A Novel Transmittance Vis–NIR Hyper-Spectral Imaging Scanner for Analysis of Photographic Negatives: A Potential Tool for Photography Conservation

Abstract

This work illustrates a novel prototype of a transmittance hyperspectral imaging (HSI) scanner, operating in the 400–900 nm range, and designed on purpose for non-invasive analysis of photographic materials, such as negatives, films and slides. The instrument provides high-quality spectral data and high-definition spectral images on targets of small size (e.g., 35 mm film strips) and is the first example of HSI instrumentation specifically designed for applications in the photographic conservation field. The instrument was tested in laboratory and on a set of specimens selected from a damaged photographic archive. This experimentation, though preliminary, demonstrated the soundness of a technical approach based on HSI for large-scale spectroscopic characterization of photographic archival materials. The obtained results encourage the continuation of experimentation of HSI as an advanced tool for photography conservation.