Project
Shape-From-Shading 3D reconstruction On-Line Tool
An open-source, cloud-based tool that reconstructs the 3D surface of squeezes, seals and other inscribed objects from photos taken under different lighting.
Digital Worlds Institute · Department of Classics · University of Florida
Digital Epigraphy & Archaeology
Bringing together digital media, computer science, and the humanities.
We develop open-access scientific tools for the humanities and apply ideas from digital and interactive media and computer science to archaeology and classics. Explore our 3D collections and exhibits, read about our results, try our tools, and learn where our research is heading.
Featured projects
All projectsProject
3D Scanning the Rosetta Stone
In 2018 a University of Florida and Leipzig team scanned the Rosetta Stone at the British Museum, producing a high-resolution 2D and 3D map of its inscribed surface.
Project
Digitization of Sculptures from the Museo Nazionale Romano
Statues from the Palazzo Altemps in Rome were digitized with low-cost infrared depth sensors and made searchable by pose instead of keywords.
Open-source tool
Turn photos of an inscribed surface into a 3D model
Upload pictures taken under 2 or 4 lighting directions and get a height map and normal map of squeezes, seals, embossments and more, right in your browser.
Recent publications
All publications-
Reinscribing the 3rd dimension in epigraphic studies and transcending disciplinary boundaries
Book chapter Numérique et lecture de textes épigraphiques altérés · December 2023
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Imprints of the Past: Preserving the Largest Known and Uncatalogued Collection of Semitic Artifacts in Europe
Web article American Society of Overseas Research · March 2023
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The Digital Rosetta Stone Project
Book chapter Ancient Egypt, New Technology: The Present and Future of Computer Visualization, Virtual Reality and other Digital Humanities i... · February 23, 2023
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Hieroglyphs: Unlocking Ancient Egypt
Book Hieroglyphs: Unlocking Ancient Egypt · October 13, 2022
Latest news
All news
News
German news outlet features the Digital Rosetta Stone project
Germany’s MDR featured the Digital Rosetta Stone project on November 28, 2019, describing how the stone was scanned in 3D at the British Museum.
News
“Touch the Exhibits”: An on-line Virtual Reality exhibition of Dragons and Lions
A virtual reality exhibition of dragons and lions marked the inauguration of UF’s 12th president and introduced the DEA Virtual Museum’s touch and gesture interface.
News
NEH Blog for Congressional Staff features Digital Epigraphy
The NEH’s Humanities Insights blog for Congressional staff featured the project on March 18, 2014.
Resources
All resourcesTool
Shape-from-Shading online tool
Open-source, browser-based tool that turns photos of an inscribed surface taken under 2 or 4 lighting directions into a height map and normal map.
Interactive 3D
Interactive 3D model of the Rosetta Stone
A high-resolution 3D model of the Rosetta Stone’s inscribed surface, scanned at the British Museum in 2018, that you can rotate, zoom and relight in the browser.
Dataset
Rosetta Stone depth map (open-access dataset)
Open-access depth map of the Rosetta Stone, generated in 2018 for the Digital Rosetta Stone project and deposited in three open repositories.
Working with institutions around the world
- University of Milan
- Cornell University
- University of California, Berkeley
- University of Lyon 2
- Ca’ Foscari University of Venice
- Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences
- Library of Congress
- UK National Archives
- The British Museum
- Tampa Museum of Art
- Palazzo Altemps, Rome
Supported by the National Endowment for the Humanities, the French Ministry of Higher Education, Ca’ Foscari University of Venice, and the University of Florida, among others. See all funding.