Technical record of the 3D digitisation
This record documents how the pieces in the archive are digitised in 3D, so that the process can be verified and repeated. It is updated after every session.
Aim
To obtain a three-dimensional model of each doll that is faithful to its shape and finishes and suitable for public viewing in the browser, and to keep the source material and the parameters used alongside it, so that any model can be redone or improved in the future.
Equipment and software
- Camera
- Xiaomi 15T Pro, main camera (23 mm equivalent, f/1.62, optical stabilisation), in manual mode.
- Support
- Tripod with a ball head. The piece turns on a rotating base with a printed, true-scale disc of marks.
- Lighting
- Soft natural light (overcast day or fabric diffuser), no flash.
- Processing
- KIRI Engine, Photo Scan mode (cloud photogrammetry), web version.
- Viewer
- Custom code built on the three.js r170 library (MIT licence), served from this same domain, with no external services.
Capture protocol
All camera parameters are set manually before starting and are not touched during the session. If the camera changed the exposure, colour or lens from one photo to the next, the reconstruction would lose accuracy.
| Parameter | Value | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Lens | Main (1x) | Highest quality; the ultra-wide distorts the edges. |
| Resolution and format | 12.5 MP, high-quality JPG | Enough for a 4K texture, with manageable files. |
| ISO | 100–200 | Minimal noise on the porcelain surface. |
| White balance | Fixed, set against a white reference | The colour of the clothing does not shift between photographs. |
| Focus | Manual, checked with focus peaking on the face | It does not change during the round. |
| Exposure | Shutter speed set using the histogram and the overexposure warning | No blown highlights on the porcelain or the lace. |
| Phone processing | “Authentic” colour; HDR, AI scenes, watermark and automatic lens switching turned off | Faithful colour and no automatic alterations. |
| Round | Camera height | Tilt | Rotation between shots | Photos |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | At the waist height of the piece | 0° (level) | 10° | 36 |
| 2 | About 25 cm higher | About 30° downwards | 15° | 24 |
| 3 | About 50 cm higher | About 60° downwards | 30° | 12 |
In total, about 72 photographs per piece, plus detail shots (sewn label, engraved “RI” initials or the automaton's plate), which are added to the catalogue entry. The piece always turns in the same direction and never rests against a backrest, so that its back is recorded.
The rotation marks and the session sheet are available in the template Turntable disc and session sheet.
Processing
The photographs are processed with automatic object masking, a high-density mesh and a 4K texture. The result is exported in GLB format: a single file containing the geometry, texture and materials.
The photographs and models in this archive are not shared with third parties. In every processing project, the option that allows the images to be used to train artificial intelligence systems and the option that allows the model to be shown outside this site are explicitly turned off.
Publication criteria
- The published model is a lighter version of the original, under 15 MB and with textures of 2048 px at most, so that it opens well on mobile phones.
- The high-resolution original model and the source photographs are kept outside the website, identified by piece number and session date.
- The viewer works with mouse, touch screen and keyboard; it only rotates on its own when asked to, and it respects the system's reduced-motion preference.
- Each model links to its catalogue entry, which remains the documentary reference for the piece (measurements, maker's mark and provenance).
Status of the pieces
| Piece | Status | Photo session | Photos | Model size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nº 22 | In preparation | — | — | — |
Log
-
Defining the method
The capture protocol and camera configuration are established. A first attempt using the five catalogue photographs of piece Nº 22 proves unworkable: the photogrammetry software requires at least 20 images and, above all, those photos do not show the back or the sides. It is decided to hold a dedicated session for each piece, starting with Nº 22 as a pilot, and the printable turntable disc template is prepared.