Digital Preservation & Heritage Digitization

High-Fidelity 3D Archiving for Museums, Galleries, and Private Collections.

Preserving history requires a delicate balance of technical precision and aesthetic sensitivity. From our studio on the Plateau (corner of Berri/Duluth) or via our mobile on-site units, we provide museum-grade 3D scanning services designed to document, research, and showcase historical elements with unparalleled accuracy.

The New Frontier: Why Gaussian Splatting Changes Everything

For decades, 3D scanning was limited by the "Polygon Problem", the struggle to turn light and texture into a rigid geometric mesh. Gaussian Splatting has fundamentally rewritten these rules. By using millions of volumetric "splats" rather than flat triangles, we can now capture the optical behavior of an object, not just its shape. This technology allows us to digitize materials that were previously considered "impossible" for 3D:

  • Reflective & Refractive Surfaces: Polished gold, glazed ceramics, and even glassware that would typically "break" a standard laser scan.

  • Fine Volumetric Details: The delicate fuzz on a textile, frayed ancient ropes, or the intricate "airiness" of feathers and hair.

  • Thin & Transparent Structures: Delicate lace, insect wings, or semi-translucent parchment.

  • Complex Lighting: Capturing the way light dances off a gemstone or moves across a marble bust as you walk around it.

Technical Excellence in Conservation

We understand that every artifact is unique. Our workflow is designed to meet the rigorous standards of cultural institutions, ensuring that the digital surrogate is as faithful as possible to the physical original.

Our Approaches

  • Macro Photogrammetry: For small, intricate items (coins, jewelry, fossils) requiring microscopic surface detail.

  • Large-Scale Capture: For statuary, architectural elements, or entire gallery spaces.

  • The 400-Camera Array: Ideal for fragile organic materials or textiles where "instant" capture prevents any physical deformation or movement during the process.

  • Gaussian Splatting (3DGS): A cutting-edge radiance field technique that captures complex lighting, transparencies, and fine-edge details that traditional polygons often struggle to represent.

Service Applications

1. Research & Analysis

Generate high-resolution meshes for metrology, allowing researchers to measure dimensions, volume, and surface wear without ever touching the physical object.

2. Virtual Exhibitions & AR/VR

Create web-ready, optimized models for online galleries or immersive VR experiences. We deliver assets that maintain visual "weight" while performing seamlessly on mobile devices.

3. Restoration & 3D Printing

Provide 1:1 scale digital blueprints for physical restoration. Our scans can be used to 3D print missing components or create high-fidelity physical replicas for "touch" exhibits.

4. Conservation Documentation

Establish a "digital baseline" to track the degradation or structural changes of an object over time.

On-Site or In-Studio

We offer two distinct modes of operation depending on the stability and insurance requirements of your collection:

At Our Montréal Studio: Controlled Environment: Ideal for portable artifacts where we can utilize our full 400-camera synchronized rig for instant, high-precision capture. Location: Conveniently located at the intersection of Berri and Duluth

On-Site (Mobile Unit): Minimal Risk: We bring our equipment to your climate-controlled archives or gallery to eliminate the risks associated with transport. Global Reach: Our team is equipped for travel to historical sites and remote repositories.

The "Conservation-First" Advantage

For curators, speed is a benefit, but safety is the priority. Traditional 3D scanning often requires an object to be handled, rotated, or exposed to high-intensity "hot lights" for 30 to 60 minutes.

Our synchronized 400-camera array changes the safety profile of digitization:

  • Zero Handling: The object remains stationary. There is no need to flip or rotate fragile items to capture multiple angles.

  • Single Flash Exposure: Instead of prolonged exposure to heat and light, the artifact is captured in a single, synchronized flash (1/10,000 sec).

  • Minimal Intervention: We capture the data we need in milliseconds, reducing the "time-out-of-vault" and minimizing any environmental fluctuations.