High-resolution optical topography applied to ancient painting diagnostics

Duilio Bertani; Maurizio Cetica; Mauro Melozzi; Luca Pezzati

doi:10.1117/12.196545

1 April 1995 High-resolution optical topography applied to ancient painting diagnostics

Duilio Bertani, Maurizio Cetica, Mauro Melozzi, Luca Pezzati

Author Affiliations +

Optical Engineering, Vol. 34, Issue 4, (April 1995). https://doi.org/10.1117/12.196545

Abstract

We present a nondestructive, high resolution optical technique to obtain the surface topography of ancient paintings. The method is based on the projection of a grid of parallel lines, using white light, onto the surface to be analyzed. When viewed at an angle different from the projection angle, the grid pattern appears deformed by the surface shape. This pattern is digitized and then processed using a spatial-carrier phase-shifting algorithm that allows recovering the surface height map with high precision. The method relies on very simple equipment, gives immediate quantitative results, and is suitable for in situ measurements. It permits the recording of topographic maps of ancient paintings as well as the measurement of local detachments of the paint layer. A theoretical analysis of the method is discussed, together with a description of the data analysis algorithm. Finally, we provide some experimental results concerning the diagnostic of a twelfth-century masterpiece.

Citation Download Citation

Duilio Bertani, Maurizio Cetica, Mauro Melozzi, and Luca Pezzati "High-resolution optical topography applied to ancient painting diagnostics," Optical Engineering 34(4), (1 April 1995). https://doi.org/10.1117/12.196545

Published: 1 April 1995

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available