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Commemorative bust reconstructed from an archive photograph

A bust of Édouard Gruner recreated from a single black-and-white archive photograph, for the exhibition of the Société de l'histoire du protestantisme français.

  • Cultural heritage
  • Reconstruction
  • Large-format 3D printing
  • July 2025
Commemorative bust reconstructed from an archive photograph
// ClientSociété de l'histoire du protestantisme français
// SectorCultural heritage
// Technology3D modelling · 3D printing
// CompletedJuly 2025

Client's need

1

The brief

Create a bust of Édouard Gruner from an old photograph, for commemorative use within the Société de l'Histoire du Protestantisme Français. The result had to be faithful, legible and of high enough quality for large-format printing. The project was carried out in collaboration with several specialist partners to guarantee a result worthy of expectations.

The brief
2

The need

The client had only a single black-and-white archive photograph. Moving from that image to a printable bust took several steps:

  • Clean up the photo to bring out the facial features
  • Generate a base 3D model with the Makerlab tool
  • Improve the geometry through manual retouching
  • Test the overall result on a miniature prototype
  • Adapt the base with specific inscriptions
The need
3

Our goal

Our mission was to produce a large-format bust that was faithful, attractive and technically clean, from a single photograph. This work required:

  • Close collaboration with two partners: an image-processing specialist and a 3D modeller
  • Step-by-step validation with test prints to guarantee the result
  • Precise scaling of the base and the head to ensure the stability and visual impact of the whole
Our goal

Our response

1

Creating the 3D model from a photograph

  • To begin, we had to reconstruct Édouard Gruner's face from a single archive photo. The image clean-up was entrusted to a specialist partner to improve the contrasts and volumes.
  • Automatic generation of the bust using the Makerlab tool, providing an initial working base.
  • Manual clean-up and retouching of the generated file, carried out by a partner 3D modeller to refine the details, in particular the contours of the face, hair and collar.
Creating the 3D model from a photograph
2

Printing a miniature prototype

  • Before committing to the large-format print, a first miniature version was made. Reduced scale to check the overall proportions and general result.
  • Addition of a custom base, modelled to stabilise the piece and incorporate an inscription at the client's request.
  • This prototype gathered initial feedback from the commissioner and validated the direction taken, both aesthetically and technically.
Printing a miniature prototype
3

Manufacture and delivery

After the miniature prototype was approved, we moved on to producing the final bust, with several specific adjustments: scaling the head to reach a final height of 40 cm, while preserving the visual balance of the whole.

  • Scaling the head to reach a final height of 40 cm, while preserving the visual balance of the whole.
  • Resizing the base to match the new size of the bust, keeping the inscription and good stability.
  • Preparing the print settings to ensure a clean result, with no visible defects, on a large part.
Manufacture and delivery
Conclusion

Giving history a face back

A bust reconstructed from a single archive photograph. 3D modelling and printing in the service of remembrance and exhibition.

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