Chippewa Valley Times

Software developed at the University of Wisconsin-Stout is aiding museums globally in preserving cultural heritage through 3D models. This software, Kintsugi 3D, was created by Assistant Professor Michael Tetzlaff and UW-Stout students. It has been employed by prominent institutions such as the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, the Museum of Cultural History in Oslo, and others.

Mia Lead Collections Photographer Charles Walbridge praised the software: “Documenting the art is incredibly important, and we want to get it out in the world however we can.” The project’s name comes from kintsugi, a Japanese art form that repairs pottery with precious metals.

Kintsugi 3D addresses shortcomings in existing photogrammetry software by accurately capturing materials and textures. Tetzlaff noted its ability to render realistic 3D models with dynamic lighting: “The big thing that our software does is it allows you to process those photographs and then builds a compact representation of what the material of the object looks like.”

The project received significant funding from a $75,000 National Endowment for the Humanities grant in collaboration with Mia and Cultural Heritage Imaging. Luke Denney, a computer science major involved in Kintsugi 3D's development, stated that working on this project prepared him for his career at IBM.

Chloe Ferguson contributed as a user experience designer, enhancing her understanding of textures and materials while collaborating with stakeholders. She remarked on her pride in seeing her work benefit cultural heritage groups directly.

Walbridge continues to engage professionals with Kintsugi 3D through presentations and training sessions. He emphasized the software's impact: “None of the current forms of 3D scanning are able to capture this kind of specularity.”

The use of Kintsugi 3D at institutions like the National Gallery of Art has led to collaborations with UW-Stout’s game design program. Tetzlaff expressed optimism about future opportunities: “It’s a nice feedback loop where we’re supporting the museums... leading to additional opportunities for Stout students.”