Roland DG’s LEC2 series of wide format printers/cutters offer unmatched production capabilities, including creating unique special 3D effects using UV ink and contour cutting printed images on demand.
Roland DG Corporation has cooperated on a high-resolution digital reproduction of Katsushika Hokusai’s Phoenix Glaring in All Directions ceiling painting, which will be shown in the ‘Digital x Hokusai’ special exhibition organised by Nippon Telegraph and Telephone East Corporation (NTT East) and planned and managed by NTT ArtTechnology Corporation.
The artwork is currently featured in the main hall of Gansho-in Temple in Obuse, Nagano Prefecture. Ukiyo-e master Hokusai, who passed away at the age of 90, painted this work in his final years, and it is said to be the largest painting of its kind (5.5m in depth × 6.3m in width). The high-resolution digital reproduction will be exhibited as the centerpiece of the ‘Digital x Hokusai’ interactive art exhibition to be held from June 2, 2022 in Tokyo, Japan.
The digitalisation of this painting and the production of a high-resolution digital reproduction were conducted as a part of the ‘Distributed Digital Museum’ promoted by NTT East and NTT ArtTechnology. The ceiling painting was digitalized by Ars Techne Corporation., a partner of NTT ArtTechnology, using its patented technology DTIP, a high-definition three-dimensional texture image processing technology. Ars Techne estimated and restored incomplete painting areas and performed multilayer processing for each texture. Based on this high-precision data, which amounted to approximately 30 billion pixels, Roland DG output the image in its original size by using a UV inkjet printer.
Kohei Tanabe, President, Representative Director of Roland DG said, ‘Our LEC2-640 UV inkjet printer was used to print the reproduction of the original painting. This project required not only a wide colour gamut and accurate colour reproduction, but also the need to faithfully reproduce the texture of the paint and the brushwork done by hand, the brilliance of the gold leaf, and the reflections of the oil and smoke ink, which is a unique highlight of this work. The expressive power of our UV inkjet printer, which is capable of printing special effects, was indispensable in this process.’
Manabu Kunieda, President and CEO of NTT ArtTechnology said, ‘We are very pleased with the results of the high-definition digital reproduction. We were able to reproduce the vivid colors and elaborate techniques used in the Phoenix Glaring in All Directions, and especially the way the ceiling painting shines under certain conditions that were discovered during the digitalisation process. By utilising digital technology, we can now view artwork that previously could only be seen on site, in an environment that is accessible to all, regardless of space, distance, or time. This will not only protect valuable cultural assets, but also open up new possibilities for the enjoyment of culture and the arts and will lead to an interaction among people and regional revitalisation.’
Iwao Kubota, President and CEO of Ars Techne said, ‘There are many UV inkjet printer makers, but Roland DG was willing to take on the challenge of producing a huge size, high-definition, multi-textured output, which was an uncharted area. The positive attitude of Roland DG was a great example of their corporate culture, and I think that this project would not have been possible without Roland DG.’
Tanabe concluded, ‘The visions and initiatives of NTT East, NTT ArtTechnology, and Ars Techne, which are to use digital technology to convey the beauty of art and culture, have much in common with our company, which develops our business while valuing the creativity of people. I feel great significance and pleasure in participating in this project, and it is also a great honor for us to be involved with Hokusai’s works, which are the pride of Japan in the world. We hope that many people will come to see the wonderful exhibition of the restored original paintings, which will also include projection mapping and other exciting digital effects.’
|
LOCAL DISTRIBUTOR
|
