[For more info on Palimpsests check out our course: Reading Palimpsest]
This lesson will introduce participants to the LIBERO IR+ filter, a specialized infrared filter designed to enhance infrared vision for technical photography cameras. This filter isolates the farthest part of the infrared spectrum detectable by modified cameras. By working in this region, the LIBERO filter enables greater transparency of certain materials, such as iron gall ink, making it almost invisible in images. The application of this filter is particularly valuable in the analysis of manuscripts and other artworks where ink visibility may obscure underlying features.
Objectives
- Understand the function and purpose of the LIBERO IR+ filter in technical photography.
- Learn how the filter enhances the infrared capabilities of modified cameras.
- Apply the LIBERO filter to visualize how iron gall ink becomes more transparent in the far infrared spectrum.
- Explore the practical applications of this technique in artwork and manuscript analysis.
Materials
- Technical photography camera (modified for infrared detection)
- LIBERO IR+ filter
- Examples of iron gall ink on manuscripts or documents
- Halogen lamps
Lesson Plan
1. Overview of the LIBERO IR+ Filter
- Explain the design and purpose of the LIBERO filter.
- Describe how it isolates the far infrared spectrum and why this is significant for certain materials like iron gall ink.
2. Demonstration: Applying the LIBERO IR+ Filter
- Set up the technical photography camera with the LIBERO filter.
- Demonstrate capturing images with and without the filter on samples of manuscripts or documents with iron gall ink.
- Show how the ink becomes increasingly transparent as the filter isolates far-infrared wavelengths.
3. Analyzing the Results
- Compare the filtered and unfiltered images to observe the effects on the visibility of iron gall ink.
- Discuss how this transparency can aid in uncovering underlying features or layers of artwork or text.
