The master’s thesis addresses the accessibility of sculptural works for blind and partially sighted individuals, who are frequently excluded from direct tactile engagement with artworks in museums and galleries. The purpose of the research was to increase accessibility by producing high-quality tactile models that, through the use of modern digital technologies, enable the blind and visually impaired to perceive, understand, and experience sculptural works. The central objective of the study was to establish and evaluate an optimized workflow for the production of tactile reproductions, encompassing three-dimensional scanning of a sculptural work, digital model preparation, three-dimensional printing, post-processing, and evaluation of the final products by the target user group.
The research was based on a combination of theoretical review and experimental work. In the experimental phase, a selected sculptural work, Portret deklice (Portrait of a girl) by Ivan Zajec, Collection of National Gallery of Slovenia in Ljubljana, was subjected to 3D scanning, followed by digital model preparation and the production of physical reproductions using different 3D printing technologies and materials. The produced artefacts included polymer replicas manufactured by fused deposition modeling, a stereolithographic print, and a plaster replica created using an elastic mould. The mould consisted of two parts: the first made of synthetic polymer material and the second, a protective shell, made of plaster. Various post-processing procedures, including sanding, filling, and the application of surface coatings, were applied with the aim of improving tactile readability. The final reproductions were evaluated by blind and partially sighted participants through a structured questionnaire and hands-on testing.
The results demonstrated that the quality of tactile reproductions was not determined by a single technological step, but by the coherence of the entire production workflow. The plaster replica provided the most realistic and convincing tactile experience, while appropriately post-processed polymer models represented an effective and rational alternative to the plaster version. The research confirmed the proposed hypotheses and demonstrated that modern digital technologies can significantly contribute to improving access to sculptural cultural heritage for blind and partially sighted individuals.
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