Cambridge collaboration revolutionises the art of restoration

Revolutionary technology enables masterpieces to be seen as never before.

World-renowned Hamilton Kerr Institute has joined forces with Cambridgeshire company, SmartDrive, to provide revolutionary technology which enables art restorers, curators, gallery visitors and web-users to view masterpieces in a way never seen before.

The Earith company who specialise in motion control systems, used grant funding from the East of England Development Agency (EEDA) to develop SatScan® - a new digital scanner which is attracting the world’s attention. Using the latest in motion control technology, a camera glides over works of art surveying and gathering sequential digital images in the Ultra-violet, Visible and Infra-red parts of the spectrum, creating stunning ultra-high resolution images with extraordinary detail.

And the backing of UK Trade & Investment (UKTI), EEDA and the British Embassies in France, Spain and Italy has provided invaluable support in getting the project to world markets.

Watch our video to find our more about SmartDrive and how UKTI helped the company overseas.

Over 40 representatives from galleries across Europe were given the opportunity to see the scanner at work for themselves at a special seminar held at the Whittlesford-based Institute on 2 March 2010. Invitations were accepted from leading museums and art institutes as far a field as Madrid, Vienna, and Paris.

Whilst the ultra-high resolution image in the visible spectrum reveals surface detail, Infra-red images of paintings allow art historians to gain useful information about what lays beneath the surface of a picture.

The technique can be useful to detect later retouching and changes to the paint layers, as well as fascinating disclosures of the original drawings used to sketch the painting.

Rupert Featherstone, Director of the Hamilton Institute (a department of the Fitzwilliam Museum) explains:

‘As well as undertaking the conservation of easel paintings, the Institute prides itself on providing a pivotal role in educating painting conservators to the highest standard and contributing to scientific, technical and art historical research. This seminar will give us the opportunity to share our latest research with peers across the world.’

The SatScan system allows conservators to routinely capture images at over 1000dpi with visible light and 400dpi with Infra-red. The painting is positioned at a suitable distance from the scanner and the software takes over – instructing the system of the size of the painting and the level of detail required. The camera is then moved around capturing images as required. Dennis Murphy, Managing Director of SmartDrive and the Satscan designer, explains:

‘The SatScan® system enables conservators to capture geometrically accurate images and for the first time, accurately and automatically mosaic the images together using both positional and image data.

‘Previous scanning systems have employed an analogue Vidicon cameras and although at the time provided adequate images, was quite laborious and meant that conservators had to image only sections of the overall painting or spend days manually stitching images together on-screen. The SatScan system dramatically reduces the time to automatically scan numerous small area images and the stitch them together to produce ultra-high resolution images of the whole painting

Using the Infra-red capability Satscan produces images that reveal fascinating features from the original masterpiece never seen before. There is also the ability to capture Ultra-violet images which show the chemical differences in the paint. It’s been an exciting journey.’

Paul May, Executive Director of Innovation at EEDA, explains EEDA’s role in Smart Drive’s success story:

‘The East of England has rightfully assumed the title the UK’s ‘ideas region’ – we’re at the cutting-edge of world-renowned innovation and Smart Drive is true testament to that. Part of EEDA’s role, in improving the economy of the East of England, is about backing innovative companies with the targeted business support and finance they need to bring new products to the market. Smart Drive is one of 79 businesses to share over £2.5 million of grant funding in the last year alone. Giving them the boost they need to crack global markets.’

Mike Broderick, Associate Director of Smart Drive, explains how the company developed its latest product:

‘Knowing that we have something really exciting on our hands, we were keen to explore Satscan's potential in the wider international market.

UKTI has helped us to establish contacts in the large galleries in Spain and Italy and we were able to meet Senior Directors and Researchers at the world famous Louvre Museum through the French Embassy. Having local knowledge of major museums and galleries made it a much simpler process. This is good news for Cambridgeshire and the East of England, ensuring a future in export manufacturing over the next two to five years.’

Martin Keepfer, International Trade Advisor, added:

‘The project clearly demonstrates how new technologies are opening up export potential that has never been thought of before. This partnership is an inspirational example of how UK business can maintain its place and reputation in world trading. It is also a testimony to the work of EEDA in supporting companies in the East of England’.

Contacts

If you are based in the East of England and are interested in developing your business overseas please contact:

UKTI East of England

Tel: 0845 641 9955

Email: info@uktieast.org.uk