Novel Paradigms in the Cultural Heritage Digitization with Self and Custom-Built Equipment

Abstract

In the field of the Cultural Heritage (CH), image-based 2D and 3D digital acquisition is today the most common technique used to create digital replicas of existing artifacts. This is carried out for many reasons, such as the following: research, analysis, preservation, conservation, communication, and valorization. These activities usually require complementary specialized equipment, tailored to specific purposes in order to achieve the desired results. This equipment is not easy-to-find on the market, it is not always affordable for museums operators; it is sometimes expensive, and it usually needs tricky customizations. However, the development in recent years of more generalized, versatile, and affordable instruments and technologies has led to new approaches, leveraging a new generation of low-cost, adaptable equipment. This paper presents custom-made equipment following this new path, designed to provide optimized results through calibrated tools alongside the software to make it work. The essay focuses specifically on the self-production of instruments for the digital reproduction of ancient drawings, manuscripts, paintings, and other museum artifacts and their transformative impact on digitization techniques. The outcomes of self and custom-built equipment specifically produced for the contexts described in this paper highlight their potential to foster interdisciplinary collaboration, facilitate scholarly research, enhance conservation efforts, and promote cultural exchange. The final goal is to propose inexpensive equipment that is easy to use (even by not specifically trained operators) and that provides remarkable quality.