Three-dimensional tools for analysis and conservation of ancient wooden stamps

Abstract

This paper deals with the analysis and conservation of ancient wooden stamps from museum or library collections. The aim is to provide historians with tools that ease the process of handling and observation of very fragile and unique objects. By performing a threedimensional imaging of stamps, data are processed in three different ways: (1) adaptive thresholding on the corresponding range image enables visualization for the first time of an image of the actual print produced by the stamp; (2) interactive enhanced rendering provides a realistic and non-photorealistic interactive visualization; and, finally, (3) rapid prototyping production gives a perfect geometrical facsimile of the stamps, preventing any hazards inherent in the handling of the originals.

Integration of 3D and multispectral data for cultural heritage applications: Survey and perspectives

“…This project demonstrated one of the great advantages of 3D models: they can be manipulated in a way real objects can not, altering their proportions, removing additions to increase readability [88], restoring the object's original color, reconstructing missing information [89]. In the same vein, it is also possible to interact with archaeological fragments to reconstruct broken objects, either automatically or based on algorithms [90,91] while digitized wooden stamps [75] can be used for virtual printing.…”

“…Triangulation laser scanners project a line of light on an object and derive the shape of the object from the line deformation. These systems are adequate to scan small [75] and medium-size objects with an accuracy of a few micrometers.…”