Projection mapping turns physical objects into display surfaces for video

Projection mapping (also called video mapping) is a technique that treats a physical object — a sculpture, a building facade, a stage prop — as the display surface for a video projector, rather than projecting onto a flat rectangular screen. The projected image is warped and masked so it aligns exactly with the object’s real geometry, so light appears to belong to the surface itself: edges glow, panels animate, a facade seems to crack open. This distinguishes it from ordinary projection, where any misalignment simply looks like a crooked picture; in mapping, alignment to the target’s shape is the whole point. It is a core VJ/live-visuals discipline for installations and shows.

Examples

Projecting animated textures onto a 2m sculpture so each face lights independently; mapping content onto a building facade at a light festival so windows and cornices animate in place.

Assessment

Explain how projection mapping differs from projecting a video onto a normal flat screen, and why alignment to the target object’s geometry is essential.