The 2010 Freshmen Imaging Project

Each year, the Innovative Freshmen Experience (IFE) focuses on a different imaging system to research, design, and build in time to exhibit at ImagineRIT. The focus of the 2010 freshmen imaging project was a Polynomial Texture Mapping (PTM) device.

What are PTMs?
PTMs are a type of interactive digital image that allow users to view an object from an infinite number of light source angles. This allows the user to uncover hidden textures, blemishes, and other surface features not visible using traditional photographic techniques. PTMs have uses in historical document and artifact imaging, forensics, dermatology, and more. Some example PTMs can be viewed on the Hewlett-Packard Labs website.

How do you create a PTM?
PTMs are created by taking many photographs of a static object from a fixed position using varying light angles. The individual image files are then run through software which models the luminance values at each pixel in the image and generates the final interactive PTM image. While this may sound like a straighforward process, there is no such thing as an "instruction manual" or assembly kit.

What did the IFE2010 students do?
The IFE students reached a number of milestones throughout the 2010-2011 acadmic year:

• Research PTMs: how they work, how to make them, what to use them for
• Design a robust system to capture images at multiple light angles, determining:
  • Structure - How to construct a dome or other setup to hold lights at different angles
  • Illumination - What type of lights to use, considering brightness, temperature, color, etc.
  • Capture (camera) - What type of camera, lens, and capture settings to use
  • Electronics - How to wire up and control the lighting and camera systems
  • Software - How to automate the system and process the imagery
• Construct the PTM system
• Demonstrate the PTM system at ImagineRIT
• Perform actual research - The PTM system and 4 IFE students traveled to the Boston Public Library just after the conclusion of the academic year. (Pictures:  5/25/11; 5/26/11)

Progress was documented throughout and can be viewed at the IFE2010 wiki.

What's next?
IFE2010 students are continuing to push the boundaries of their PTM research. They are next hoping to take PTM technology into a new realm: multispectral imaging. This has never been done before, and there is already an industry demand for such technology. "Phase II" of the project, as it is currently known, is already under way.

Check out the videos below made by some IFE2010 students!

What are PTMs?

History of PTMs

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