Rotating 3D Nebula

Found this picture via Discover Mag and it comes from the blogger Astro Anarchy. This picture is very cool.
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I have tested a new method to publish my 3D-images as a form of Lenticular prints.

For this technique to work, I need series of images from different angles, in this case 24 images are needed. Lenticular printing is actually an old technique but in past few years it has become much more sophisticated. The results can be stunning visually, image plane disappears and object floats in and outside of the frame.

 

Since astronomical objects are too far away, no real parallax can be imaged. Doe to that, I have developed a method to turn my images to various 3D-formats. My work flow is based on scientific data from the object, distance and the source of ionization are usually known. The different types of the nebulae has typical structures, pillar like formations must point to the source of ionization, the radiation pressure forms kind of hollow area, inside of the nebula, around newly born stars, dark nebulae must be at front of the emission ones to show, etc... rest of the missing information is then replaced with an artistic vision.

 

The whole process is pretty much like sculpting! 

An image set of IC 1396, used for a lenticular print, as an animation.