Creation of a reflection hologram requires a high resolution holographic film or glass plate emulsion. Special chemicals are applied to the film or plate to record the reflected light.
The object to be recorded as a three-dimensional image is placed in front of the holographic film. Laser light splits in front of the object into two beams. The first beam, or object beam, is expanded through a spatial filter then strikes the object and reflects onto the holographic film. The second beam, or reference beam, is projected around the object, generally through the use of a mirror and strikes the holographic film.
The two beams of light converge on the holographic film or plate and are recorded. By providing both the object beam and reference beam, the image is recorded three dimensionally within the film's thin emulsion. Absolutely still conditions are required during the recording process to avoid diffusion of the intersection of the object and reference beams. The holographic film or plate is developed, much like camera film, to fix the image in the film's or plate's emulsion.
To view the image, the angle from which the light struck the holographic media is reconstructed with white light. The light strikes the developed holographic plate. The captured image in the media reflects the white light back to the viewer. Improper light angles result in poor image viewing or lack of reflected holographic imagery.