Once created for everyday use, today sealed in a safe and airtight protection: generally speaking, early specimen of the art of bookmaking are difficult to access, if accessible at all. The privilege of leafing through such works was hitherto reserved for a select few. Because of their fragility and their tremendous value, for all intents and purposes these typically elaborately detailed works of art never leave the strongroom. The risk of seriously damaging these richly illustrated tomes and sheets of parchment is simply too great.

Even in public exhibitions, presenters could only offer a very limited view of these precious documents – until now. Because HHI researchers are opening previously unimaginable perspectives for museum visitors. Thanks to their solution – developed in collaboration with the Bavarian State Library – soon anyone can peruse, or simply leaf through, these antique books without compromising the delicate written works.  The trick: Readers will turn the pages of a virtual 3D presentation of the fragile original.

The practice of digitizing books – and thus safeguarding them from impending deterioration – has been almost commonplace for some time now. The output from these scans was always a collection of two dimensional, single pages. The new process goes from this point one decisive step further: “We created a generic book template – a kind of blank software book, with a book cover, book spine and individual pages,” explains Paul Chojecki, business unit manager at HHI. “Library employees can have existing scans and new ones simply flow into this book template with ease, and thereby compile a complete three-dimensional volume that looks just like the real thing. It can also be shown on a variety of displays.” Viewers can turn the pages just by pointing a finger at the corner of a page. In addition, the software analyzes video data on their positioning and the position of their hands. Moreover, the viewer can enlarge or reduce the view of the pages as needed; stored bookmarks indicate points of interest.


For the book to appear realistically, the software considers several things, like where the reader opens up the book: How do the pages arch when you open a book in the middle, and when you open it at the beginning? The scientists have even considered different book formats. Therefore, the various scans of books can be mapped to their original size and geometry. Readers obtain additional information from links to other books that the software is likewise able to display.

The “virtual book” has been in use at the Bavarian State Library for the last two years. But only on two dimensional displays until now, because the system used there could not yet support 3D displays. The researchers have since enhanced this software: Library employees are now able to produce 3D books from the 2D scans, and present them on any random three-dimensional display. This enhanced version was initially used in the „Magnificent Manuscripts“ exhibition at the Munich Kunsthalle der Hypo-Kulturstiftung, and was received by the visitors with tremendous enthusiasm.

At CeBIT, the HHI researchers will exhibit their software on a 3D display. However, the target groups include more than museum operators and visitors: The software can be used both for product catalogues, and therefore benefit mail-order companies. Another potential application can be found in the book trade: With the aid of the new technology, customers at book shops can page through books that are currently out of stock but can be ordered as needed.