About modeling cultural heritage objects with limited computers resources

Abstract

Modeling real-life objects although in reach of current technology used to be confined to a niche of sophisticated industrial applications because of the high equipment costs involved. The costs of 3D imaging devices are substantially coming down, furthermore 3D modeling, within certain object complexities, is becoming feasible with limited (and inexpensive) computer resources. This work reports on modeling complex real-life objects with small computer resources. Practical provisions and clear examples of the object complexity in reach of the resources of this league are presented. Our considerations hold general validity but are demonstrated by examples pertaining to the field of cultural heritage, which is the field of our interest. This area is representative both of the typical difficulties encountered in practical 3D modeling and of the great opportunities offered by these techniques once production costs are substantially lowered.