Abstract: An apparatus is described which includes two or more colour displays arranged to provide piece-wise continuous illumination of a volume, and one or more cameras arranged to image the volume. The apparatus is configured to control the colour displays and the cameras to illuminate the volume with each of two or more illumination conditions. The apparatus is also configured to obtain two or more sets of images, which include sufficient information for calculation of a reflectance map and a photometric normal map of an object or subject positioned within the volume. Each set of images is obtained during illumination of the volume with one or more corresponding illumination conditions. When viewed from the volume, the apparatus only provides direct illumination of the volume from angles within a zone of a hemisphere, which is less than a hemisphere.

Abstract: An apparatus (1, 5, 6) is described which includes two or more colour displays (2) arranged to provide piece-wise continuous illumination of a volume. The apparatus (1, 5, 6) also includes one or more cameras (3). Each camera (3) is arranged to image the volume. The apparatus (1, 5, 6) is configured to control the two or more colour displays (2) and the one or more cameras (3) to illuminate the volume with each of two or more illumination conditions. The apparatus (1, 5, 6) is also configured to obtain two or more sets of images. Each set of images is obtained during illumination of the volume with one or more corresponding illumination conditions. The two or more sets of images include sufficient information for calculation of a reflectance map and a photometric normal map of an object or subject (4) positioned within the volume. When viewed from the volume, the apparatus (1, 5, 6) only provides direct illumination of the volume from angles within a zone of a hemisphere.