A Large High Resolution Scanner for Cultural Heritage Assets

Abstract

In this paper we show the history, technology and one of the projects that have been carried out till December 2012, using imaging technology based on large-flatbed scanning with carefully designed components to handle a wide variety of objects. The main features of these large flatbed scanners are : (i) high color fidelity with a color difference of about 1.0-1.5 for IT8 charts, (ii) minimal light irradiation on the object (less than 5% per scan of the allowable exposure based on museum standards), (iii) high spatial resolution capable of detecting microscopic scale areas (5-80microns), (iv) fast and cost effective to digitize hundreds and thousands of objects in museums and national libraries, (v) applicable to wide range of objects of various shapes, sizes and surface characteristics (e.g. 2D to 3D objects;small to large;and dark to shiny), (vi) non-contact and non-invasive, (vii) can produce analytical information (e.i. spectral and colorimetric). Finally we give a brief introduction to scientific recording of the Kannondo temple of Ninnaji, a UNESCO world heritage in Kyoto.