Often the contortions and disfiguring of the images convey a sense of humour. Trinity College was first approached in 1979 by Faksimile-Verlag Luzern concerning a reproduction project. It operated on a principle of gentle suction that would allow minimal handling during the copying process. Trinity College believed the device would ensure the protection of their manuscript. Quality control over reproduction was strict involving many trips between Switzerland and Dublin and innumerable comparisons of original proofs and duplicates by specialists and lithographers.
Authorities agree that the quality of the facsimile renders it indistinguishable from the original.
This is an amazing feat in duplication considering the source of the pigments used by the artists of the Book of Kells. The reds, for example, came from red lead and kermes found in the bodies of a Mediterranean female insect. Even tiny holes in the parchment caused by either inconsistencies in the parchment or decay from aging have been duplicated. Impossible to replicate, however, is the physical quality of the parchment which is made from animal skin. The University of New Brunswick's facsimile edition is a gift from Dr. Marguerite Vaughan of St. Andrews.