Focus on Digitization! The workshops of the Látkép Festival explore the increasingly central role of digitization and technological innovation in art historical and museum practices. The demonstrations focus on cutting-edge methods such as 3D scanning and printing, visual applications of generative artificial intelligence, and the latest approaches in art object diagnostics. Participants will gain a comprehensive overview of how these technologies are reshaping research, documentation, and preservation processes, and how they can be applied responsibly and creatively within the field of visual culture.
3D Techniques in Fine Arts and Restoration Practice
The aim of the workshop is to briefly present and demonstrate, through real-life examples and live demonstrations, the use of software tools and physical devices that assist digital work in three-dimensional space. The vast range of digital tools available can significantly accelerate creative processes.
Another goal of the workshop is to provide a comprehensive overview of how 3D digital techniques can be integrated into artistic practice—for example, in sculptural design and execution. Participants will be introduced to methods for creating accurate digital replicas of artworks, applying 3D scanning and modeling techniques for documentation and analysis, as well as digitally designing and visually verifying sculptural additions. Furthermore, the workshop will demonstrate how reconstruction projects can be carried out using design software commonly used in the construction industry.
Workshop Program Overview
- 3D Laser Scanning
Creating a high-resolution 3D replica of an object, including post-processing steps. - Photogrammetry
Demonstration of photography using a DSLR camera and projection of textures onto the scanned object. - 3D Filament Printing
Preparing for and executing a print using the most accessible additive manufacturing method. - 3D Resin Printing
Introduction to a newer 3D printing technology, including preparation workflows. - 3D Digital Sculpting
Overview of the possibilities offered by the ZBrush software. - CAD Drawing
Reconstruction of buildings and applied art objects using vector-based drawing software, along with the preparation of scaled technical drawings. - Rendering
Object photography in the digital space and presenting the various outputs of the work in video and image formats.
Workshop leader: Ádám Albert, Attila Mézes (Hungarian University of Fine Arts)
Generative AI Workshop
The Future of Visual Arts: AI-Based Digital Solutions
In recent years, the emergence of digital technologies and artificial intelligence (AI) has brought fundamental changes to the field of visual arts. Generative and analytical models—such as Stable Diffusion, Midjourney, or CLIP—not only enable the creation of new visual content but also redefine methodologies for image analysis, style identification, data visualization, and the construction of digital archives.
The growing use of AI tools has given rise to new creative and research practices that increasingly rely on automated image analysis, the interpretation of text-image relationships, and the use of multimodal systems. These developments have led to a significant methodological shift in art history, visual culture studies, and the digital humanities.
The goal of this workshop is to provide a structured overview of the scientific applications of generative AI tools, with a special focus on their use in the visual arts. Through hands-on examples, participants will gain insight into the basics of prompt writing, tool selection, visual interpretation, and AI-based data visualization. The workshop will also emphasize the importance of academic integrity, transparency of data sources, and the joint discussion of ethical and methodological issues associated with the use of AI.
Workshop leader: Rebeka Kiss and Miklós Sebők (HUN-REN Centre for Social Sciences, poltextLAB)
Innovative Technologies in Art Object Diagnostics
Since 2020, the diagnostic laboratories of the National Centre for Museum Restoration and Storage (OMRRK) have played a significant role in art conservation on an international level. This presentation offers insight into the most advanced diagnostic procedures used not only for paintings but also for a variety of supports, including canvas, wood, silicate, and stone. Microscopic, photographic, and advanced instrumental analyses—such as XRF spectrometry, SEM microscopy, and multispectral photographic diagnostics—enable the identification of the material composition of artworks and support their long-term preservation.
Non-invasive diagnostic tools contribute to the creation of a digital “fingerprint” of the object, facilitating the development of databases and the wide sharing of research findings. OMRRK’s innovations open new horizons not only in Hungarian but also in international heritage preservation, reinforcing the role of museums as modern providers of scientific content.
The aim of the workshop is to provide participants with a comprehensive overview of current diagnostic techniques and their role in art conservation, as well as in the scientific field of conservation-restoration (science conservation).
Workshop leader: Béla Tamás Kónya (Museum of Fine Arts - National Museum Conservation and Storage Centre)
From Artifact to 3D Model – An Introduction to Photogrammetry
In recent years, the three-dimensional digitization of artifacts using photogrammetry has become increasingly popular. The basic principle of this technique is to take a large number of photographs of an object from different angles. Specialized software can then generate a 3D model from these images. This method offers an accessible and cost-effective alternative to the much more expensive 3D laser scanning.
On one of the most well-known online platforms for 3D models, Sketchfab, a wide range of artifacts from both Hungarian and international museums are available to explore. Today, photogrammetric digitization of smaller objects has become widely accessible around the world. This is reflected in the abundance of online tutorials demonstrating various approaches—from simple “turn your phone into a 3D scanner” solutions to more advanced methods requiring professional equipment such as controlled lighting and DSLR cameras.
The rapid digital developments of recent years, along with the growing popularity of the technology, have contributed to the widespread use of photogrammetry. As a result, it is now available not only to professionals, but also to interested beginners and enthusiasts.
During the workshop, participants will follow the complete workflow of digitizing a selected artifact—from photographing the object and processing the images to creating a finished 3D model.
Workshop leader: Virág Somogyvári (HUN-REN RCH Institute of Art History)
