Toward Perceptually Accurate Digital Color in Cultural Heritage: A Multispectral and VR-Integrated Framework for Virtual Restoration
DIGITAL APPLICATIONS IN ARCHAEOLOGY AND CULTURAL HERITAGE, vol.41, no.E00548, pp.1-14, 2026 (Scopus)
- Publication Type: Article / Article
- Volume: 41 Issue: E00548
- Publication Date: 2026
- Doi Number: 10.1016/j.daach.2026.e00548
- Journal Name: DIGITAL APPLICATIONS IN ARCHAEOLOGY AND CULTURAL HERITAGE
- Journal Indexes: Scopus
- Page Numbers: pp.1-14
- Süleyman Demirel University Affiliated: Yes
Abstract
Digital color is not only a visual property of cultural heritage objects but a multidimensional phenomenon shaped by material accuracy, perceptual experience, and interpretive reconstruction. This study introduces a Virtual Reality-based framework that integrates spatial, spectral, and perceptual components of digital color restoration. Using the Tokali-Church fresco as a case study, the artwork was documented through photogrammetry, structured-light scanning, and multispectral imaging to reveal hidden pigment traces. Spectral data were embedded into a physically-based rendering (PBR) model to simulate metameric color shifts under natural-daylight, museum spotlight, and warm artificial light. Two restoration scenarios—minimal intervention and full reconstruction—were presented to users in VR. Experience was evaluated with the SUS, UEQ-S, and a custom Perceptual Assessment Questionnaire. Results demonstrate statistically significant effects of both lighting conditions and restoration strategies on perceptual realism and aesthetic satisfaction, with full reconstruction achieving the highest scores. The study underscores digital color restoration as a human-centered perceptual process.