Advanced imaging tools for museum and library conservation and research

Abstract

Abstract Editor's Summary Museum objects are being presented in a new and informative light through reflectance transformation imaging (RTI). This photographic method provides detailed images of an object's shape, color attributes and surface texture along with illumination from different angles, showing details that are often unavailable with the naked eye. Beyond revealing brushstroke details and surface impressions, the RTI technique can be used under a microscope and enhanced with infrared or ultraviolet light, broadening its utility for museum professionals, archaeologists and historians. Associated software records the series of images as a digital lab notebook. RTI is part of the emerging field of computational photography, extracting data from a sequence of digital photographs and synthesizing a new representation holding previously unrecognized information, while protecting the original resource. The digital representations of fine art and natural science museum objects afforded by this new technology facilitate cooperation among museum professionals across disciplines and around the world.