Project DetailsIn this project, an attempt was made to reconstruct the historical photographic technique known
as the Sodium Vapor Process, using readily available components at a total cost of less than $2500.
The method relies on simultaneous imaging of a scene illuminated by RGB LED lights, together with a background illuminated by a low-pressure sodium (LPS) lamp emitting at a single wavelength of 589.6 nm. The setup employs two cameras and a beam splitter: one positioned behind an optical band-pass (BP) filter, and the other behind an optical notch filter. A system prototype was successfully assembled.
As part of the project, a literature review of the original method was conducted, and several
optical configurations were examined using three-dimensional system modeling. The different solutions were compared according to criteria such as cost, availability, mechanical compatibility, and optical performance. The chosen design is based on dedicated zoom lenses mounted on IMX477 sensors, connected to a Raspberry Pi5 board.
Furthermore, Python code was developed to enable the capture of still images and videos, alongside
the implementation of basic image processing techniques: alignment of images and videos from the two cameras, and compositing of dynamic scenes onto static or moving backgrounds. These methods were implemented using the OpenCV and NumPy libraries. Finally, several potential directions for future improvements and optimizations of the system were proposed.
