Dear Commons Community,

Description

Last year, I read two books  by Christopher de Hamel about illuminated manuscripts.  He is widely recognized a world  authority on illuminated manuscripts, who  inspired me to consider how technology could be used to generate colorful, electronic versions of articles, blog postings, book chapters, and other text-based formats using AI and other digital tools.  I coined the term for doing so a “technuscript.

An illuminated manuscript  is by definition produced by hand.  A technuscript (if you look in a dictionary or on Google, there is no such word) uses many of the same design elements that characterized the medieval illuminated manuscripts but would employ digital technology to produce the finished product.  The design features for a technuscript include:

1. Using bright,  jewel-toned colors (reds, blues, yellows, greens) in the images;
2. Using AI to generate images;
3. Employing a variety of image sizes from small thumbnail to full pages;
4. Placing borders on images;
5. Using an antique block font on a vellum-style page background for the text;
6. Colorizing the first word of each paragraph.

In sum, there are a plethora of possibilities especially when using the above in different combinations for designing a technuscript.  

A search of the generative AI program Copilot asking:  “What is a technuscript?”  produced the following:

“A ‘technuscript’ refers to a digital creation that merges elements of medieval illuminated manuscripts with modern technology. It uses vibrant colors, intricate designs, antique-style fonts, and digital tools to mimic the artistic elegance of traditional manuscripts while embracing contemporary innovation. It is essentially a modernized homage to historical artistry!

The term was coined by Tony Picciano, who developed the idea after being inspired by Christopher de Hamel’s work on illuminated manuscripts2. It’s a fascinating blend of tradition and technology!”

Christopher de Hamel on viewing a technuscript: commented:

“…I have looked at your unexpected technique of conjuring up modern manuscripts, or technuscripts, which, as far as I know, no-one has ever attempted…I am sure [medieval] scribes would rejoice to see it, as I do.

Below are  sample pages to illustrate technuscript-generated images.. 

USES

Online Articles and E-Books

A technuscript  can be used to design and develop material that would be published in an electronic journal or e-book.  This technique can be used for an entire article or for parts as determined by the author.  The main purpose would be to add an artistic element to what are typically simple black and white text documents.  Color, provocative use of fonts and other stylistic approaches can be employed.  An example of an article completely developed as a technuscript can be found at: article Matted Matura Script PDF.  In this article, the subject matter is very current and focuses on modern theories for designing online education programs and courses.  The technuscript format, however, gives the article a creative medieval style that can draw the reader into the material.  A more ambitious project would be to develop an entire e-book using the technuscript technique.

Blog Postings

Blog postings that are meant to be short  in length would be ideal vehicles for using a technuscript.  Imaginative uses of color, fonts, and other designs could be developed  to attract attention to the message.  It might also be used to peak the interest pf potential to a blog message.

Podcasts

Podcasts which are based on video or audio formats can be enhanced with graphics developed using technuscript designs.  Podcast advertisements especially would be  attractive vehicles that can easily be enhanced with technuscripts.

I would love to receive feedback from anyone reading this posting on your thoughts and suggestions for using technuscripts.

Tony