Lancaster Museums Create 3D Printed Versions of Paintings for the Visually Impaired

In a recent project, Lancaster City Museums, Lancaster University, and Galloway’s Society for the Blind in Morecambe joined forces to 3D print relief versions of paintings from the museum’s art collection. The purpose of this is to give people with visual impairments the opportunity to engage with and admire the artwork at the museum. The project is going to be conducted by two university engineering students, who will be working together with the Museum and Galloway’s.

When it comes to art and museums, most people think of them as something that is purely visual. For anyone who is planning on visiting a gallery, the thought alone of not being able to see the masterpieces of art would simply not make any sense. Therefore, it is hard to imagine how one might interact with famous paintings and admire their beauty without the visual aspect. Thanks to an initiative at the Lancaster City Museum and with the help of additive manufacturing, however, those with visual impairments will be given the opportunity to enjoy famous pieces of art as well.

Inside the Lancaster City Museum

How The Reliefs Are Made

As mentioned earlier, the initiative, named the ‘Feeling as Seeing project’, will be using 3D printing technologies to create relief versions of the paintings exhibited at the Lancaster City Museums. The 3D printed pieces will be created in a way, in which those unable to see can get an impression of the artwork by touching it. The process of feeling the artwork is similar to the reading of letters written in braille. What exact technologies and materials are going to be used for the process haven’t been revealed yet. It is also likely that each 3D printed relief will include an individual audio description.