Development on the DemiScript software began in early 2017 and its planned and implemented features as a IIIF-viewer and transcription/annotation tool were outlined in the Bachelor thesis The Digital Edo Bunko (Birenheide 2018). Since then, its development as a DH tool for transcribing and annotating Japanese woodblock prints has continued and the software was further enhanced for the digital augmentation of pictures and maps for the Ritsumeikan University Arts Research Center funded project: Edo Period Map goes Digital (2020-21).

Originally, DemiScript was developed to augment the digitization of the Edo bunko collection of over Edo period 100 woodblock prints. The illustration-rich prints with wood-carved handwriting required special considerations when designing transcription software, thus the ability to transcribe directly onto the documents and demarcate areas with colored polygons were prime factors during development.