Color Issue Solutions

Recently, I was at a client’s facility where they image paintings for conservation purposes. They were having an issue capturing some blue pigment samples that were going purple. This was happening because their device was picking up some reds in pigment that were undetectable by the human eye. The CCD sensors were picking it up since CCD sensors are very far red and infrared sensitive.

In order to alleviate the problem, my first thought was to change the light source from Tungsten, which has a lot of energy in the reds and infrared, to overhead fluorescence, which has little energy in the far reds. I found the results were better with the device, but there was still room for improvement.

I then decided to change the capture device to the P 65+ and the results were fantastic. The blues now showed excellent accuracy under both light sources.

Device 1

P 65+

Tech Tip

It is essential to white balance the image after the LCC lens cast tool is applied or you will not get a proper whiter balance. This is necessary because the LCC tool will correct lens chroma error first, thereby ensuring that hue anomalies are resolved first. Only then can a proper white balance can be achieved.

Comments or questions? Email Peter Siegel, Division of Cultural Heritage Director, atpes@digitaltransitions.com.

Visit the Digital Transitions website to learn more about the Division of Cultural Heritage and see some sample images: www.digitaltransitions.com.

Info/Demo Request

(212)529-6825

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