Recently, the "Oriental Traditional Color Plan" project, initiated jointly by the Color Research Institute of the Art and Science Research Center of Tsinghua University, the Color Design and Application Laboratory of Tsinghua Qingdao Art and Science Innovation Research Institute, and Guizhou Moutai Group, focusing on Qing Dynasty glassware, explores the historical evolution and artistic value of Chinese color aesthetics through high-precision photography and measurement of cultural relic samples.
// Color Collection of Three-Dimensional Samples
Glassware shows color through both transmission and reflection. Moreover, three-dimensional glassware presents challenges for color measurement stability due to variations in shape, curvature, thickness, gloss, and surface patterns.
To maximize the accurate collection and digital reconstruction of the actual color of objects, the project has undergone preliminary research work such as optical path design, modeling, and simulation, ultimately achieving uniform illumination in the experimental environment, ensuring that the photography and color measurement results of three-dimensional physical samples are real, stable, and consistent. Behind each image is strict control over color rendering, illumination, shadow reduction index, and color calibration.
The color comparison light source should maintain a certain uniformity and shadow reduction in three-dimensional space to minimize the impact of light and shadow changes, such as highlights and shadows, on the color collection of three-dimensional objects.
// High-Precision Experimental Environment and Equipment for Color Collection
The project team used a Nikon D90 camera and a Konica Minolta CS2000 spectrophotometer to complete the color analysis of Qing Dynasty glassware. During the measurement, the light source adopted the standard D65 illuminant (color temperature 6500K), and the illumination was controlled at 500±50 lux, ensuring the accuracy of the measurement process. Each artifact was measured multiple times at appropriate color points based on its gloss, curvature, thickness, texture, and pattern characteristics, and the average value was taken to extract the representative color values, maximizing the scientific and reliability of the data.
// Empowering Technology: Digital Color Database Construction
Color standardization and digitization are important means to ensure color consistency and repeatability in color applications.
Through scientific measurement and collection of the actual colors of glassware, the project has further accumulated traditional color samples' color values, spectral data, and other color information. The measurement results are further converted into digitized color values of Lab, Lch, RGB, CMYK, Lab, and other color standards, constructing a digital traditional color database.
With the gradual advancement of database construction, we will further expand research on other traditional colors, record the "color fingerprints" of traditional Chinese colors, and explore more application scenarios. In the future, these color data will not only be applied to the protection of cultural heritage but also provide new momentum for the innovative development of the cultural industry.
