Inkjet printing-based volumetric display projecting multiple full-colour 2D patterns

TL;DR

This paper presents a novel method for creating full-colour 3D volumetric displays using inkjet printing of photoreactive luminescent materials, enabling high-resolution, multi-view 2D pattern projection with simple fabrication.

Contribution

It introduces a new approach to construct full-colour volumetric displays using commercially available inkjet printers and proposes a design algorithm for multi-view 2D patterns.

Findings

First prototype of inkjet printing-based volumetric display demonstrated

Displays produce multiple full-colour 2D patterns from different angles

Method leverages existing printing technology for 3D display fabrication

Abstract

In this study, a method to construct a full-colour volumetric display is presented using a commercially available inkjet printer. Photoreactive luminescence materials are minutely and automatically printed as the volume elements, and volumetric displays are constructed with high resolution using easy-to-fabricate means that exploit inkjet printing technologies. The results experimentally demonstrate the first prototype of an inkjet printing-based volumetric display composed of multiple layers of transparent films that yield a full-colour three-dimensional (3D) image. Moreover, we propose a design algorithm with 3D structures that provide multiple different 2D full-colour patterns when viewed from different directions and experimentally demonstrates prototypes. It is considered that these types of 3D volumetric structures and their fabrication methods based on widely deployed existing printing technologies can be utilised as novel information display devices and systems, including digital signage, media art, entertainment and security.