{"id":2907,"date":"2022-02-10T07:00:00","date_gmt":"2022-02-10T12:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dfabclass.com\/intro\/?p=2907"},"modified":"2022-02-10T13:07:15","modified_gmt":"2022-02-10T18:07:15","slug":"digital-fabrication-as-a-tool-for-art-conservation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dfabclass.com\/intro\/digital-fabrication-as-a-tool-for-art-conservation\/","title":{"rendered":"Digital Fabrication as a Tool for Art Conservation"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Scan the World: an “open source museum” website of 3D scans<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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Art conservation<\/a> or preservation is often a job associated with museums, as they focus on cleaning, repairing, or documenting historical pieces in an attempt to preserve the artist\u2019s original intent in their work as well as the integrity of the object. Traditionally it has been a very hands-on job, often requiring education from a range of fields such as chemistry, anthropology, studio art, and art history. The digital age however, brings an entirely new level and collective public involvement in the ability to not only document and study, but experience historical works of art in a new and accessible way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As our society becomes more globalized and modernized, pieces of culture, for example certain languages and art practices are beginning to be lost to time. By bringing together these aspects of history and modern technology, we can not only preserve art beyond its physicality, which is especially relevant in the event it could be lost or damaged, but share it in a way that more people can experience it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

By utilizing 3D scanning and printing technology, museums can now digitally copy, document, and distribute 3-dimensional data of unique and historical artifacts, and some museums, such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art (MET) are even encouraging visitors to get involved in the process.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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123D Catch, a free digital program that can make 3D models from photographs (which has been discontinued by Autodesk in 2017<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The more professional practice used by museums and businesses, according to Direct Dimensions, a company that works on digitizing 3-Dimensional data, is described a bit like this:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Using a 3D digitizer, a laser beam is passed over an object. Inside of the digitizer, a camera is mounted that tracks the physical position of the laser beam in 3D space. This 3D data (x,y,z points in space) is transferred to the computer where the object (or subject) is literally “drawn” on the computer as the laser moves over it.”<\/sub><\/p>– Direct Dimensions Website FAQ<\/a>. Read more about the process here<\/a>.<\/sub><\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

These methods such as laser scanning and photogrammetry are used in the initial documentation of the artifact. While museums are more likely to have access to laser scanning\u2014 photogrammetry (the process used in 123D Catch), which basically consists of photographs and angle calculation, is accessible by anyone with a working camera.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Laser scanning example from the Smithsonian<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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