In 1996, IBM Research embarked on a multi-faceted project with Julius Lowy Frame and Restoring Company, Inc., the oldest and largest fine arts service firm in the United States. Lowy's primary services are the framing and conservation of works of fine art. Their clients include leading fine art galleries, auction houses, museums, and private collectors.
The project involved the development of a digital imaging system which would link to a pre-existing database of Lowy’s extensive inventory of antique picture frames. The resulting system has the capacity to directly scan picture frames and original works of art as large as 60 by 75 inches in size, as well as multiple format scanning of photographic transparencies. A custom application was developed in conjunction with the imaging system to provide a user-friendly search mechanism for the inventory and a unique and highly sophisticated "picture-in-frame" presentation capability. The high resolution scans provide very high quality display images with incredible detail and color accuracy. The system is also capable of generating photographic quality dye-sublimation prints with extreme color accuracy.
Sales consultants can either use the system interactively with clients in selecting appropriate antique frames for their original works of art, or can use the system independently to generate high-quality prints for framing recommendations. In either way, the system has greatly enhanced the efficiency of making a state-of-the-art framing presentation and has dramatically improved the ability to visually communicate the subtleties and details which are critical in successfully framing important works of art.
Some of the scanned frame images are shown separately.
The image at the right shows a small "picture-in-frame" image, in which the image of the art and the image of the frame, taken separately, have been digitally combined to provide an idea of what the combination would look like. Click on it for a more detailed description of the processing involved.
