Michael Toth, RB Toth Associates and William Christens-Barry, Equipoise Imagining LLC

Developing spectral imaging as a standardized tool for collaborative conservation support

Over the past decade, teams of specialists have refined spectral imaging capabilities and adapted them to meet the needs of preservation specialists and scholars. Proven advanced spectral imaging equipment, techniques and work processes have become standardized tools to support conservation and preservation studies of manuscripts and objects. It allows assessment and analysis of the overall object, as well as specific key areas of interest, with transfer of digital data to preservation and conservation specialists, curators and scholars for further evaluation and study. Digitally processing and combining the resulting image set can reveal important features on the objects not visible to the eye in natural light.

The state-of-the-technology spectral imaging system has been proven in studies of manuscripts, objects, paints, inks and dyes to offer robust spectral imaging capabilities for conservation. A medium-format monochrome camera takes a series of high-quality digital images, each illuminated by a specific wavelength of light from low-heat LED light sources. Following image collection, processing of spectral images provides additional data on the materials, colorants and other object components. This could include data on the spectral performance of encasement materials, especially glass and quartz, to minimize future deterioration.

Effective spectral imaging requires not just collection of quality images, but the ability to manage and exploit large amounts of integrated data and metadata. Data management, operation, training, information storage and access are required for the collaborative analysis of the images and image products from the spectral imaging system. Data collected in standard formats can be made available for access and sharing for further analysis. With common standards and techniques, this can include collaboration with other institutions’ spectral imaging studies and data. Integration is also possible with other standard digital images or data collected with other instruments, including X-ray fluorescence (XRF) and microscope equipped Fourier transform-infrared (FT-IR) spectrometers.