To all of us living in the modern world, it seems only logical that storing objects digitally takes up a lot less space than storing them physically. Unfortunately, digital is digital and physical is physical, and ne’er the twain shall meet – for now, anyway. If this 3D reconstruction sphere being developed by NEK continues to get better and better at creating precise digital copies of objects placed inside of it, we may just be using this method to print out perfect 3D replicas in a matter of years.

The OrcaM (Orbital Camera System) works by using seven cameras, very precise lighting conditions and some stellar specialized software. An object is placed inside the sphere and the sphere is sealed…and then something almost magical begins to happen. The machinery inside the sphere whirs and clicks and starts “learning” every minuscule detail of the object without touching it even once.

Of course, the current contact-free method could only be used to reproduce a rather simple object. A piece of machinery, for example, would contain too many invisible internal parts for the OrcaM to see and capture. But for items like the vase in the above images, every last millimeter of the real-world object is captured and reproduced flawlessly in digital form.

What good is this technology – other than performing really cool party tricks? This digital imaging system is so accurate that it could be used to produce copies of priceless relics for scientists to study without fear of harming the original. Valuable items could be offered in digital form for potential buyers to examine prior to an auction. Objects could be placed into a digital museum, or simply scanned into a game like Second Life. There are a million possibilities, all of them completely fascinating.

The post Reproduction Sphere Produces Perfect Copies of 3D Objects first appeared on Gajitz.

We’ve all wondered what it would be like to have a different face, even if it’s just for a day. Would like be different if we all looked like George Clooney or Eva Mendes? How about if we could change appearance at will, putting on and taking off any face without the way-too-complicated face transplant procedure? The Faces project from Arturo Castro is giving us a taste of what it might be like to look different for just a little while.

Castro’s face substitution technique works in real time to overlay a different countenance on top that of the user. Using a photograph of someone else, special software creates a mesh that matches the face’s contours and features. The mesh is superimposed on the user’s face and another bit of clever software interjects color and blends the old and new faces. While the effect is impressive, there are a few rough patches that are ultimately very noticeable.

Kyle McDonald took the idea and improved the blending, which has the overall effect of making the facial replacement almost too good. With the smoother blending it is sometimes difficult to tell any substitution has happened at all, which is way creepier than an obvious replacement.

The post Look at You Now: Replace Your Face With Anyone Else’s first appeared on Gajitz.

If we’re being honest, not many of us would be able to say that we like what we see in the mirror each and every time we look. What if we had a magic mirror that would erase those imperfections and make our reflections as beautiful as we’ve always wished them to be? Two researchers at the University of London have developed a sort of magic mirror that smooths out facial features in real time to show a more beautiful version of ourselves.

Of course, it’s not so much a mirror as it is a webcam attached to a PC running the duo’s custom software. The software creates a 3D map of the user’s face and replaces objectionable facial features with more pleasant ones. According to the creators of the project, the technology could one day be used as a non-invasive way to try on potential plastic surgery before taking the big plunge.

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If you’ve spent any time exploring the photography editing-as-art website worth1000.com, you may have seen and been struck by the surreal work of Jan Oliehoek. His photo manipulations deal with the fantastic, the fanciful, and the freaky, and they’re all visually striking.

What started off as a hobby for Dutch artist Oliehoek has become something of a passion. He began by submitting entries for the daily photo manipulation contests at worth1000.com. When he started winning again and again, he realized that he was pretty good at this little hobby. Though he hasn’t made a career of it and considers photo manipulation still a fun thing to do in his spare time, Oliehoek does occasionally take on photo projects for interested parties.

Oliehoek’s photo manipulation pieces deal with subjects are always entertaining, and sometimes a little disturbing. In the past, he’s only used stock photographs at the basis for his art. He hopes to move on to learn 3D modeling and rendering so that he can create his bizarre worlds on his own, without relying on manipulating other people’s photos.

Oliehoek holds a Master’s Degree in Biology, so it makes sense that many of his subjects are animals. He has received emails from people who assumed that he was conducting actual genetic experiments with animals after seeing his photographs – they opposed his work and asked him to stop.

One of Oliehoek’s goals is to come up with concepts for his pieces without using the topics of photo manipulation contests. He hopes to create pictures of his own from scratch, either by taking photographs himself or using 3D modeling techniques to build fantastical worlds from the depths of his imagination.

The post Daring Digital Design: Fantastic Photo Art Manipulation first appeared on Gajitz.