WASHINGTON, DC.- In 2014, President Barack Obama became the first President to be scanned using 3-D technology. Data from the scan were used to create his portraits, and a 3-D printed bust will be on view for Presidents Day weekend Friday, Feb. 13, through Monday, Feb. 16, at the
Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery.
The portraits of Obama were created by a Smithsonian-led team of 3-D digital imaging specialists and include a digital and 3-D printed bust and life mask. The data and printed models are a part of the collection of the National Portrait Gallery.
The Smithsonian-led team used two distinct 3-D documentation processes to create their representations. Experts from the University of Southern California’s Institute for Creative Technologies used their “Light Stage” scanner to document the President’s face in high resolution. Next, a Smithsonian team used handheld 3-D scanners and traditional SLR cameras to record peripheral 3-D data to create an accurate bust.
The data captured was post-processed by 3-D graphics experts at the software company Autodesk to create final high-resolution models. The life mask and bust were then printed using 3D Systems’ Selective Laser Sintering printers.
The creation of the 3-D portraits were part of an ongoing effort by the Obama administration to call attention to many innovative uses of technology and to help inspire the next generation to pursue science, technology, education and math (STEM) learning. The administration hosted its first-ever White House Maker Faire last June, and, more recently, hosted the 3-D Printed Ornament Design Challenge in collaboration with the Smithsonian.
The Portrait Gallery’s collection has multiple images of each President and these portraits will support the current and future collection of works the museum has to represent Obama.
The University of Southern California Institute for Creative Technology provided facial scanning services for this project. In-kind support and technical collaboration was generously provided by Autodesk and 3D Systems.
