The course aims to provide students with the basic computer science knowledge and skills required for the digitization, management, and analysis of cultural, photographic, and audiovisual materials, with particular focus on digital restoration processes and the generation of digital representations.
By the end of the course, students will be able to understand the main computational tools and methods applied to cultural heritage, organize and process digital data and content, critically evaluate technical choices in relation to the conservation and enhancement of heritage, and appropriately document the processes and outcomes of the activities carried out.
Teaching Methods
Teaching is primarily based on theoretical lectures delivered with the support of slides. These are complemented by practical exercises and hands-on applications, dedicated to the analysis of real-world cases and the use of software tools, with the aim of consolidating and applying the knowledge acquired.
Assessment Methods
Assessment takes place through a written exam, aimed at verifying students' understanding of the theoretical concepts and methodologies covered in the course.
The written exam may be replaced, at the candidate's discretion and upon prior notice, by an oral exam, designed to assess the acquired knowledge in an equivalent manner.
Texts
The course teaching materials consist primarily of lecture slides, supplemented by recorded video lessons. The syllabus for non-attending students is the same as for attending students. No textbooks or monographs exist that comprehensively cover the needs of a course on computational methods for restoration. For further study of certain specific topics, particularly those related to colorimetry and color management, the following reference texts are suggested: Oleari, C., Standard Colorimetry: Definitions, Algorithms and Software, John Wiley & Sons, 2016. In addition to the slides, selected online teaching materials will also be provided (articles, technical documentation, and digital resources), useful for clarifying and expanding on the technical concepts covered in the course.
Contents
The course provides an overview of computational methods applied to the restoration, digitization, and management of images and video for cultural heritage, with particular focus on the representation, processing, and preservation of digital content. The syllabus includes:
• Color perception and color management, from the standard observer to Color Matching Functions and the principles of CIE colorimetry. • Color spaces, perceptual models, and color atlases, with applications to color reproduction and chromatic comparison. • Lighting and digital acquisition of images and video for documentation and restoration applications. • Color differences, gamut mapping, and chromatic reproduction in digital systems. • Luminous signal dynamics, visual perception, and High Dynamic Range (HDR) images and video. • Digitization processes for images and video, formats, resolution, compression, and data quality. • Digital restoration methods, chromatic and tonal enhancement, correction of defects and digital degradation. • General overview of software programs, algorithms, and tools for digital restoration, with applied examples. • Management, storage, and preservation of digital content, including archiving and long-term conservation aspects.
The syllabus is designed to provide conceptual and operational tools for the informed use of computational techniques in the restoration and enhancement of digital and audiovisual heritage.
