High-fidelity 180° holographic reproduction: transition from analog Denisyuk to digital CHIMERA methods

We present a controlled experimental comparison between traditional analog Denisyuk reflection holography and the fourth-generation CHIMERA 180° digital holographic printing system for producing full-color, full-parallax 180° reflection holograms. Using the same object, scale, recording material, and reconstruction geometry, both workflows were evaluated for spatial resolution, parallax continuity, artifact formation, robustness, and practical applicability. The Denisyuk hologram exhibited slightly higher intrinsic spatial resolution, while the CHIMERA hologram produced visually continuous reconstructions with imperceptible hogel structure and improved background uniformity. The digital workflow eliminated plate-edge shadow artifacts and enabled the recording of fragile or vibration-sensitive objects without the stringent stabilization requirements of analog holography. Although the CHIMERA process required longer production times due to image acquisition and printing stages, it provided greater scalability, repeatable digital processing, and operational flexibility, including hologram replication at multiple scales and controlled volumetric image positioning. The results demonstrate that CHIMERA 180° holography can achieve perceptual realism approaching that of analog Denisyuk reflection holography while extending the range of objects and applications accessible to high-fidelity reflection holographic imaging.