Apparatus and a method of recording an image of an object

An apparatus for recording an image of an object, said apparatus comprising an electronic camera, a calculating unit, one or more light sources, and means for light distribution adapted to distribute light emitted from the light sources and hereby to illuminate the object, light being reflected to the camera, wherein

• the means for the light distribution comprise an integrating cavity whose inner side has light reflective properties, said integrating cavity provided with first and second openings,
• the camera is placed in alignment with the first opening so that the optical axis of the camera extends through the first and second openings,
• the second opening is adapted to receive the object,
• the one or more light sources are mounted so as to illuminate the interior of the integrating cavity,
• said camera is adapted to supply a representation of recorded images to said calculating unit,
• said calculating unit is adapted to perform geometrical calibration of said representation, and
• said apparatus comprises one or more geometrical calibration objects having known geometrical properties for use when performing said geometrical calibration, said geometrical calibration objects being faces or objects with a plurality of reference positions having a well-defined mutual positioning.

A method of recording an image of an object using an electronic camera, a calculating unit, one or more light sources, and means for light distribution, comprising

• distributing light emitted from the one or more light sources for illuminating the object, light being reflected to the camera,
• using, for the light distribution, an integrating cavity whose inner side has light reflective properties, and which is provided with first and second openings,
• positioning the camera in alignment with the first opening so that the optical axis of the camera extends through the first and second openings,
• receiving the object in the second opening, and
• illuminating the interior of the integrating cavity using the one or more light sources, wherein
• said camera supplies a representation of recorded images to said calculating unit, and
• said calculating unit is adapted to perform, prior to the recording, a spectral calibration of said representation using two or more calibration objects with known spectral properties positioned in the field of vision of the camera, said spectral calibration objects being faces or objects containing one or more areas with known colors and spatially homogenous reflective properties.

A method of recording an image of an object using an electronic camera, a calculating unit, one or more light sources, and means for light distribution, comprising

• distributing light emitted from the one or more light sources for illuminating the object, light being reflected to the camera,
• using, for the light distribution, an integrating cavity whose inner side has light reflective properties, and which is provided with first and second openings,
• positioning the camera in alignment with the first opening so that the optical axis of the camera extends through the first and second openings,
• receiving the object in the second opening, and
• illuminating the interior of the integrating cavity using the one or more light sources, wherein
• said camera supplies a representation of recorded images to said calculating unit, and
• said calculating unit is adapted to perform, prior to the recording, a geometrical calibration of said representation using one or more calibration objects with known visual properties positioned in the field of vision of the camera, said geometrical calibration objects being faces or objects with a plurality of reference positions having a well-defined mutual positioning.