What is the "holoshop" on the hologram image?
What is a hologram?
A hologram is often described as a three-dimensional picture. While this is a
good way to get a general idea of what you would experience looking at one,
holography has very little in common with traditional photography.
While a photograph has an actual physical image, a hologram picture contains
information about the size, shape, brightness and contrast of the object being
recorded. This information is stored in a very microscopic and complex pattern
of interference. The interference pattern is made possible by the properties of
light generated by a laser diode module.
The light reflected by a three dimensional object forms a very complicated
pattern that is also three dimensional. In order to record the whole pattern,
the light used must be highly directional and must be of one color, such as the green light created with a green laser module. Such light
is called coherent. Because the light from these laser modules are one color, and leaves the
laser with one wave in perfect step with all others, it is perfect for making
holograms.
When you shine a light on the hologram, the information that is stored as an
interference pattern takes the incoming light and re-creates the original
optical wave front that was reflected off the object. Your eyes and brain now
perceives the object as being in front of you once again. This is true of whatever surface the hologram is printed on, such as a hologram sticker or a 3D hologram picture.
What is holography?
Holography is a technique which allows the recording and playback of true,
three-dimensional images. The image is called a hologram. Unlike other 3D
"pictures", 3D holograms provide what is called "parallax". Parallax allows the
viewer to move back and forth, up and down, and see different perspectives -- as
if the object were actually there.
Are all holograms the same?
There are many different types and styles of holograms -- each requiring
it's own individual technique for production. Some holograms require a hologram laser
to view them, others rely only on regular light. There are holograms that
show motion, and also holograms that change images as you move by them.
Hologram art can be in full-color, change color and even project their image
out in space toward you when you view them.
As stated above, each hologram picture has it's own individual technique when
made. Some holographers know all of the techniques, others specialize in
only one. The easiest hologram to make is the "single-beam" hologram. Many
holograms that you see in stores and museums are "split-beam" holograms --
many of them copied from holographic masters.
The most common and more economical holograms for mass production are
"embossed" holograms which, in simplistic terms, are silver or
metallic foils with holographic images etched into a foil by hologram lasers. These
holograms are viewed with regular light (white light) and often used for
security holograms or promotional products. The "embossed" holograms offer
the benefit of multiple colors, yet lack the full three dimensional parallax
that can be obtained in film, photopolymer or glass plate holograms.
Although more expensive for mass production, film or glass plate (white
light) holograms are the most common choice for artists or hobbyists and
adversely, offer a lower cost for production for single or limited
production copies. The film and glass holograms also provide a truer three
dimensional image with parallax producing an image that is more accurate in
representation or re-creation of the subject matter. Although more realistic
based on their parallax or stunning three dimensional views, the film
holograms are most commonly produced in an amber, green or red mono-chrome
color. More advanced techniques, artisans, and holographers can produce colors
in glass and/or film holograms for the most visually realistic and
spectacular holograms, however, as expected, these are the most expensive
and difficult to produce.
Other holograms that can only be viewed or projected by hologram lasers are not
quite as common based on their commercial market or interest. The laser
viewable holograms are typically used for industrial applications,
demonstrations, research, education and advanced science.
Although there are video image projection methods that can mimic the
hologram image projections depicted in Stars Wars, Star Trek and other
science fiction movies, the film magic of Hollywood has yet to become a
reality (at least to our knowledge).
Are special lights required to view holograms?
The holograms sold in our hologram shop are "white-light reflection"
holograms. Reflection holograms are popular because you can mat and frame
them, and hang them on your wall. In order to view your reflection hologram art,
you must provide a light source to light up the hologram. This light source
is commonly located on your ceiling, such as track lighting. If you do not
have track lighting, you may also use one of the inexpensive "clip-on"
lamps.
You should place your 3D hologram on the wall at a comfortable height --
taking into consideration both adults and children. It is much easier for a
tall person to bend down a little than it is for a shorter person to stretch
up to see. A good starting point would be to have the center of your
hologram placed between 5-feet 4-inches and 5-feet 8-inches on your wall,
measured from the base of the wall.
Your light source should come into the hologram at a starting angle of
approx. 45-degrees. Different holograms light up at different angles, but
45-degrees is a good place to start. Have someone hold the light in place,
and then view the hologram from around 6 feet or so away from the wall.
Adjust the incoming angle until you get the best view of the hologram.
It is very important that you provide the right bulb to light the
hologram. The best bulb to use is a clear halogen bulb, purchased at any
home supply center. If a halogen bulb is not possible, you should use a
clear incandescent bulb. It is important that the bulb is clear and not
frosted. A frosted light source will create a blurred hologram -- as will
any fluorescent lighting.
If you'd like to display your hologram on a lamp table, replace your lamp
bulb with a clear bulb and have the hologram angled at a 45-degree angle.
While this will not give the quality effect of having the hologram on the
wall with track lighting, it will allow you to enjoy your hologram if the
other methods are not possible.
How do I view a hologram?
The holograms we sell are "white-light reflection" holograms. Reflection
holograms are popular because you can mat and frame them, and hang them on
your wall. In order to view your reflection hologram, you must provide a
light source to light up the hologram picture. This light source is commonly located
on your ceiling, such as track lighting. If you do not have track lighting,
you may also use one of the inexpensive "clip-on" lamps.
You should place your hologram on the wall at a comfortable height --
taking into consideration both adults and children. It is much easier for a
tall person to bend down a little than it is for a shorter person to stretch
up to see. A good starting point would be to have the center of your
hologram placed between 5-feet 4-inches and 5-feet 8-inches on your wall,
measured from the base of the wall.
Your light source should come into the hologram at a starting angle of
approx. 45-degrees. Different holograms light up at different angles, but
45-degrees is a good place to start. Have someone hold the light in place,
and then view the hologram from around 6 feet or so away from the wall.
Adjust the incoming angle until you get the best view of the hologram.
It is very important that you provide the right bulb to light the
hologram. The best bulb to use is a clear halogen bulb, purchased at any
home supply center. If a halogen bulb is not possible, you should use a
clear incandescent bulb. It is important that the bulb is clear and not
frosted. A frosted light source will create a blurred hologram -- as will
any fluorescent lighting.
If you'd like to display your hologram on a lamp table, replace your lamp
bulb with a clear bulb and have the hologram angled at a 45-degree angle.
While this will not give the quality effect of having the hologram on the
wall with track lighting, it will allow you to enjoy your hologram if the
other methods are not possible.
How are holograms made?
The holograms in our store and gallery are made in professional
holography laboratories. A typical lab consists of a hologram LASER, a
vibration-isolated optical table, lenses, mirrors, optical holders and other
assorted equipment. You will also find a dark-room area for processing of
the hologram.
With amateur and hobbyist holography, you will find the same equipment
but it will usually be made by the person who has the lab. It's possible to
make very inexpensive holography equipment that rivals the professional
equipment in performance. With the advent of using inexpensive laser diode modules,
it is now possible for more people to become involved with holography.
To find our more about making your own holograms, amateur and hobbyist
holography, please take a look at our holography books section for excellent
publications including, Shoebox Holography, or Holography Handbook.
Frank DeFreitas, author of Shoebox Holography and provider of
content for this Hologram FAQs reference information, also operates an
excellent web site supporting the industry at
www.holoworld.com.
The www.holoworld.com
web site offers a wealth of information, references and great support for
education, events, industry research and developments with a Holotalk Radio
Talk Show and email newsletter.
How can I make my own holograms?
Making your own holograms has never been easier. Since
December of 1998, it's been possible to create hologram art without the need of
expensive lasers and other optical equipment. Inexpensive
laser diode modules have
replaced traditional lasers as described in
Shoebox
Holography. These laser diode modules can be
purchased in our
Laser
Diodes & Modules section for as little as $12 which are pre-wired to
connect to a power source, making it quick and simple to get started!
Using these inexpensive diodes, you can created a system which
will allows you to create holograms right in your own home, school or office.
As the name implies, the
Shoebox
Holography system is so portable, it fits right into a shoebox. This system will allow you
to put together your own holography set-up for less than $50, including the hologram laser.
If you are looking to produce larger holograms, the
Holography Handbook is an excellent guide with an economical
approach utilizing many items around the house for creating a holography
lab.
What are Holograms Used For?
Holograms have many uses in art, science and technology. You may find
holograms on certain product packaging at your local store. Several
magazines have featured holograms on their covers. Holograms are found on
credit cards, drivers licenses, and even clothing to help stop
counterfeiting. You can buy a hologram watch or hologram sun glasses, as well as countless other items with holograms on them. It is possible to take flat medical images, such as a CAT
scan and have the final image as a three-dimensional hologram.
Computer-generated holograms allow engineers and designers to visually see
their creations like never before.
Engineers also use holography to test for fractures and also for quality
control during manufacturing. It is called holographic non-destructive
testing. Holograms are used in many airplanes, both civilian and military.
These holograms provide the pilot with critical information while looking
through the cockpits window. It is called a heads-up display. Heads-up
displays are now available in certain automobiles as well.
Artists use holography for artistic expression. Many artists feel that
exploring the three-dimensional space and pure light that holography offers
allows them to convey images and messages that were never before possible
with "traditional" media.
One day photons will be traveling through your computer circuits the way
electrons do now. When that day comes, holograms will be used to store the
information. This is called holographic data storage. With HDS, you can
store the entire contents of the Library of Congress in the area the size of
a sugar cube.
Do you make holograms?
Holograms & Lasers International produced holograms and operated a ruby
pulse laser lab specializing in hologram art, pictures and portraits until 1998. Due to
rising costs of holographic materials, shortage of suppliers and lab
operation expenses, production was discontinued however if you need
holograms produced for a special application, trade show displays, security,
consumer products or promotional products we can refer you to industry
associates based on your needs or you can purchase the
Holography Marketplace publication which is an excellent resource guide
to the suppliers and production companies in the industry. We will be
posting a list of production companies based on their specialties in the
near future and in the meantime, you can email your request to
sales@holoshop.biz.
It is worth noting that suppliers for holographic materials have improved
and costs reduced over the past few years making if more affordable for both
commercial applications, amateur holographers and hobbyists. There have also
been great advancements in holography for consumer, commercial, technology
and scientific applications over the past years as the seemingly infinite
potential of holographic applications emerge and the infinite powers and
mysteries continue to be discovered.
Holograms & Lasers also sells lasers used for holography and
books
for making your own holograms.
Please see the following links:
HeNe
Lab Laser Kits - The most common holography lasers for labs and schools.
Red
LASER Diodes & Modules - Excellent selection for hobbyist and use with
Shoebox
Holography.
Green
LASER Diode Modules - Excellent selection for labs using green light
film or plate emulsions.
Green
Laser Systems - Higher power for labs using green light film or plate
emulsions.
Used, Surplus & Refurbished Lasers
- Great resource for economical professional lab lasers.
What
is a LASER?
A LASER is a special source of
light that was invented in the early 60's. The acronym for LASER stands for
Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation. There are many
different types of lasers, ranging in size from several football fields
to the size of a single grain of salt. There are gas lasers, such as the
Helium-Neon and Argon lasers; solid-state lasers, such as the ruby
laser; and Semi-conductor lasers such as the laser diodes that are found
in CD and DVD players and your CD-ROM drives. Each has it own method of
producing laser light.
LASERs produce light that have very special characteristics: First,
the light is monochromatic, or a single wavelength/color. There are
LASERs that produce several wavelengths/colors at the same time, but
usually the wavelengths are separated and used individually. Second, the
light from a LASER is coherent. Coherent light has all of it's waves
traveling in sync with one another -- like a "wave train". Third, the
light is highly collimated into a beam, which means that it takes a lot
of distance to notice any divergence or convergence of the light. Lasers can be found in all sorts of commercial items, such as green laser pointers or glock laser sights.
Are LASERs Dangerous?
LASER light is a very "concentrated" type of light and therefore you
should NEVER look directly into the beam no matter how low power the laser
is. This includes the popular green laser pointers and laser sights currently on the market.
Military LASERs are so powerful that they can knock missiles out of the
sky. LASERs can provide enough heat to weld metal parts together -- or
actually vaporize others.
LASERs commonly used in laser pointers, classrooms or for amateur & hobby
holography are typically below 5 milliwatts (<5mW) and classified by the
(FDA/CDRH) Food & Drug Administration, Center for Devices and Radiological
Health as Class IIIb low-powered lasers. All lasers, such as laser pointers and laser levels, require caution in use
and should never be pointed at your eyes and you should never look directly
into the beam. The Class IIIb (<5mW) laser are relatively safe to use and
you do not need a lot of LASER power to create smaller holograms.
The LASERs used for large holograms are generally much more powerful as
the LASER light energy density is required to distribute across a larger
surface area and object while reducing the time required for exposing the
holographic film or emulsions. The difference between a 10 milliwatt and a 5
milliwatt LASER can reduce exposure time by several minutes and subsequently
reducing the risk of producing dim or poor holograms due to vibrations of
the object during exposure.
Lasers used to produce holograms of people, animals or objects that are
subject to even the slightest movement or vibration typically require a much
higher powered "Pulse" laser that concentrates all the energy into a single
burst of light lasting only milliseconds in duration. These "Pulse" lasers
are much more expensive and dangerous to operate verses the continuous wave
(CW) diodes or HeNe LASERs. Although there are alternatives to producing
holograms of people or animals with different holography techniques and
methods the "Pulse" lasers are generally preferred due to the instantaneous
hologram film or plate exposure.
Regardless, correct and responsible use of LASERs are important. Keep
holography safe - practice safe procedures at all times.
What is the "holoshop" on the hologram
image?
The "holoshop" displayed on the hologram images are
watermarks for copyright purposes. The "holoshop.com" watermark is not part of
the actual holograms. All product and hologram images on the holoshop or
lasersale web sites can not be re-produced or copied without direct written
consent and permission of Holograms & Lasers International. To request the use
of an image, please send your request and purpose for use to:
sales@holoshop.biz.
