An investigation of 3D technologies applied to historic textiles for improved understanding, conservation and engagement
Lead Research Organisation:
University of the West of England
Department Name: Fac of Arts Creative Ind and Education
Abstract
Fragile embroidered textiles require protection from overexposure and control of environmental conditions to avert deterioration. Enclosed display cases provide the necessary measures to protect such historic textiles but obstruct access and reduce the possibilities for interpretation and engagement.
This research proposal is designed to work with the collection of Stuart embroideries at The Holburne Museum in Bath alongside the curatorial and digital learning teams to contribute to the understanding of the stumpwork embroideries' manufacture and conservation while providing new avenues for engagement and overcome the glass box experience that has obscured their material and design characteristics. This project proposes a novel methodology for the capture and dissemination of highly intricate historic textiles through 3D computational photography and 3D manufacturing techniques, using The Holburne Museum embroideries as a case study.
The first stage of the project will investigate the methodological approach to the recording of historic textiles, particularly the stump work embroideries, with affordable custom scanning systems using a combination of photogrammetry and photometric stereo techniques. This unique combined approach, developed at the CFPR for the capture of artworks, will allow the accurate recording of both colour and intricate surface shape of fabric surfaces in high-quality. This method will provide the necessary image sets to document and monitor in high-resolution and generate digital and physical outputs for public engagement activities.
The second stage of the research will produce innovative outputs for facilitating engagement with the embroideries. Data generated for conservation and documentation purposes will be exploited for educational programmes, to provide inclusive access for e.g., visually impaired visitors and enable virtual access to The Holburne Museum embroideries. This project will revitalise the material aspect of textiles, through the production of accessible digital and tactile outputs.
This research will facilitate the development of enhanced methods of recording and monitoring complex historic textiles to support conservation treatments. This project will also enable The Holburne Museum and, in the future, other historic textile collections to gain a better understanding of their collections and help them find new forms of interpretation.
The fellowship also aims to develop Dr Xavier Aure Calvet's research leadership and capacity to deliver a cross-disciplinary project. This will be ensured through a range of dissemination activities including talks to both academic and non-academic audiences, publishing research and hands-on activities such as workshops and show and tell events with prototypes to enrich encounters between audiences and The Holburne's collection of textiles. A network of academics and stakeholders from various disciplines will support the project and provide insights for future avenues for research.
This research proposal is designed to work with the collection of Stuart embroideries at The Holburne Museum in Bath alongside the curatorial and digital learning teams to contribute to the understanding of the stumpwork embroideries' manufacture and conservation while providing new avenues for engagement and overcome the glass box experience that has obscured their material and design characteristics. This project proposes a novel methodology for the capture and dissemination of highly intricate historic textiles through 3D computational photography and 3D manufacturing techniques, using The Holburne Museum embroideries as a case study.
The first stage of the project will investigate the methodological approach to the recording of historic textiles, particularly the stump work embroideries, with affordable custom scanning systems using a combination of photogrammetry and photometric stereo techniques. This unique combined approach, developed at the CFPR for the capture of artworks, will allow the accurate recording of both colour and intricate surface shape of fabric surfaces in high-quality. This method will provide the necessary image sets to document and monitor in high-resolution and generate digital and physical outputs for public engagement activities.
The second stage of the research will produce innovative outputs for facilitating engagement with the embroideries. Data generated for conservation and documentation purposes will be exploited for educational programmes, to provide inclusive access for e.g., visually impaired visitors and enable virtual access to The Holburne Museum embroideries. This project will revitalise the material aspect of textiles, through the production of accessible digital and tactile outputs.
This research will facilitate the development of enhanced methods of recording and monitoring complex historic textiles to support conservation treatments. This project will also enable The Holburne Museum and, in the future, other historic textile collections to gain a better understanding of their collections and help them find new forms of interpretation.
The fellowship also aims to develop Dr Xavier Aure Calvet's research leadership and capacity to deliver a cross-disciplinary project. This will be ensured through a range of dissemination activities including talks to both academic and non-academic audiences, publishing research and hands-on activities such as workshops and show and tell events with prototypes to enrich encounters between audiences and The Holburne's collection of textiles. A network of academics and stakeholders from various disciplines will support the project and provide insights for future avenues for research.
People |
ORCID iD |
| Xavier Aure Calvet (Principal Investigator / Fellow) |
Publications
| Title | Centre For Print Research Celebration of Work |
| Description | An exhibition celebrating the Centre for Print Research's 25-year legacy of work in print research was presented at the University of the West of England, Bristol. The showcase featured diverse outputs from staff, PhD students, members, and associates of this globally recognised research centre including outputs produced through this award, digital imagery captured with our custom scanner and tactile reproductions for visually impaired. |
| Type Of Art | Artistic/Creative Exhibition |
| Year Produced | 2025 |
| Impact | The exhibition provided a valuable opportunity to demonstrate the practical applications of 3D imaging and machine learning technologies to a wide audience of undergraduate and postgraduate students, researchers, and the general public. By showcasing both the high-resolution digital captures and their tactile counterparts, visitors gained a tangible understanding of how these technological innovations can significantly improve access to historic embroideries for diverse audiences. |
| URL | https://cfpr.uwe.ac.uk/centre-for-print-research-celebration-of-work-exhibition/ |
| Description | AHRC Impact Acceleration Account |
| Amount | £6,300 (GBP) |
| Organisation | University of the West of England |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 08/2024 |
| End | 03/2025 |
| Description | PhD studentship |
| Amount | £103,590 (GBP) |
| Organisation | University of the West of England |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 03/2024 |
| End | 03/2028 |
| Title | Historic Textiles 2D, 2.5D and 3D data |
| Description | The dataset inlcudes several sets of images and 3D information captured from a series of embroideries from the Holburne Museum in Bath. 2D sets including photogrammetric images and photometric stereo images (images with directional lighting). 2.5D data including high-resolution normal maps of the surface of the embroideries. 3D models of each embroidery (in point cloud and mesh format). |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2024 |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | The data will be used by a PhD student to establishing advanced processing workflows that leverage Graph Neural Networks (GNN) to facilitate the high-resolution digitisation, reconstruction, and detailed analysis of historic textile collections. The method is tailored to identify and use textural patterns within the fabrics, capturing both intricate details and broader patterns that are not immediately adjacent. |
| Description | Archival Presence Magazine |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | A collaborative article titled 'Archival Presence' was published in .RAW magazine in 2024, authored by Xavier Aure Calvet, Armand De Filippo, Amy Goodwin, and Lisa Sheppy. The piece was featured in an edition edited by K. Kopalova, exploring interdisciplinary connections between digital documentation and physical artefacts. .RAW magazine is known for drawing cross-disciplinary connections in arts and humanities, exploring relationships between people, projects, and ideas that bridge digital and physical realms. The publication has contributed to scholarly discourse around innovative approaches to archival representation and has fostered connections between academic researchers. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://rrraw.work/ |
| Description | Brighton Focus Group at Blind Veterans |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Study participants or study members |
| Results and Impact | A one-day focus group was organised at Blind Veterans in Brighton in January, in collaboration with Brighton University, as part of the AHRC project 'An Investigation of 3D Technologies Applied to Historic Textiles for Improved Understanding, Conservation, and Engagement'. The event included presentations about the current AHRC research project specifically focusing on tactile embroideries, followed by interviews and discussions with visually impaired participants. Twenty-five visually impaired members of the Blind Veterans centre participated in the focus group. The event yielded several direct outcomes, including the identification of potential new collaborations and valuable feedback gathered from in-depth interviews. This engagement provided crucial insights into how tactile reproductions of historic textiles could be optimised for visually impaired audiences. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2025 |
| Description | CFPR Open Day |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | The Centre for Print Research (CFPR) showcased its innovative research at the Frenchay campus, covering topics from 3D printing with ceramics to wearable technologies, smart composites and 3D imaging of cultural heritage. Attendees participated in demonstrations and presentations featuring advanced equipment while having the opportunity to engage with researchers. Attendees discussed potential collaborations and research development with CFPR experts, who were also ready to advise on funding and consultancy opportunities. Interested individuals were encouraged to contact CFPR for more information on partnerships. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://cfpr.uwe.ac.uk/open-industry-day-2023/ |
| Description | Conference presentation 2and3D Photography - Practice and Prophecies Rijksmuseum |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | The research on RTI-photogrammetry integration for planar surface capture was presented at the 2and3D Photography - Practice and Prophecies conference hosted by the Rijksmuseum in May 2024. The presentation showcased innovative methodologies for combining photometric stereo techniques with photogrammetry to improve the digital documentation of cultural heritage objects, particularly textiles. Productive discussions about implementation possibilities in their institutions were engaged in by museum professionals, conservators, and imaging specialists. Interest in collaboration opportunities was expressed by several attendees, and the research team has since been approached by two European museums interested in adapting the technology for their collections. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://2and3dmagazine.rijksmuseum.nl/2024/ |
| Description | Festival of Futures Lancaster |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | The event at Lancaster University is a unique assembly of four leading UK design-research centres, including the CFPR, offering an interdisciplinary exploration into the future of design and its potential to reshape our world, complemented by an exhibition showcasing innovative research. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://www.lancaster.ac.uk/fof2024/the-exhibition/our-exhibitors/automated-3d-capture-high-resoluti... |
| Description | National Trust Workshop |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | A one-day workshop was held at the Textile Conservation Centre in Norwich for the National Trust as part of the AHRC project 'An Investigation of 3D Technologies Applied to Historic Textiles for Improved Understanding, Conservation, and Engagement'. The event comprised presentations about the current AHRC research project, a studio visit, and engagement with project outcomes. Opportunities for further research and collaboration were explored with textile conservators from the National Trust Textile Conservation Centre who attended the workshop. Several direct outcomes were achieved through this knowledge exchange activity, including the identification of potential new collaborations and support for PhD student research. Knowledge transfer was facilitated through demonstrations of 3D imaging and machine learning workflows, providing the textile conservation team with insights into novel documentation and analysis techniques applicable to historic textiles. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Research Workshop One |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | A two-day workshop was hosted at the Centre for Print Research (CFPR) in Bristol as part of the AHRC project 'An Investigation of 3D Technologies Applied to Historic Textiles for Improved Understanding, Conservation, and Engagement'. The event featured a training course on 'Disability Inclusion in Museums' delivered by Barry Ginley, presentations about the current research project, and engagement with project outcomes. Opportunities for further research and collaboration were explored amongst the diverse group of participants. Several direct outcomes were achieved through this workshop, including the initiation of two potential new collaborations for funding applications. Knowledge transfer was facilitated through demonstrations of 3D imaging and machine learning workflows. Valuable accessibility insights were gained from Barry Ginley's training, along with discussions about a potential focus group with visually impaired participants at the University of Brighton. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Workshop for Museum of Cultural History, University of Oslo |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | A workshop on the improved integration of RTI data with photogrammetry models was delivered for the Museum of Cultural History, University of Oslo in 2024. The focus was placed on enhancing 3D modelling capabilities through combined computational photography techniques. As a result of this knowledge exchange activity, international knowledge transfer was facilitated, museum documentation capabilities were enhanced, and advanced 3D documentation techniques were developed. Three museum professionals were trained during the session, equipping the institution with new skills for digital cultural heritage documentation. The workshop has contributed to the museum's ongoing efforts to improve their digital archiving methodologies and public engagement strategies. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |