New Frontiers in the Digital Restoration of Hidden Texts in Manuscripts: A Review of the Technical Approaches

Abstract

The digital restoration of historical manuscripts centers on deciphering hidden writings, made imperceptible to the naked eye due to factors such as erasure, fading, carbonization, and aging effects. Recent advancements in modern technologies have significantly improved our ability to unveil and interpret such written cultural heritage that, for centuries, had remained inaccessible to contemporary understanding. This paper aims to present a critical overview of state-of-the-art technologies, engaging in discussions about perspectives and limitations, and anticipating future applications. Serving as a practical guide, this work seeks to assist in the selection of techniques for digitally restoring ancient writings. Additionally, potential and challenges associated with integrating these techniques with advanced machine-learning approaches are also outlined.

Enhanced and Combined Representations in Extended Reality through Creative Industries

“…The traditional ways of digitizing cultural heritage and the testing of innovative methodologies contribute to the documentation, conservation, maintenance, restoration, and better communication of cultural assets [15]. This may concern ancient artifacts, works of contemporary art, archival collections, buildings, archaeological sites, and more [16,17]. Thus, repositories and infrastructures host various collections of digital cultural heritage assets accompanied by their metadata and paradata [18].…”