Access to image-based resources in the context of the IIIF protocol

key details

17, 23 September
Online on Zoom
3pm — 5pm (CET)

Reference

  • Fondazione Giorgio Cini
  • Factum Foundation

about

Access to high-resolution image-based resources is fundamental for research, scholarship, and the transmission of cultural knowledge.

The IIIF (International Image Interoperability Framework) standard is a set of technical specifications designed to enable the sharing, reuse, dissemination, and scientific research of digital images. Numerous projects and institutions worldwide have adopted IIIF to make collections accessible and interoperable online. IIIF supports the uniform presentation of images of cultural heritage items, allowing for display, manipulation, measurement, and annotation by scholars and students worldwide. Although initially conceived in libraries and primarily used by academics, IIIF also benefits a wider public.

Programme

September 17, 2024

Improving the access of cultural heritage through IIIF

  • Gennaro Ferrante | Università Federico II, Napoli
  • Flavia Bruni | Università di Chieti-Pescara
  • Ilenia Maschietto | Fondazione Giorgio Cini
  • Dario Peluso | Fondazione Giorgio Cini
The lecture aims to present a selection of projects on a variety of scales leveraging IIIF to improve the accessibility of collections. The examples show how IIIF connect cultural heritage scattered in different parts of the world, providing users high-quality image-based resources, ready to be compared, shared, reused, annotated and studied.
The first example is Europeana and its latest strategies (including Europeana Pro and the Europeana API), a project funded by the European Union that provides access to millions of items from institutions across Europe, allowing users to interact with them dynamically.
The second is the Illuminated Dante Project, born within the University Federico II of Naples, a systematic survey of early illustrations of Dante’s Divine Comedy virtually united on the same platform, carefully described and put in context. The project includes a digitization campaign, and the first clear classification and explanation of the illustrations that these precious artefacts contain.
The third is the work in progress of the new Digital Library of Fondazione Giorgio Cini which showcases the digital collections of the Venetian institution, IIIF compliant and based on contentDM, a software to store and display digital collections conceived by the largest international library network (OCLC, also full member of IIIF Consortium).

September 23, 2024

3D image-based resources and IIIF

  • Thomas Flynn | IIIF 3D Community Group
  • Richard Allen | Bodleian Libraries, Oxford University
  • John Barrett | Bodleian Libraries, Oxford University
  • Dylan Schirmacher | Bodleian Imaging Services, Oxford University
The IIIF standard, originally designed for 2D images, is being extended to support 3D content. This evolution allows for the sharing, viewing, and annotation of 3D models using the same principles that have made IIIF popular for 2D images. This represents a significant step forward in making rich, interactive media more accessible and usable across a wide range of disciplines.
The lecture introduces the work of the IIIF Consortium and the community, particularly the IIIF 3D Community Group, being the role of IIIF community and users extremely relevant to the development of software and technologies. Moreover, the lecture addresses technical aspects of the recent challenges faced by developers in presenting three-dimensional images within IIIF-compliant viewers. The ARCHiOx team provides updates from the Digital Bodleian platform and shares insights into the ongoing research on implementing 3D viewers with material qualities—such as texture, moving lights, and reflectance—to enhance user experience and deepen the understanding of the artefacts’ materiality.

Workshop on Analysis and Recording of Cultural Heritage in Venice

key details

30 September — 2 October 2024
20 hours / Location: Venice / Cost: €350
Deadline 8 September 2024

about

The ARCHiVe Centre of Fondazione Giorgio Cini is presenting a workshop for the second consecutive year, focusing on the application of high-resolution, contactless digital technologies for the digitisation of documentary, archival, and library materials. Over 20 hours, the intensive workshop will introduce participants to specific 2D digitisation technologies and methods, as well as the application of deep learning techniques, computer vision, and the use of artificial intelligence in the post-production of digital files.

The three-day workshop will be held in person and will be based on a learning-by-doing approach, alternating theoretical training on photography, archives, and the preservation and enhancement of digital heritage with practical sessions, allowing participants to experience the handling and acquisition of materials. The workshop is open to a selected group of participants (students and professionals from various backgrounds) who will have the opportunity to learn and interact directly with the ARCHiVe team.

Accommodation for two nights at the Vittore Branca Centre Residence on the Island of San Giorgio Maggiore, lunch on the first day, and an ACTV pass for travel within the lagoon for the duration of the workshop are included in the participation fee. A certificate of attendance will be issued at the end of the workshop.

Programme

September 30, 2024

Day 1

Morning (11am – 1:30pm)

  • Welcome, general intro and programme overview
  • Ice-breaker: student presentations (3 mins each)
  • Presentation of Fondazione Giorgio Cini and its Archival Funds and Collections + Q&A
  • Visit to the Fondazione Giorgio Cini (including the Library, the Rare Books Collection and the Photo Library)

Afternoon (2:30pm – 5:30pm)

  • ARCHiVe presentation (projects, research and technologies)
  • Introduction to the principles of Photography + Q&A
  • Feedback and reflections from day 1
  • Optional: visit to the Homo Faber exhibition

October 1, 2024

Day 2

Morning (9am – 1:30pm)

  • Introduction to the different types of documents and how to handle them + Q&A
  • Practical 2d recording (session 1 and 2), divided into 4 groups
  • Post-processing

Afternoon (2:30pm – 5:30pm)

  • Practical 2d recording (session 3), divided into 4 groups
  • Post-processing
  • Feedback and reflections from day 2

October 2, 2024

Day 3

Morning (9am – 1:30pm)

  • Practical 2d recording (session 4), divided into 4 groups
  • Post-processing
  • Lecture on metadata creation, digital archives and digital library + Q&A
  • Developing projects for final presentation, divided into 4 groups

Afternoon (2:30pm –5pm)

  • Final presentation of the preliminary results of the workshop and possible outputs for the data recorded
  • Reflection on how to use the recorded information to preserve, study and disseminate cultural heritage
  • Feedback and reflections
  • Certificates and celebration drinks
  • Close

Useful information

The course will only proceed if 12 participants are reached.

If your application is accepted, you will receive an email by September 11 that will provide a deadline for accepting and paying for your place. Your place will be held until this deadline.

If you have any questions, please get in touch: info.aoa@cini.it

Recording Giulio Romano. Shape & Surface

Recording Giulio Romano. Shape & Surface: theory classes at Palazzo Te © Osama Dawod for Factum Foundation
Lucida 3D scanner recording the frescoes in the Secret Garden Lodge © Osama Dawod for Factum Foundation
ARCHiVe team presenting the laboratories at Fondazione Giorgio Cini © Osama Dawod for Factum Foundation
Panoramic Composite Photography training © Osama Dawod for Factum Foundation

key details

12 September — 16 September 2022
Mantua, Palazzo Te
30 hours; 9:30am — 6:30pm

about

During September 2022, as part of the programme ‘Fare Arte’ conceived by the Scuola di Palazzo Te, Factum Foundation in the context of ARCHiVe activities organised the workshop Recording Giulio Romano: Shape & Surface, introducing students and professionals to the techniques and methods of digital preservation.

The 30-hour workshop transferred theoretical and practical methodologies for digital recording, while carrying out a real digitisation project inside Palazzo Te in Mantua, focusing on recording specific art and architecture elements, mainly frescoes and stucco reliefs (XVI Century, mainly by Giulio Romano). Nine international professionals, PhD researchers and graduate students coming from Italy, Canada, Estonia and India participated in the initiative. Their diverse backgrounds and interests coming from different studies in Art & Cultural Heritage, Digital Humanities, Industrial Design, Political Science and Marketing enriched the workshop, offering new visions and points of view on digital recording.

Attendants were split into groups to provide each person with the opportunity to practice with the recording systems (photogrammetry, panoramic photography, Lucida 3D Scanner and LiDAR 3D Scanning) and to become familiar with the methodologies.

Working with ARCHiVe’s experts to carry out the digitisation tasks on site, the students’ work resulted in high-resolution digital recordings of Giulio Romano’s architectural masterpiece. 

Time for questions and discussions during the classes © Osama Dawod for Factum Foundation
Photogrammetry hands-on session © Osama Dawod for Factum Foundation
LiDAR recording session in the courtyard of Palazzo Te © Osama Dawod for Factum Foundation

Programme

Each day was divided into three complementary sessions: theory (1,5 h/day), tutorials (1,5 h/day), and fieldwork (3 h/day).

Photogrammetry: theory, tutorials and fieldwork

  • Osama Dawod | Factum Foundation
  • Marina Luchetti | Factum Foundation

These classes and hands-on sessions concentrated on close-range photogrammetry, recording smaller and detailed objects, as the sculptural reliefs in the Chambers of Stuccoes and Candelabra. Photogrammetry is a technique that allows to capture both the color and the shape of an object, obtaining data for a 3D model.

Panoramic Composite Photography recording sessions

  • Gabriel Scarpa | Factum Foundation

Panoramic Composite Photography sessions focused on recording wall paintings as the Chamber of Ovid and the Chamber of the Winds to precisely document the colour. The technique requires the shooting of different sections of the same object to achieve maximum resolution and minimise glares.

Lucida 3D Scanner: theory, objectives and practical training

  • Carlos Bayod | Factum Foundation

This innovative 3D recording system has been presented with several case studies and in detail to understand its potential in recording the surface of an object. The practical training allowed to record frescoes and reliefs, capturing with extreme precision the heights of their surfaces.

LiDAR 3D Scanning session

  • Carolina Gris | Factum Foundation

This technique has been presented to the students to achieve 3D models of spaces. LiDAR has been used to record the architectonic spaces of Palazzo Te, both internal rooms and external areas, as the courtyards.

Case study presentation: Digital Ornament

  • Nick Walkley | Oslo School of Architecture and Design

The course has been enriched by a special presentation aimed to show how new digital technologies are shaping trends and new possibilities in the field of Cultural Heritage and artistic production, bringing back the ornaments in architecture and design.

ARCHiVe presentation

  • Costanza Blaskovic | Factum Foundation
  • Ilenia Maschietto | Fondazione Giorgio Cini

The students have been introduced to the multiple activity of ARCHiVe: recording, disseminating and training. The goal was to share the vision of the center, presenting other case studies carried out in the context of a cultural foundation as Fondazione Giorgio Cini.

Final presentation of the results of the workshop

  • all participants

At the end of the week, after gathering the post-processed data, the participants presented to a selected public and to the Director of Palazzo Te, some possible outputs and development of projects, starting from the data gathered during the workshop.

in depth

In line with Factum Foundation’s principles, all data was then provided to Palazzo Te to help the preservation and study of the artworks. One of the main goals of this project was indeed to facilitate research and stimulate comparisons.

Some of Giulio Romano’s designs for Palazzo Te’s decorative elements were objects of a comparative study at ARCHiVe. The research has been carried out by Carolina Gris and Marina Luchetti thanks to the rich bibliographical collections in the Fondazione Giorgio Cini’s Library specialized in art history, establishing a unique link between the two projects. 

Detail of the frescoes in the Lodge compared to preparatory drawings by Giulio Romano © Factum Foundation

Technologies

LiDAR 3D Scanning

LiDAR is a 3D recording method that uses laser pulses to measure distance. It produces a 'point cloud' of xyz coordinates, which can be turned into a 3D model. LiDAR complements other recording method[...]

Lucida 3D Scanner

The Lucida 3D Scanner is a non-contact laser recording system that captures high-resolution surface texture data for low-relief surfaces. It records 3D data in 48 cm x 48 cm ’tiles’ by projecting [...]

Photogrammetry

Photogrammetry is a 3D recording technique that uses 2D images to create a digital 3D model of an object or surface. It involves taking hundreds of overlapping photographs and processing them using sp[...]

Panoramic Composite Photography

Panoramic Composite Photography is a 2D non-contact method for capturing the color surface of objects such as works of art. A specialist version of the technique can capture accurate and high-resoluti[...]

1st Workshop on Analysis and Recording of Cultural Heritage in Venice

Participants visiting Fondazione Giorgio Cini Photolibrary © Osama Dawod
3D recording using photogrammetry at Fondazione Giorgio Cini during the workshop © Osama Dawod
Ilenia Maschietto presenting Fondazione Giorgio Cini' Rare Books Collection © Osama Dawod
Class on Rare Books in the Manica Lunga Library © Osama Dawod
Recording Rare Books at ARCHiVe during the workshop © Osama Dawod
Recording with Lucida 3D Scanner at Palazzo Cini Gallery © ARCHiVe
Photogrammetry lesson at Palazzo Cini Gallery © ARCHiVe
Group photo with workshop participants and lecturers © ARCHiVe

key details

9 October — 13 October 2023
Venice, Island of San Giorgio Maggiore
30 hours; 9:30am — 6:30pm

about

One of the main goals of ARCHiVe is to increase in person training through specific workshops that attract students and professionals from diverse backgrounds with diverse skills. Based on previous experiences in Columbia University (NYC), at Palazzo Te (Mantua) and other institutions, the first ARCHiVe Onsite Academy one-week (30 hours) workshop in Venice took place in October 2023.

This training initiative focused on the application of non-contact, high-resolution digital technologies to document a selection of art, archival, and architectural elements of great historical interest. The workshop introduced participants to specific 2D and 3D digitisation techniques and methods that ARCHiVe has pioneered in recent years through various cutting-edge projects in Venice and internationally.

Following a learning-by-doing approach, the course included both theoretical and practical training. It was designed for a select group of participants, including students and professionals with diverse backgrounds, who had the opportunity to learn directly from experts at Factum Foundation and Fondazione Giorgio Cini. The workshop addressed the theme of the diversity of documentary types and artifacts within the rich collections of Fondazione Giorgio Cini, serving as an example of the variety of Cultural Heritage in general. The diversity aspect poses significant technical and scientific challenges, as distinct materials require various approaches and technologies for managing, recording, and enhancing the Heritage.

Programme

October 9, 2023

Theory Session 1

  • Costanza Blaskovic
  • Ilenia Maschietto
  • Joan Porcel
  • Valentina Venturi

Beginning with a general introduction to ARCHiVe and to Cini’s collections, the class continues with the fundamentals of photography theory applied to digitisation of cultural heritage. Special highlight is given to the 2D recording systems developed and employed at ARCHiVe: the participants visit ARCHiVe laboratory to observe the recording technologies in action.

The session ends with a comprehensive guided tour of Fondazione Giorgio Cini, covering the cloisters, the monumental staircase, the photolibraries, and libraries, with a particular focus on the rare books collection in the Manica Lunga Library. There the participants have the opportunity to analyse a showcase of a selection of unique or rare pieces from the library collections, guided through the history of books and print.

October 10, 2023

Hands-on Practical 2D recording + 2D post-processing

  • Irene Bigolin
  • Costanza Blaskovic
  • Joan Porcel

The first hands-on session of the workshop see the participants divided in small groups to record a selection of documents with Replica scanner, V-scanner, and Vacuum plane. Each student gets a chance to try every recording system while digitising: 

  • a rare book from the Fondazione Giorgio Cini collection: Aelius Donatus, Pro impetrando ad rempublicam litterariam… Venezia, Lucantonio Giunta, 1510. 
  • documents from Ettore Sottsass Jr. (1907-2017) archive: photographic positives, notes, booklets, correspondence, and other loose sheets, part of the architecture and design projects of the author’s archive at Cini. 

Then, an introduction to specific methods for post-processing 2D image file awaits the participants: processing, management, and archiving systems for 2D information, and the potential of AI in data management. 

October 10, 2023

Hands-on Practical 3D recording

  • Carlos Bayod
  • Osama Dawod
  • Carolina Gris

Divided into three groups, the participants get specific training and work with Lucida, Photogrammetry and LiDAR, recording different areas and artworks of Fondazione Cini.

The participants are trained to the technical and practical aspects of the recording with the different systems and get to know which methods should be used for the different type of artworks and locations (paintings, scultpures, architectures). 

Each day one group dedicates to one system so that by the end of the week each student gets a chance to practice for a whole session with every 3D recording system.

October 11, 2023

Theory session 2 + 3D post-processing

  • Carlos Bayod
  • Osama Dawod
  • Carolina Gris

The third day starts with a theory class about 3D digital preservation: skills, methods, results, and uses. 

Then, the class introduces to the post-processing of data recorded with Lucida. 

Ther materials recorded with Lucida included: 

  • two canvases from the Foresteria of Fondazione Cini (Paesaggio con figure e Paesaggio con cascata e figure, attributed to Marco Ricci, C. XVII-XVIII).

October 11, 2023

Hands-on Practical 3D recording 

  • Carlos Bayod
  • Osama Dawod
  • Carolina Gris

The workshop continues with a visit to the refectory of the Fondazione to analyse the Nozze di Cana facsimile (created by Factum in 2006) on the way to the recording sites of Foresteria and Corridor of Art History Institute at Fondazione Cini.

There, the groups work with Lucida, Photogrammetry and LiDAR recording different artpieces and getting specific training for each technique. 

October 12, 2023

Theory session 3 + 3D post-processing

  • Costanza Blaskovic
  • Osama Dawod
  • Ilenia Maschietto
  • Valentina Venturi
  • Joan Porcel Pascual

The fourth day continue with a theory class about 2D digital preservation, with a focus on the creation of digital libraries and digital archives (including archival description and architecture of data).

Follows an introduction to the post-processing of data recorded with Photogrammetry.

The pieces recorded with Photogrammetry included:

  • high and low reliefs in the corridor of the Art History Institute of Fondazione Cini (C. XV-XVI).

October 12, 2023

Hands-on Practical 3D recording

  • Carlos Bayod
  • Osama Dawod
  • Carolina Gris

The workshop moves to the Galleria of Palazzo Cini where the participants have the opportunity of visiting the exhibiting spaces. There, the groups work with Lucida, Photogrammetry and LiDAR on a selection of artworks:

  • with Lucida the participants practice on two canvases from the Palazzo Cini Gallery (Testa di orientale dalla barba scura, Lorenzo Tiepolo, and Testa di orientale dalla barba grigia, Giandomenico Tiepolo, 1753-1755);
  • using Photogrammetry they focus on the recording of a wooden sculpture from the Cini collection (Madonna con il bambino, late C. XIV – beginning XV);
  • LiDAR thecnology is used to record the interiors of Palazzo Cini (as well as the Cini’s Foresteria during the previous days).

October 13, 2023

Theory session 4

  • Carlos Bayod

Concludes the classes a theory session about 3D digital preservation with the presentation of relevant case studies.

With the support of the instructors, each group gathers the data acquired and post-processed during the past week to prepare a conclusive presentation to be shared in the afternoon with the colleagues, the instructors and a selected audience of experts.

October 13, 2023

Final presentation of the preliminary results of the workshop

  • all participants

Each group present to the audience two recording techniques (one 2D and one 3D) summarising the tasks for capturing, processing and archiving the data from a technical point of view.

Moreover, each team proposes possible outputs for the data: how to use the recorded information to preserve, study and disseminate cultural heritage.

Feedbacks

“This workshop was instrumental in enhancing my capabilities and it also allowed me to learn from well-regarded institutions in the field. The accessibility and kindness of everyone involved in the workshop created a supportive atmosphere that I believe should be fostered within our professional community.”

“Your teams introduced me to numerous new possibilities for applying digital technologies in research, recording, preservation, and the reuse of cultural heritage. I am truly grateful for this enriching experience.”

“The practical training has been really valuable for me, because I had less experience in that. The training did confirm to me that I see myself working in this field and further develop my skills. I also loved the diversity in backgrounds and network wise the training has thus also been really meaningful!”

“The background diversity has been a strength point and a key value of the course. The course has represented an opportunity to enlarge horizons and have an interdisciplinary dialogue.”

Technologies

LiDAR 3D Scanning

LiDAR is a 3D recording method that uses laser pulses to measure distance. It produces a 'point cloud' of xyz coordinates, which can be turned into a 3D model. LiDAR complements other recording method[...]

Lucida 3D Scanner

The Lucida 3D Scanner is a non-contact laser recording system that captures high-resolution surface texture data for low-relief surfaces. It records 3D data in 48 cm x 48 cm ’tiles’ by projecting [...]

Photogrammetry

Photogrammetry is a 3D recording technique that uses 2D images to create a digital 3D model of an object or surface. It involves taking hundreds of overlapping photographs and processing them using sp[...]

Replica

The Replica 360 Recto/Verso is a cutting edge recording system designed and realised by Factum Foundation. Its first prototype was conceived for Fondazione Cini back in 2015 for the Replica Project wh[...]

Reproduction Stand

The reproduction stand is a system for acquiring two-dimensional material in a small format (approx. 20x30 cm) created within Fondazione Cini. In response to the need to digitise photographic negat[...]

V Scanner

The V Scanner is a photographic set built within Fondazione Cini. Based on an open-access design and adapted to the needs of Cini's book collections, it is meant to acquire bound material quickly and [...]

Vacuum Table

The vacuum table is a system for acquiring two-dimensional documents. Created within Fondazione Cini, gives a response to the need to digitise large-format documents, delicate, creased or folded. The [...]