Download the HeavyM projection mapping course and learn digital art

Introduction

You want to teach projection mapping? We here offer you a projection mapping course to provide you with the basics to understand this wonderful creative technique. Discover this digital art form, now just a click away.

In this course, divided into 3 parts, we will present an historical overview of projection mapping, the current techniques of creation and finally simple implementation with accessible equipment. The educational support that completes this article can be downloaded for free.

History of projection mapping

The first public use of projection mapping dates back to the end of the 1960s, in 1969 to be precise. The Disney parks used it for the “Haunted Mansion” attraction in their Disneyland park in California, United States. The idea was to project movie clips on fake heads to make them look real. The attraction is meant to be humorous and entertaining, as Disney did not succeed in making it a genuinely scary one. The special effects were a big success for the audience and were the main reason regarding their appreciation of the attraction.

Afterwards, many artists used it for installations and shows. As an example, Jean-Michel Jarre, French musician, used projection mapping for his concert in Lyon in 1986 with director Jean-François Zurawik.

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Moreover, if we wish to focus specifically on the link between visual and music, we can go back to 1922. It was at that time that Raoul Hausmann, writer, photographer and Dadaist visual artist invented the optophone, a device that transforms visible forms into sound and vice versa.

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The first time projection mapping was studied academically was at the University of North Carolina in the late 1990s. Researchers worked on an “Office of the Future” concept where people were projected into a shared office space.

Since the beginning of the 2000s, projection mapping has experienced a real boom, thanks mainly to the development of computers and more particularly of graphic creation softwares. The creation of visual effects has become accessible, thus reducing the production cost of projection mapping projects. This technique is now enjoying an explosion of popularity, with dedicated festivals such as in Lyon, Lille and all over the world under the term “light festival”. Projection mapping is widely used on building facades. Big brands are also turning to this technique to showcase their products, for new models of cars or perfumes for example.

Download our projection mapping course in PDF format to save time in preparing your workshops.​

The PDF course contains:

  • The history of video mapping
  • The state of the art
  • Inspiring examples
  • The HeavyM method
  • Practical cases to do in class

Projection mapping techniques

Projection mapping is a technique that may seem complex but is increasingly accessible. All the elements are generally within your reach and do not require heavy investments. Let’s first look at the technology.

To carry out a projection mapping, you need :

  • a video projector:  without it, it will be impossible to display the images in actual reality. Be careful that the brightness of the video projector is in accordance with that of the room. In a darkened space, low-powered models with a few hundred lumens may be sufficient. Other characteristics are also important and we recommend our article dedicated to the choice of a video projector.
  • a computer: your personal computer or those of your establishment can be quite suitable if they are not too old. Generally speaking, a computer bought less than 3 years ago is powerful enough to run projection mapping softwares.
  • software: free projection mapping softwares are available on the internet, in full or demo versions. To help you make your choice, download the HeavyM demo version to check compatibility with your hardware. HeavyM demo version is limited regarding the functionalities and it is possible to make a group purchase in order to benefit from interesting prices.

To complete the technological aspect, you will need other elements, rather associated with the creative side:

  • volumes: use the architecture of the room such as walls, ceiling or windows. Recycle objects or create your own volumes with cardboard sheets. The Olga kit is also available to save you time creating volumes. It is a kit of triangles that you can assemble yourself to build an engaging structure that is easy to map with projections.
  • Visuals to show: last but not least, you will need images and videos to project. You can create your own animations with motion design softwares like After Effects or use already existing videos, which you will adapt to your volume. Finally, in HeavyM you have access to a database of animations that you can combine endlessly to create your own identity.

Learn projection mapping with HeavyM

HeavyM is the easiest projection mapping software to use, with a simple interface and a library of built-in visual effects. You only need to know how to use a computer to master the software in a few minutes. Moreover, it is compatible with a maximum of computers. These features make it the ideal software to learn projection mapping in a simple way. It allows you to maximize the time spent on the purely creative aspects.

HeavyM2-interface

The method proposed by HeavyM is known as ” WYSIWYG “, for ” What you see is what you get “. What you project is the exact rendering of what you are drawing, which simplifies the workflow for a projection mapping course. Unlike softwares such as After Effect that require a calculation phase to render the animations, HeavyM generates the visuals live. The main advantage is that there is no interruption in the creation process. You can draw in reality using your projector, without having to anticipate its position. Finally, if you change the position of the elements, it is very easy to reposition the graphic elements with the mouse in a few clicks.

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This creation method allows for a very ludic learning of projection mapping as you ” learn by doing “. The easy-to-use drawing tools allow you to get the hang of it quickly, without spending a lot of time on technical and theoretical points. These more complex points can then be explored in more detail at a later stage, once the basics have been mastered. Numerous workshop options are possible with projection mapping. Take a look at the Education section of the Blog to discover some examples.

With projection mapping, you can easily modulate the duration and difficulty of your workshops. For example, for a young audience, invite them to bring everyday objects so they can be mapped with scans of their drawings or colorings. Origami inspired paper structures are also good projection supports.

Discovery workshop at the Guadeloupe, Paris 19e elementary school @HeavyM

For a more expert audience, spend more time on plastic elements of the projection support. The creation of visual animations using specialized softwares is also a vast subject to be explored. The interaction between the projected light and the support material provides a field for many experiments.

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Finally, for more technically advanced audiences, you can use 3D printing or digital cutting systems to create custom volumes. Using protocols like OSC or MIDI, you can connect HeavyM to creative coding softwares. These interactive art tools allow projections to react to their environment or to original interfaces. By offering your audience to work on their own projects, participants can adapt to their skill level.

Conclusion

Projection mapping is a fairly recent creative technique whose first experiments date back to the second half of the 20th century. Today, its popularity is skyrocketing, thanks in particular to the democratization of the technology required for its implementation. Hardware and software are now affordable with low budgets. With HeavyM, it is very simple to set up a projection mapping workshop, for any audience. Download our projection mapping course in PDF format to save time in preparing your workshops.