A new system to acquire and restore document shape and content

Abstract

We have developed a system that can acquire and restore not only a distorted single-page document, but also more complicated multilayer film negatives. In this work, we demonstrate a new image-based document acquisition system, based on single-scatter diffuse transmission, that captures the intrinsic intensity information and shape distortion of documents. Using a simple to build and costeffective camera and LCD system, the data is acquired to allow for automatic photometric and geometric correction of most documents. We show the results of our system with single sheet nonplanar documents. Furthermore, to show the robustness of this system, we demonstrate the restoration on safety acetate film negatives over 70 years old that have been damaged due to shrinkage and other forms of deterioration.