{"id":4847,"date":"2017-04-24T09:09:12","date_gmt":"2017-04-24T13:09:12","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.library.duke.edu\/bitstreams\/?p=4847"},"modified":"2017-05-19T12:49:10","modified_gmt":"2017-05-19T16:49:10","slug":"multispectral-imaging-whats-good","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.library.duke.edu\/bitstreams\/2017\/04\/24\/multispectral-imaging-whats-good\/","title":{"rendered":"Multispectral Imaging: What’s it good for?"},"content":{"rendered":"

At the beginning of March, the multispectral imaging working group presented details about the imaging system and the group\u2019s progress so far to other library staff at a First Wednesday<\/em> event. Representatives from Conservation Services<\/a>, Data and Visualization Services<\/a>, the Digital Production Center<\/a>, the Duke Collaboratory for Classics Computing<\/a> (DC3) and the Rubenstein Library<\/a> each shared their involvement and interest in the imaging technology. Our presentation attempted to answer some basic questions about how the equipment works and how it can be used to benefit the scholarly community. You can view a video of that presentation here<\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Some of the images we have already shared illustrate a basic benefit or goal of spectral imaging for books and manuscripts: making obscured text visible. But what else can this technology tell us about the objects in our collections? As a library conservator, I am very interested in\u00a0the ways that this technology can provide more information about the composition and condition of objects, as well as inform conservation treatment decisions and document their efficacy.<\/p>\n

Conservators and conservation scientists have been using spectral imaging to help distinguish between and to characterize materials for some time. For example, pigments, adhesives, or coatings may appear very differently under ultraviolet or infrared radiation. Many labs have the equipment to image under a few\u00a0wavelengths of light, but our new imaging system allows us to capture at a much broader range of wavelengths and compare them in an image stack.<\/p>\n

\"Adhesive
(Photo credit Art Conservation Department, SUNY Buffalo State)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Spectral imaging \u00a0can help to identify the materials used to make or repair an object by the way they react under different light sources. Correct identification of components is important in making the best conservation treatment decisions\u00a0and might also\u00a0be used to\u00a0establish the relative age of a particular object or to verify its authenticity.\u00a0\u00a0While spectral imaging offers the promise of providing a non-destructive tool for identification, it does have limitations and other analytical techniques may be required.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Pigment
(Photo credit Image Permanence Institute)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Multispectral imaging offers new opportunities to evaluate and document the condition of objects within our collections. Previous repairs may be so well executed or intentionally obscured that the location or extent of the repair is not obvious\u00a0under visible light. Areas of paper or parchment that have been replaced or have added reinforcements (such as linings) may\u00a0appear different from the original\u00a0when viewed under UV radiation. Spectral imaging can provide better visual documentation of the degradation of inks ( see image below) or damage from mold or water that is not apparent under visible light.<\/p>\n

\"Iron
(Jantz MS#124, Rubenstein Library)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

This imaging equipment provides opportunities for better measuring the effectiveness of the treatments that conservators perform in-house. For example, a\u00a0common treatment that we perform in our lab is the removal of pressure sensitive tape repairs from paper documents using solvents. Spectral imaging before, during, and after treatment could document the effectiveness of the solvents or other employed techniques in removing the tape carrier and adhesive from the paper.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Tape
(Photo credit Art Conservation Department, SUNY Buffalo State)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Staff from the Conservation Services department have a long history of participating in the library’s digitization program in order to ensure the safety of fragile collection materials. Our department will continue to serve in this capacity for special collections objects undergoing multispectral imaging to answer specific research questions; however,\u00a0we are also excited to employ\u00a0this same technology to better care\u00a0for the cultural heritage within our collections.<\/p>\n

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Want to learn even more about MSI at DUL?<\/p>\n