It doesn’t matter how good 3D gets in games and imaging packages because there will always be occasions where someone wants to see an actual physical model of say, a building, landscape, or product. When requested, designers usually turn to modeling such items and then transporting it to the client. That can be both a costly and time-consuming task.

Zebra Imaging has a very cool alternative, however. The company came up with a system that prints a holographic color image on to a 2D display. As you can see in the two included videos, what you get is a 3D model but in an easy-to-carry plastic sheet format.

In order to see the display you need a light source above it. Zebra can supply a stand integrating such a light if necessary. There’s also a selection of screen sizes to choose from starting at 12 x 12 inches and going right up to 24 x 36 inches.

These displays are already useful in industries such as architecture, landscaping, and within the military. I can also see technology manufacturers using them to show off early gadget concepts rather than producing the actual models because it is simply cheaper to do.

You can see five more videos of these holographic displays in action at the Zebra Imaging Holographic Gallery.