Open AccessComparison of three-dimensional optical coherence tomography and high resolution photography for art conservation studies
Author(s) -
Desmond C. Adler,
Jens Stenger,
Iwona Gorczyńska,
Henry Lie,
Teri Hensick,
Ron Spronk,
Stephan Wolohojian,
Narayan Khandekar,
James Jiang,
Scott Barry,
Alex Cable,
Robert Huber,
James G. Fujimoto
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
optics express
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.394
H-Index - 271
ISSN - 1094-4087
DOI - 10.1364/oe.15.015972
Subject(s) - optical coherence tomography , optics , photography , coherence (philosophical gambling strategy) , materials science , computer science , physics , art , visual arts , quantum mechanics
Gold punchwork and underdrawing in Renaissance panel paintings are analyzed using both three-dimensional swept source / Fourier domain optical coherence tomography (3D-OCT) and high resolution digital photography. 3D-OCT can generate en face images with micrometer-scale resolutions at arbitrary sectioning depths, rejecting out-of-plane light by coherence gating. Therefore 3D-OCT is well suited for analyzing artwork where a surface layer obscures details of interest. 3D-OCT also enables cross-sectional imaging and quantitative measurement of 3D features such as punch depth, which is beneficial for analyzing the tools and techniques used to create works of art. High volumetric imaging speeds are enabled by the use of a Fourier domain mode locked (FDML) laser as the 3D-OCT light source. High resolution infrared (IR) digital photography is shown to be particularly useful for the analysis of underdrawing, where the materials used for the underdrawing and paint layers have significantly different IR absrption properties. In general, 3D-OCT provides a more flexible and comprehensive analysis of artwork than high resolution photography, but also requires more complex instrumentation and data analysis.