To move the light position in the interactive RTI, make sure the lightbulb icon in the bottom right corner is highlighted rather than dark then click and drag across the viewer.
To pan around the image, turn the lightbulb icon off, and click and drag across the viewer.
Use the layers icon to enable enhanced views of the RTI, including diffuse and specular (mathematical enhancements that remove colour and increase contrast), and normals (a false-coloured static view of the surface profile).
This image was created to explore the potential of RTI to capture a finely-textured surface, in this case the grain pattern of the leather and the incised details, which can be difficult to capture using conventional photography. Being able to observe features such as tool marks, wear patterns and other small details of surface texture, could be extremely valuable in understanding how the item was made and used, without necessarily needing physical access to the object.
This is a modern replica of a piece of leather cut into the shape of an animal (possibly a mouse or lizard) found at the Roman fort at Vindolanda. The purpose of the original is unknown – perhaps it was a child’s toy, a prank, or a ‘doodle’ by a leather craftsperson.