The Book of Kells: Investigations of Style and Design Through the Application of Non Photorealistic Rendering – (Ph.D.)

The Book of Kells, which is widely regarded as the most ornate and famous illuminated manuscripts in the world, represents the greatest treasure in the Trinity College Library. Wonderfully painted on almost every page, it contains the four Christian Gospels together with various prefatory texts and tables, the whole work created by Celtic monks ca. 800 AD.

This multidisciplinary research project will tackle some long standing problems associated with the style and design of decoration within the Book through the use of digital media. Employing methods from the field of Non-photorealistic Rendering (NPR), specific stylistic and design features will be captured and analysed, with the aim of exploring geometrical patterns and compositions, colour palettes and material properties, as well as visceral mood and style.

The aim is to place traditional methods of analysis employed by the art historian on a deeper, more objective and scientific basis. The project will provide an innovative approach to long standing problems, while at the same time giving the Book itself a new and more dynamic relevance in 21st century society.

Funding is available to cover fees and maintenance for a 4 year PhD Student to undertake the major research work on this project. The intended start date for the project is October 2010.

The goal of this project is to develop innovative techniques for the segmentation, interactive rendering and visualisation of digitally scanned imagery from the Book of Kells with the purpose of assisting in scholarly discovery of patterns in its style and design by art historians and art researchers (and secondarily by the lay public). Analysis and modelling of the styles, colours and techniques used in the creation of its pages will be used to capture and encapsulate elements of the visual design so that the essence of the book may be understood, segmented and possibly even procedurally reproduced in imagery and models.

This will involve working closely with Art Historians to determine the relevant facets of design and creativity that are of interest to scholars and artists, providing insights that should lead to the development of techniques for detection, segmentation, measurement and recreation of specific stylistic elements.

The technical challenges of the project fall within the fields of Computer Graphics and Image Processing, and may include

* analysis and modelling of the styles, colours and techniques
* semi-automatic assisted segmentation of image elements
* accurate modelling of material and surface properties of the vellum and pigments
* procedural creation of original imagery and digital content themed on the styles of the book
* analysis and modelling of wear and weathering on the inks and vellum to simulate how the original print may have looked like
* rendering imagery under varying simulated lighting conditions to simulate how the book was originally perceived upon creation (it is believed the pages were created by monks in severely under-lit conditions)

* development of techniques capable of facilitating collaborative, remote and online exploration that will reach and engage students and the general public