Abstract: A projection system includes a collimating lens group for collimating an imaging beam. The collimating lens group has an optical axis that is de-centered with respect to the axis of the imaging beam. Further, the optical axis of the collimating lens group forms a non-zero angle with the axis of the imaging beam. The de-centered collimating lens group enables the use of more conventional projection optics, without the unacceptable displacement of the projected image.

Abstract: A method for determining the appearance of an object to be replicated and an apparatus therefor are described herein. The method consists in providing a controlled illumination to illuminate a surface of the object, measuring the object with a CCD camera to collect an image map of a plurality of points on the surface and processing that information to produce an appearance mapping of the object. Calibration of the apparatus is done by measuring calibration patches illuminated with the same illumination. When the apparatus is made in view of replicating the appearance of an object, a comparison can be done by similarly producing an appearance mapping of the replicate and by comparing it to the appearance mapping of the object.