car can be
described by those parts and subsidiaries in each part of
the "modeling" transformation, and these
transformations are pointed out how those components
apply to the design of this car; the other hand, the
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geometric transformation can be used to describe the
sequence of animation and the object in the scene, how
to move and observe them simply from another angle.
3. 3D Holographic Projection System
Principle of Three-dimensional Graphics
The holographic projection is a kind of 3D
technology of without wearing glasses, and viewers can
see the three-dimensional virtual character. This
technology is more in some museum applications.
Three-dimensional holographic projection equipment is
not the use of digital technology, but the projection
equipment projects the different angle image to the
holographic projection membrane, so that you can see
other images that are not belong to your own point of
view, and thus achieve a true three-dimensional
holographic image.
360 degree phantom imaging is a three-dimensional
screen that imaging is suspended in mid-air imaging in
the real, creating magic and real atmosphere, and the
effect is peculiar, with a strong sense of depth. The
object can be conjunct with the phantom in the air, also
be available with touch screen interaction with the
audience. Holographic interactive display system is a
combination with nanometre touch sensitive membrane
and scattering rear-projection imaging technology, and
it is a novel and extraordinary presentation. Visitors can
interact with holographic display glass, and be given a
mysterious and magical fantasy feeling and provided
the modern, stylish, interactive tools for the query of
the display.
3D holographic projection is the technology that
record and reproduce objects in real 3D image with
using of interference and diffraction theory.
Holographic projection schematic is been shown in
Figure 1.
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Figure 1. Holographic projection schematic
The first step is that record the object light wave
information by interference principle, namely, the
shooting process: the subject under laser irradiation
forms a diffuse object beam; another part of the laser as
a reference beam shines on the holographic film, and
the object beam is been superimposed and produce
interference, converts the phase and amplitude of object
light waves to the intensity in space changes, thus
records all the information of the object light waves
with using of contrast and spacing in interference
stripes. The film, recording the interference stripes,
after developing and fixing handler, will become a
hologram or holographic photo.
The second step is by diffraction theory to that
reproduce the object light wave information, which is
the imaging process: the hologram is like a complex
grating, in coherent laser, the sine-hologram diffraction
light waves of a linear record of generally give two the
original image (also known as the initial image) and the
conjugate image. The image of reproduction has the
strong three-dimensional sense, and a real visual effect.
Every part of the hologram recorded the light of the
object, so in principle, every part can reproduce the
original image, a number of different images can be
recorded on a film by multiple-exposure and showed
each other without disturbing.
Holographic projection technology is holography
displayed reversely. In essence, it is the formation of
three-dimensional images on the air or a special
three-dimensional lens. This technology breaks through
the limitations of traditional sound, light, power, and
the image is color, the contrast and clarity are very
high. Unlike the flat screen projection displaying the
stereoscopic perception only in the two-dimensional
surface by the effect of perspective and shadows,
holographic projection technology is
the real rendering of 3D images, which different sides
 Stripe
Computer
Calculation
process
Mathematical model
of three-dimensional
objects
Figure 2. Computer-generated holographic schematic
of the image can be viewed from any angle of 360
degree. Decorative and practicality are blended, and the
strong sense of space and perspective are the most
attractive place of this technique. The holographic
projection is expected to become the ultimate show
solutions beyond the current 3D technology.
The computer-generated holographic principle can
be including the calculation process and the reproduce,
which shown in Figure 2.
The calculation process transforms the
three-dimensional information into a holographic stripe,
which there are two methods based on interference and
diffraction. The interference and diffraction are all the
basic nature of light. Interference is more than two (or
two) light waves with the same frequency, the same
vibration direction and the constant phase difference, in
the superposition of the space, and forms the constant
strengthening and weakening in the overlap area.
Diffraction is that the light waves display the derivative
phenomenon in the communication process through the
edges or porosity of the obstacles. The greater the
wavelength, the smaller the pore, the exhibition
derivative phenomenon is more obvious.
The reproduce process is the holographic stripes
generated by the spatial light modulator (SLM)
modulated the incident light, and converts stripes into
visible three-dimensional images. In essence, the
calculated hologram information produced and
reproduced by computer-controlled graphics device on
the physical media.
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Incident laser
High-resolution
spatial light line
modulator Reproduce
process
Narrow lens
Image space
Into the eyes
4. The 3D Holographic Projection
Technology Types
There are the following categories about the
holographic projection technology broadly:
4.1. In Massachusetts, a 29-year-old and technology
graduate, called Chad Dyne invented a air projection
and interactive technology, which is a milestone of the
display technology, and it can wall project images with
interactive features in the airflow. The technology is the
principle of the mirage, and the image is projected on
the water vapor, and it can form images the strong level
and three-dimensional sense on the molecular vibration
is not balanced.
4.2. Science and Technology, the Japanese
company, had invented the 3D images by the laser
beam projecting the entity. This technique is that the
mixed gas of nitrogen and oxygen, when they disperse
in the air, becomes the hot syrupy substance, and forms
a transient 3D image in the air. This approach is
achieved by a small blasting constantly in the air.
4.3. the researchers in the Innovation and
Technology Institute, University of South California,
announced that they successfully developed a
360-degree holographic display, and this technique is
that the images are projected on a high-speed rotating
mirror, which achieve the three-dimensional images.
4.4. a pseudo-holographic projection is applied in
commercial purposes, which has two categories: the
projector directly is rear projection on holographic
projection membrane, and the other, a projector or other
display light is refracted 45 degrees imaging in the
holographic projection on the phantom, which imaging
results are relatively bright and dazzling, but the cost is
relatively much higher and the site constraints are also
more.

5. Conclusion
The three-dimensional graphics is the base of
principle for the 3D holographic projection technology.
It can be said that these technologies are in
development in many countries. It is no exaggerated to
say that this technology contains the future, and he who
first use of this technology will come first into the ranks
of advanced technology in the future.

6. Acknowledgment
This work was supported by the Shanghai
“Computer Science and Technology” Bachelor
Education Platform under Grant No.GD2C0206. The
author would like to thank Pro. Liu Jingao from East
China Normal University for his support and
encouragement during the course of this research.

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