The present disclosure is related to a method for calibrating a projector. The method includes receiving by a processing element one or more mapping images. After receiving the images, the method includes defining by the processing element a non-linear color mapping function, the color mapping function mapping pixels between the projector and a camera used to capture the mapping images. The method then includes determining by the processing element a compensation image using the color mapping function. The compensation image corresponds to an input image and takes into account variations in the surface onto which the input image is to be projected.