Archive notice: This article was originally published on August 3, 2006. Links and embedded videos are preserved as part of the historical record.
The booth looks exactly like any other passport photo booth. However, it takes a 3D photo of the user, which it converts into a 3D point cloud. It then engraves this point cloud into a crystal block by means of a laser beam, so that a three-dimensional likeness of the person portrayed by photo is created itself inside the block.
The technology behind it is called “Sub Surface Laser Engraving”. A laser creates small cracks inside the crystal block, which are then visible as a white point. A complete face is composed from the entirety of these points.
The provider inSpeck is already planning expansions: In future, it is to be possible to upload the scanned image and the 3D data to a central server, for example in order to generate game characters from this data later.
The first 3D photo booth is allegedly already located in the city centre of Montreal.
Further Links:
- inSpeck
