Leah Humenuck, Researcher

Beyond RGB: Low-Barrier-to-Entry Multispectral Imaging for Color-Accurate Art Documentation and Reproduction
Monday 4:30 - 5:30

Beyond RGB is a low-barrier to entry multispectral system built for color-accurate cultural heritage documentation and reproduction. Historically, multispectral imaging has been high cost and requires specialist training which has limited the use of this technology for many small to mid-sized cultural heritage institutions. Mixed in with these limitations, traditional photo documentation can end up requiring post processing, which is subjective to the person performing it. A solution to these challenges is found by pairing an RGB camera with LED lights to create a multispectral system. This system uses a prosumer RGB camera, LED lights, and an open-access multispectral image processing software designed by RIT software engineering students. This process uses optimized LED recipes to image artwork in two captures, allowing for efficient workflow. The result is a color-accurate master file, also containing spectral information regarding the artwork. This demonstration would show the setup and imaging process as well as a walkthrough of the image processing software. 

Comparison of Mobile Phone Cameras and Prosumer Cameras to Produce High Dynamic Range Images for Cultural Heritage Documentation within a Multispectral Imaging System (Poster)

The capability for a camera to produce a high dynamic range (HDR) image is based upon its capture of luminance within a scene. The wide-ranging luminance within a scene is an important part of cultural heritage documentation in order to appropriately capture an object as it appears. This is currently a challenge for traditional capture of some cultural heritage items. The inclusion of HDR imaging as part of the documentation process is a solution to this challenge. This research presents the current progress of comparison of mobile phone cameras and prosumer cameras to produce HDR images for cultural heritage documentation within a multispectral imaging system and software, Beyond RGB, which was designed at Rochester Institute of Technology. The results from this research will be used in the following assessments of the cameras: linearity over a wide range of exposures; response functions; color transformation quality or accuracy for colorimetry; comparison of dynamic range for color reproduction quality; and evaluation of exposure fusion techniques with respect to the dynamic range of the camera.

Bio

The Inter-Society Color Council advances the knowledge of color as it relates to art, science, industry and design.
Each of these fields enriches the others, furthering the general objective of color education.