Japanese Painting Study Tool: A System for Creating Nihonga Portraits

Abstract

Nihonga is a type of Japanese traditional drawing, and its delicate colors and textures are attractive. However, it is difficult for Japanese people to create nihonga, because it is necessary to prepare many kinds of expensive art supplies and to master complex classical techniques. Therefore, we developed a system that allows even people who do not have special skill of drawing to create nihonga portraits. Nihonga has contour, little shading, and simple expressions. Because we use these features of nihonga, the user can create a portrait only by combining some images as if they were making a collage, and system processing and interface are very simple. Furthermore, it also allows those who are expert painters to use paintings completed using the system as a reference before creating or repairing actual nihonga portraits. Also, this system provides a new method of using digital archives.