Product category:
Analysis, simulation and mathematical software
News Release from: InnovMetric Software Inc | Subject: PolyWorks software suite
Edited by the Manufacturingtalk Editorial
Team on 08 December 2006
3D scanning and the PolyWorks help solve
a mystery
NRC scientists help solve the mysteries behind the Mona Lisa using 3D scanning and the PolyWorks software suite
In September 2006, the National Research Council of Canada, in collaboration with the Centre de recherche et de restauration des musees de France (C2RMF), announced the completion of the most important scientific study ever done of Leonardo da Vinci's portrait of the Mona Lisa Acting on a request from the C2RMF, researchers from the National Research Council of Canada (NRC) traveled to Paris to scan the Mona Lisa with its sophisticated 3D laser scanner
This article was originally published on Manufacturingtalk on 8 Dec 2004 at 8.00am (UK)
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NRC's 3D scanner provided a number of unique views of the portrait that will assist curators and conservators in their ongoing studies of the 500-year-old masterpiece.
A major part of the processing of the data collected by the 3D scanner was performed using the PolyWorks software suite, developed by the Canadian company InnovMetric Software PolyWorks' technology helped scientists align the scan passes, evaluate the distortion of the wooden panel, and display three-dimensional surface relief features of the painting.
The results of this study are published in French in Au Coeur de la Joconde, by Les Editions Gallimard, and in English in Mona Lisa: Inside the Painting, published by Harry Abrams.
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The findings reveal that:.
* The wood panel on which the Mona Lisa is painted is sensitive to temperature and climate variations.
However, if its current storage conditions are maintained, there is no risk of degradation.
* The 12-cm split on the top half of the painting, which was probably due to the removal of the original frame and repaired between the middle of the XVIII century and beginning of the XIX century, appears to be stable and has not worsened over time.
* The very fine craquelure pattern recorded by the laser scanner seems to corroborate other inspection techniques and conclusions that support the principle of minimum intervention on the painting as recommended by the experts.
'We are very proud to be part of such an interesting project,' said Marc Soucy, President of InnovMetric Software.
'PolyWorks is often associated with manufacturing work, but this time our software solution played an important role in revealing some secrets behind the most famous painting in the world.
We are glad of our close cooperation with the NRC people and grateful for the great projects they bring to fruition,' he continued.
'The NRC group has a long, well-established RandD collaboration with InnovMetric.
From the foundation of the company, the PolyWorks suite has been a key ingredient in the development of this emerging new 3D technology,' said Francois Blais, Principal Research Officer and Technical Lead at NRC-IIT.
'PolyWorks' robustness and accuracy were crucial to the success of this project, and we are happy to count them on our team,' he concluded.
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