Open AccessEn-face optical coherence tomography - a novel application of non-invasive imaging to art conservation
Author(s) -
Haida Liang,
Marta Gomez Cid,
Radu G. Cucu,
George Dobre,
Adrian Gh. Podoleanu,
Justin Pedro,
David Saunders
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
optics express
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.394
H-Index - 271
ISSN - 1094-4087
DOI - 10.1364/opex.13.006133
Subject(s) - optical coherence tomography , optics , interferometry , materials science , medical imaging , preclinical imaging , computer science , physics , artificial intelligence , in vivo , microbiology and biotechnology , biology
Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) is an optical interferometric technique developed mainly for in vivo imaging of the eye and biological tissues. In this paper, we demonstrate the potential of OCT for non-invasive examination of museum paintings. Two en-face scanning OCT systems operating at 850 nm and 1300 nm were used to produce B-scan and C-scan images at typical working distances of 2 cm. The 3D images produced by the OCT systems show not only the structure of the varnish layer but also the paint layers and underdrawings (preparatory drawings under the paint layers). The highest ever resolution and dynamic range images of underdrawings are presented and for the first time it is possible to find out non-invasively on which layer the underdrawings were drawn.