The first portraits created from 3D scans of a sitting president are going on display at the Smithsonian. Digital imaging specialists at the Smithsonian created a 3D printed bust and life mask of President Barack Obama this year. The portraits were first shown at the White House during a gathering of inventors, entrepreneurs and students. First ever: A 3D printed bust of President Obama went on display at the Smithsonian Castle, along with life masks that were also printed in plastic Life masks: The president's life mask, here with masks made of President Lincoln (left and center) and his bust are made out of thousands of layers of plastic melted together using lasers
@highlight
Digital imaging specialists at the Smithsonian Institute in Washington created a 3D bust and life mask of President Barack Obama this year
@highlight
The photo shoot included 50 custom-built LED lights, eight sports photography cameras and six wide angle cameras
@highlight
The bust was printed using a laser to melt together 5,000 layers of plastic -- a process that took 40 hours
Obama joined them for about 15 minutes in the @placeholder.
The result was a 3D scan of the president at a higher resolution that is currently possible to print in @placeholder.