A Study on the Prevention of Specular Reflections in 3D Scanning of Glossy Artifacts

Abstract. Non-contact 3D scanners, which are commonly used for 3D recordings in the field of cultural heritage, use optical technology that relies on light. However, when applied to glossy or dark surfaces, such as those of glass and metal, these scanners often generate data errors due to light reflection and absorption. In practice, such limitations have been documented during the scanning of Korean cultural heritage objects of various materials, including Buddhist sculptures, white porcelain, and celadon, thereby presenting significant challenges to the establishment of comprehensive 3D heritage databases. To address these challenges, this study evaluated the material safety and applicability of naturally vanishing scanning sprays in the 3D scanning of glossy artifacts. The material safety test results for the spray were judged to be ‘permanent’, and no noticeable physical or chemical changes were observed on the specimen surface before and after spray application. Furthermore, no significant differences were found in the resulting 3D scan data based on the type of spray or the material of the scanned object. These findings confirm both the material safety and the practical applicability of vanishing scanning sprays in the context of cultural heritage. Based on the results, this study suggests that such sprays can be effectively used to minimize surface damage while improving the accuracy of 3D scan data in real-world documentation of glossy heritage surfaces.