The Rijksmuseum Has Begun Operation Night Watch to Digitize Art
Colin Smith — January 13, 2022 — Tech
References: rijksmuseum.nl & theverge
'Operation Night Watch,' aptly named after Rembrandt van Rijn's 'The Night Watch,' is a research and restoration project undertaken by the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam. This project involved using a 100-megapixel camera to take 8,439 high-resolution photos that span each section of The Night Watch. These photos were then stitched together by an AI and color-corrected through a neural network.
The result is an incredibly detailed 717 gigapixel image that boasts a 5.6 terabyte file size. The original painting by Rembrandt is roughly 12 feet by 14 feet, which means each individual pixel in this file covers just 5 micrometers of the painting.
When viewing the image for free on the Rijksmuseum's website, one can zoom in all the way down to micro-cracks in the paint. This was a very difficult process to create, though if it is made more efficient in the future, this could point to a future of digital museums because images of this resolution are certainly worth paying for and are un-downloadable.
Image Credit: The Rijksmuseum
The result is an incredibly detailed 717 gigapixel image that boasts a 5.6 terabyte file size. The original painting by Rembrandt is roughly 12 feet by 14 feet, which means each individual pixel in this file covers just 5 micrometers of the painting.
When viewing the image for free on the Rijksmuseum's website, one can zoom in all the way down to micro-cracks in the paint. This was a very difficult process to create, though if it is made more efficient in the future, this could point to a future of digital museums because images of this resolution are certainly worth paying for and are un-downloadable.
Image Credit: The Rijksmuseum
Trend Themes
1. Ultra-high Resolution Museum Digitization - Using high-resolution cameras and AI to create extremely detailed digital images of artwork for preservation and viewing purposes.
2. Virtual Museum Tours - Allowing people to view artwork from around the world from the comfort of their home via virtual tours and interactive experiences.
3. Augmented Reality Museum Exhibits - Using AR technology to create interactive exhibits that allow visitors to engage with artwork in unique ways.
Industry Implications
1. Art and Culture - Innovations in technology creating new opportunities for museums, galleries, and online marketplaces to digitize and promote artwork.
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