'Star Wars' vinyl soundtrack features built-in hologram

Hologram vinyl copies of the film's soundtrack were unveiled at London's Abbey Road Studios on Monday (June 6) with etchings of some of Star Wars' most famous spaceships visible on the B sides of the vinyls.

The 3D holograms show both Imperial Tie Fighters and the Millennium Falcon and were hand etched by Tristan Duke, the founder of Infinity Light Science, who specialises in laser holography.

"We talked about a lot of different designs and through the process it became clear that we wanted to do some of the spacecraft because the black vinyl with that feeling of deep space we knew would look just really epic. The holograms we knew would hover about four inches above the record surface. So, we knew that the hovering craft would look really nice," said Duke.

Speaking before a packed-out studio, Duke explained he achieved the hologram by carving micro-reflectors into the mastered vinyl.

It is a similar to the process of making the grooves found on vinyl records and creates an effect which gives a stronger sense of depth.

The holograms can be viewed when a focused light, such as a mobile phone torch, is held over the vinyl.

"Star Wars is literally what made holography a household word and so most people I know when I tell them I make holograms they say, "Oh! Like Princess Leia?" So, it's a real honour as a holographer to give something back to that story and that vision," said Duke, referring to a famous holographic image of Princess Leia asking Obi-Wan Kenobi for help in 'Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope'.

The hand-etched hologram vinyls are available from 17 June and priced at US$50. — Reuters