IntroductionThe Stone of Destiny, also known as the Stone of Scone, is an ancient symbol of Scotlands monarchy that has been used for centuries in the inauguration of its kings. But its earliest origins are unknown.Before the coronation of King Charles III, the Stone of Destiny and the Honours of Scotland (Crown, Sword of State and Sceptre) were digitised in 3D by the Digital Documentation and Innovation team at Historic Environment Scotland (HES), and you can view and explore this collection of models on our Honours of Scotland Sketchfab Collection.The main aims of the capture were to:produce digital models which can be shared online as an alternate way to virtually access the objects.create a 3D record of the Stone of Destiny and the Honours of Scotland to accurately capture their condition at the time of the survey.produce scaled 2D imagery for the specialist stone and metal conservators.create a 1:1 scale 3D print replica of the Stone.HES published a report The Stone of Destiny: Condition Assessment, Scientific Analysis and Digital Documentation 2023. Downloadable for free from their website, it details the work their Digital Documentation and Innovation team, and others, carried out on the Stone in preparation for the coronation. In this blog, David Vacas Madrid, Senior Digital Documentation Officer at HES, gives a summary and an inside look into how the team captured this priceless piece of Scottish history and helped conservators and collections experts prepare for the Stones role in the Coronation.Digitally documenting the Stone in 3DThe Stone was captured through photogrammetry, a digital documentation method to create accurate, measurable, and textured 3D models through photography. This was done by taking hundreds of images from different angles and heights around the Stone. David Vacas Madrid scanning the Stone through photogrammetry at Edinburgh Castle.Wider context images aided the photogrammetry software in alignment (above), and additional closer images added detail to the model. The Stone had to be turned four times by two conservators in order to capture every face and angle.In total, 862 photos were taken. The equipment consisted of a full-frame DSLR camera with a 35, 50, and 90mm lens to take the shots at different ranges. The team used a ring flash to provide medium soft lighting to the Stone, eliminating as much shadow from the texture as possible.Regular scales with circular 20-bit targets and a precision calibrated scale with targets aided in alignment between each image and ensured accurate scale to the 3D model.All the images were processed then aligned in RealityCapture to create the final 3D model (pictured below). Aligned images in RealityCapture, each white triangle representing an image taken of the Stone.Monitoring the Stones conditionThe resulting 3D model can be used as a highly accurate snapshot of the condition of the Stone at the time it was surveyed. Experts can use this data for condition reports and monitoring the Stone over time, both through 3D and 2D outputs, such as orthographic views, showcased below.Orthographic views are 2D renders that are accurately scaled and highly detailed, ready to be annotated and examined by stone conservators and heritage scientists. Orthographic, measurable, and high-resolution images of the Stone for Conservators to mark up and monitor change.Virtual viewingThe model of the Stone of Destiny and the Honours of Scotland are publicly available to view on Sketchfab. Beyond lending an up close and personal view to a highly significant piece of national heritage, the virtual lens provides unique conditions to tease out different stories of the Stone itself. Sketchfab model of the Stone with Base Color view.Take the side view of the Stone, for example, in the image above. By viewing it with its Base Color only, without post-processing (pressing 2 on the keyboard), the viewer can see the pinkish colour of the buff sandstone that the Stone is made up of, telling a geological story dating back 400 million years. Sketchfab model of the Stone with Matcap + Surface view.In the same view, the virtual model can strip away the colour information and view the geometry alone (press 3 twice on the keyboard for Matcap + Surface), pictured above. Here one might see the story of tool marks and the craftsperson who worked the Stone. On this face alone there is evidence of three different types of toolmarks visible. Underside of the Stone with repair work visible.Turning the Stone upside down a feat only this easily achieved in the virtual space and resetting the model to the Final Render (pressing 1 on the keyboard), the viewer can see in the above image a story of more recent repair from the 1950s.Rehearsing with replicasThe digital model does not only shine in the virtual space. 3D printing 1-to-1 scaled replicas of artefacts allow for handling those that are precious or unwieldy; the Stone of Destiny is both.Prior to the Coronation, the team printed out a life size replica of the Stone and the Coronation Chair in an industrial sized 3D printer (pictured below). The resulting print aided in the careful preparations for transporting it down to Westminster Abbey and placing it in the Chair. It allowed experts to choreograph each movement so that they were certain of placement and fit. Today, the print is a tool for education and outreach at Edinburgh Castle. 3D print of the Stone in one-to-one scale with the actual object.Final thoughtsThe 3D digitisation work undertaken by the Digital Documentation and Innovation team was the most detailed documentation of the Stone of Destiny ever undertaken. It has provided accurate 3D imagery and models that will prove useful for future conservation and research activity, and act as an invaluable digital record of the Stone.Take an annotated tour of the Stone and its stories through HES Sketchfab model here: Learn more about the conservation and digitisation work carried out on the Stone of Destiny by downloading HES report, The Stone of Destiny: Condition Assessment, Scientific Analysis and Digital Documentation 2023.About the author David Vacas Madrid I am a Senior Digital Documentation Officer on the Digital Documentation and Innovation team at Historic Environment Scotland. The Digital Documentation and Innovation Team members conducting the documentation works for the Stone of Destiny and the Honours of Scotland were David Vacas Madrid, Sophia Mirashrafi, Adam Frost and Al Rawlinson. You can learn more about this team and all the teams at the Engine Shed, HES dedicated building conservation centre and digital innovation hub, by visiting their website: www.engineshed.scot.No CommentsRelated articles