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Obama Is First President to Be 3D-Printed

"You can see down to the wrinkles in the skin and the pores on his face," Vince Rossi, a 3D imaging specialist, told the AP.
Image: The first presidential portrait created from 3-D scan data
The first presidential portrait created from 3-D scan data. A team at the Smithsonian Institution has created the first 3D presidential portraits to depict President Barack Obama in the National Portrait Gallery collection. Digital imaging specialists have created a 3D printed bust and life mask of Obama. Both were shown for the first time Wednesday at the first ever White House Maker Faire with a gathering of inventors and students.Guenter Waibel / Smithsonian Institution via AP

A team at the Smithsonian Institution has scanned President Barack Obama to create the first 3D printed portrait of a sitting president.

According to The Associated Press, experts scanned Obama earlier this year using two different processes: a "light stage" face scanner and hand-held 3D scanners and cameras to help build a bust of the 44th president. It took 40 hours to print.

"You can see down to the wrinkles in the skin and the pores on his face," Vince Rossi, a 3D imaging specialist, told the AP.

The bust is set to become part of the National Portrait Gallery collection.

Image: The first presidential portrait created from 3-D scan data
The first presidential portrait created from 3-D scan data. A team at the Smithsonian Institution has created the first 3D presidential portraits to depict President Barack Obama in the National Portrait Gallery collection. Digital imaging specialists have created a 3D printed bust and life mask of Obama. Both were shown for the first time Wednesday at the first ever White House Maker Faire with a gathering of inventors and students.Guenter Waibel / Smithsonian Institution via AP

IN-DEPTH:

Will.i.am to Launch 3-D Printer That Runs on Recycled Coca-Cola Bottles

President Obama is Now the First President to be 3D Scanned and Printed (Smithsonian.com)

SOCIAL:

—Becky Bratu, with The Associated Press