A new camera for high-resolution infrared imaging of works of art

Saunders, D., Billinge, R., Cupitt, J., Atkinson, N. and Liang, H. ORCID: 0000-0001-9496-406X, 2006. A new camera for high-resolution infrared imaging of works of art. Studies in Conservation, 51 (4), pp. 277-290.

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Abstract

A new camera – SIRIS (scanning infrared imaging system) – developed at the National Gallery in London allows high-resolution images to be made in the near infrared region (900–1700 nm). The camera is based on a commercially available 320 × 256 pixel indium gallium arsenide area array sensor. This relatively small sensor is moved across the focal plane of the camera using two orthogonal translation stages to give images of c. 5000 × 5000 pixels. The main advantages of the SIRIS camera over scanning infrared devices or sequential image capture and mosaic assembly are its comparative portability and rapid image acquisition – making a 5000 × 5000 pixel image takes less than 20 minutes. The SIRIS camera can operate at a range of resolutions; from around 2.5 pixels per millimetre over an area of up to 2 × 2 m to 10 pixels per millimetre when examining an area measuring 0.5 × 0.5 m. The development of the mechanical, optical and electronic components of the camera, including the design of a new lens, is described. The software used to control image capture and to assemble the individual frames into a seamless mosaic image is mentioned. The camera was designed primarily to examine underdrawings in paintings; preliminary results from test targets and paintings imaged in situ are presented and the quality of the images compared with those from other cameras currently used for this application.

Item Type:	Journal article
Description:	The definitive version of this article is published in the journal, Studies in Conservation.
Publication Title:	Studies in Conservation
Creators:	Saunders, D., Billinge, R., Cupitt, J., Atkinson, N. and Liang, H.
Publisher:	Earthscan
Date:	2006
Volume:	51
Number:	4
Rights:	© Earthscan
Divisions:	Schools > School of Science and Technology
Record created by:	EPrints Services
Date Added:	09 Oct 2015 09:49
Last Modified:	09 Jun 2017 13:11
URI:	https://irep.ntu.ac.uk/id/eprint/3397

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