A photogrammetric range imaging technique, namely Structure from motion (SfM), is used to create a detailed 3D model for each mummy under study from a two-dimensional image-set. The resulting highly detailed and accurate 3D renderings of the mummies improve the legibility of the complex interweaving of the wrapping weaves, enable the extraction of their intricate features, and the subsequent creation of precise drawings. These fine details, which would have been difficult to discern through traditional visual inspection, allow a further, deeper analysis, significantly enhancing the study’s capacity to interpret and document the artifacts’ original decorative module.
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A photographic set-up has been developed to manage the different variables which can affect the accuracy of the digital replicas, including the museum's conditions. The mummies are placed horizontally on a turntable inside a light box. This is provided with a triple LED lighting system and supplementary light bars, that help avoid light pollution and reflections produced by black matters applied on the mummies. Another solution adopted to reduce light noise is to always place the camera on a tripod and delay the shot by a few seconds, using a remote control, to avoid vibrations. This allows the use of low ISO values, even in low-illuminated museum rooms.
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The acquisition geometry is circular with the camera remaining stationary and the mummy situated on a turntable in order to avoid direct contact and any stressful handling of such vulnerable materials. Images are taken from 3 different levels per 3 sides of each artifact. In doing so, an image overlap of more than 85% is guaranteed as well as the acquisition of every feature of the mummies.
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The reconstruction of the photogrammetric model is performed through 3D Flow Zephyr. This software automatically recognized the targets on the turntable. They are fundamental in the processing phase to prevent deformations as well as to verify the accuracy of the final 3D model.
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