A paper on Multispectral Imaging has been published on Heritage Science, “Identification of pigments by multispectral imaging a flowchart method” 2:8, 2014.
In this paper I provide a flowchart method to use the multispectral imaging to tentatively identify pigments. I have been posting extensively on this idea for a while on the “Cultural Heritage Science Open Source” blog and this paper summarized all that thoughts, tests and trials. This post introduces also an online searchable database which collect the same data in the paper. It adds the possibility to search the 56 pigments based on their MSI (MultiSpectral Imaging) properties.
From the Abstract: “The literature on the application of Multispectral and Hyperspectral imaging for identification of pigments on artworks is sparse. While these methods do not provide the analytical capability that spectroscopies do offer, the use of spectral imaging has the advantage of being a rapid and relatively low-cost solution for the examination of
large areas. This paper presents a flowchart for the identification of historical pigments applied with gum Arabic using multispectral imaging (wavelength ranging from 360 to 1700 nm) performed with a modified digital camera for infrared, visible and ultraviolet photography; and an InGaAs camera for infrared reflectography. The flowchart method will be most successful on paint made of one layer of pure pigment, and it can selectively discriminate only a fraction of the 56 pigments analyzed. Though considerably limited in its analytical capabilities, the low cost
and speed of the workflow make the method worthwhile, even if only to localize retouching and areas appearing the same hue but painted with different pigments. The InGaAs camera is the only expensive instrument used in this study but its cost is relatively affordable for the average painting conservation studio since only a model with a low
pixel count is required (320×256 pixels) rather than a more sophisticated InGaAs scanner system.”
This paper presents the “Pigments checker“. I make it with Kremer pigments and the overall idea is to have a standard test panel to be used to test different equipment (Imaging and Analytical). I do provide it or the mini pigment checker (selection of 18 historical pigments) as a gift, respectively, for institutions or professionals that require my training program on multispectral imaging.
I need to thank Kremer pigments and specifically Dr. Kremer for his invaluable help in compiling the list of pigments to be part of the Pigments checker.
