1. What is video mapping?
  2. Video mapping : what is it not?
  3. Words and dates
  4. Video mapping : when did it start and where ?
  5. What are the circumstances in which video mapping appears? Part.1
  6. What are the circumstances in which video mapping appears? Part.2
  7. The prehistory of video mapping
  8. Vjing
  9. Large-scale projection
  10. Large-scale projection around the year 2000
  11. Contemporary arts: the advent of the projector
  12. Site-specific arts: times and places
  13. Hans-Walter Müller: Volux and Topoprojections
  14. 2003: 3minutes² by Electronic Shadow
  15. The history of video mapping computer tools
  16. The history of video mapping computer tools. Part.2
  17. A history of institutionalisation…
  18. Yet another art form?
  19. Video mapping: a narrative
  20. Notes on artists

The history of video mapping computer tools

2003-2010: The pioneers

‘Year zero’ for video mapping in France, which we have set as 2003 in consideration of the installation 3minutes2 by Electronic Shadow, marks the start of the work of the company ETC on its Onlyview proprietary media server (the ‘Open’ version will be released in 2006) and internationally, with the release of Max version 4, a real-time programming language developed by the Californian company Cycling’74, which integrates Jitter (a library of video and graphic functionalities, including 3D modelling), but also that of Onyx VJ — an open-source VJing software program. This is key since, during these initial periods of mapping (2003-2010), the mapping pioneers, in the areas of large-scale projection, contemporary arts and VJing, construct their tools by combining existing computer programs: 3D, motion design, but also real-time diffusion and programming.

In fact, the first computer systems enabling the production of video mapping brought to the attention of the public are, originally, VJing software programs, which are augmented with specific functionalities for 3D and texture projection: Onyx VJ integrates these functionalities starting in 2008, at the same time as TouchDesigner 077, developed by the Canadians Greg Hermanovic, Rob Bairos and Jarrett Smith. Elektronika follows closely behind, with its version 2.73, which becomes free in 2009, and includes deformation functions which enable the creation of mapping. Moreover, anyone rummaging through online platforms will find several videos by individuals posted since 2008-2010, which bear witness to individual, more or less DIY, attempts, especially through the use of Resolume. In 2010, Syphon is published in open-source format: it is a framework which can act as a bridge between, for example, VJing software and 3D software. that same year, Philippe Chaurand (Anomes, from the Iduun collective of digital artists) creates Mapmapmap, a mapping module specially designed for Modul8 (VJing software designed by GarageCube in 2004). Subsequently, various software programs dedicated to mapping are developed in the early 2010s.

Read more: 2010-2018: Towards a golden age of software? 

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