/ Case Studies Heritage Digitisation
Wigan and Leigh Archives - Persian Calligraphy and Textile Volumes
Specialist digitisation of large-format bound volumes containing rare artistic and textile material
Microform was commissioned by Wigan and Leigh Archives to digitise a collection of large-format bound volumes comprising Persian calligraphy and Victorian textile samples.
The collection included seven A1-sized volumes of Persian calligraphy featuring coloured and gold leaf detail, alongside one bound volume containing mounted Victorian fabric samples.
The material is visually rich and historically significant, requiring high-quality digital capture to support both preservation and access.
/ The Challenge
How do you digitise oversized bound volumes containing delicate artwork, reflective gold leaf, and mounted textiles while maintaining accurate colour, detail, and physical protection within a compressed delivery timeframe?
Material sensitivity and scale
The project involved oversized and highly specialised bound volumes combining artistic, paper-based, and textile elements. Accurate capture depended on preserving both visual fidelity and the physical integrity of the original material.
- A1-sized bound volumes requiring careful positioning and support
- Intricate coloured and gold leaf calligraphy needing detailed capture
- Mounted Victorian textile samples within a bound structure
- Requirement for accurate colour reproduction across artwork and fabrics
Specialist capture approach
Microform implemented a controlled digitisation workflow tailored to large-format and mixed-media material, using heritage capture methods designed to protect both paper and textile components.
- High-resolution cultural heritage capture systems for large-format material
- Careful support of bound volumes throughout digitisation
- Non-invasive handling techniques to protect paper and textile elements
- Consistent framing and image quality maintained across all volumes
Colour, texture, and reflective detail
Special attention was given to the accurate capture of colour, texture, and reflective surfaces so that both the calligraphy and fabric samples could be represented faithfully in digital form.
- Controlled lighting used to capture colour and texture accurately
- Reflective materials such as gold leaf recorded without loss of detail
- Textile samples captured to preserve visual richness and surface character
- Rapid delivery achieved within a compressed project timeframe
/ Long-term benefits
Large-format expertise
Oversized bound volumes were digitised safely and accurately.
Mixed-media handling
The workflow supported both rare calligraphy and mounted textile samples.
Faithful visual capture
Colour, texture, and reflective surfaces were preserved in the digital outputs.
Preservation and access
Digital access reduces the need for future handling of the original volumes.
/ Outcome
The collection was successfully digitised to a high standard, capturing the fine detail of the calligraphy alongside the colour and texture of the textile samples. The digital outputs now support preservation and access, enabling the material to be viewed and studied without repeated handling of the original bound volumes.