Traditionally
UV photographs have been the only possible way
to document fluorescence emission. However such
images do not allow to quantify the emission not
to faithfully render the colour, limiting the
possibilities of identifying the painting materials,
to compare fluorescence emission of different
artworks, different times of with different devices.
The method developed by Art-Test allows one to overcome
these present limitations. It is now possible, with
a calibrated CCD camera to document the amount
of UV light used. With multispectral system
one can have an accurate colour rendering, and achieve
spectral profiling of the fluorescence emission.
This allows for a better identification of materials
and of their age.
Fluorescence emission of
organic materials has been widely reported and
documented. Traditionally, it was common to refer
to fluorescence emission by describing its colour.
For example the fluorescence emission of shellac
was described as orange.
However, it is clear that it is not possible to be
precise and to quantify fluorescence in this way.
In order to correctly document and analyze fluorescence
emission it is necessary to know as precisely
as possible the emission spectral curves, and
to consider aging and interaction with underlying
materials. See also >
Data processing and modeling
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