Glossary

Projection mapping

Projecting video onto irregular 3D surfaces — buildings, objects, stages — so the image fits their shape.

Also called video mapping or spatial augmented reality. Instead of a flat screen, the content is warped and masked to the geometry of the target, so windows, columns and edges become part of the animation. It ranges from a single projector on a sculpture to dozens of stacked projectors on a cathedral.

Related terms

• Video mappingAnother name for projection mapping, common in Europe and in festival programmes.
• WarpingDistorting the output image so it lands correctly on the target surface.
• Facade mappingProjection mapping onto the front of a building, the classic large-scale format of light f…
• 3D mappingMapping content that exploits a surface's depth to create illusions of movement, collapse …