En-face optical coherence tomography �?? a novel application of non-invasive imaging to art conservation
Optics Express, Vol. 13, Issue 16, pp. 6133-6144 (2005)
http://dx.doi.org/10.1364/OPEX.13.006133
Acrobat PDF (8754 KB)
Abstract
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.
© 2005 Optical Society of America
1. Introduction
A. Byrne, “The structure beneath,” in The articulate surface: dialogues on paintings between conservators, curators and art historians, Humanities Research Centre monograph series, No. 10. S. Wallace, J. Macnaughtan, and J. Parvey, ed. (Australian National University. Humanities Research Centre, 1996).
J.R.J van Asperen de Boer, “Reflectography of paintings using an infra-red vidicon television system,” Studies in Conservation 14, 96–118 (1969). [CrossRef]
D. Bertani, M. Cetica, and G. Molesini, “Holographic tests on the Ghiberti panel, The Life of Joseph,” Studies in Conservation 27, 61–64 (1982). [CrossRef]
D. Paoletti and G. Schirripa Spagnolo, “Automated digital speckle pattern interferometry contouring in artwork surface inspection,” Opt. Eng. 32, 1348–1353 (1993). [CrossRef]
K. Polikreti, A. Othonos, and C. Christofides, “Optical characterization of varnish films by spectroscopic ellipsometry for application in artwork conservation,” Appl. Spectrosc. 59, 69–74 (2005). [CrossRef]
P. Boher and J. L. Stehle, “Atomic scale characterization of semiconductors by in-situ real time spectroscopic ellipsometry,” Thin Solid Film 318, 120–133 (1998). [CrossRef]
R. Rajadhyaksha, R. Anderson, and R. Webb, “Video-rate confocal scanning laser microscope for imaging human tissues in vivo,” Appl. Opt. 38, 2105–2115 (1999). [CrossRef]
M.-L. Yang, C.-W. Lu, I.-J. Hsu, and C. C. Yang, “The use of optical coherence tomography for monitoring the subsurface morphologies of archaic jades,” Archaeometry 46, 171–182 (2004). [CrossRef]
H. Liang, M. Gomez Cid, R. Cucu, G. Dobre, D. Jackson, C. Pannell, J. Pedro, D. Saunders, and A. Podoleanu, “Application of OCT to examination of easel paintings,” Second European Workshop on Optical Fibre Sensors, Proc. SPIE 5502, 378–381 (2004). [CrossRef]
D. Huang, E. A. Swanson, C. P. Lin, J. S. Schuman, W. G. Stinson, W. Chang, M. R. Hee, T. Flotte, K. Gregory, C. A. Puliafito, and J. G. Fujimoto, “Optical coherence tomography,” Science , 254, 1178–1181 (1991). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
W. Drexler, “Ultrahigh-resolution optical coherence tomography,” J. Biomed. Opt. , 9, 47–74 (2004). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
M.-L. Yang, C.-W. Lu, I.-J. Hsu, and C. C. Yang, “The use of optical coherence tomography for monitoring the subsurface morphologies of archaic jades,” Archaeometry 46, 171–182 (2004). [CrossRef]
H. Liang, M. Gomez Cid, R. Cucu, G. Dobre, D. Jackson, C. Pannell, J. Pedro, D. Saunders, and A. Podoleanu, “Application of OCT to examination of easel paintings,” Second European Workshop on Optical Fibre Sensors, Proc. SPIE 5502, 378–381 (2004). [CrossRef]
2. The instruments
A. Gh. Podoleanu, M. Seeger, G. M. Dobre, D. J. Webb, D. A. Jackson, and F. Fitzke “Transversal and longitudinal images from the retina of the living eye using low coherence reflectometry,” J. Biomed. Opt. , 3, 12- (1998). [CrossRef]
D. Huang, E. A. Swanson, C. P. Lin, J. S. Schuman, W. G. Stinson, W. Chang, M. R. Hee, T. Flotte, K. Gregory, C. A. Puliafito, and J. G. Fujimoto, “Optical coherence tomography,” Science , 254, 1178–1181 (1991). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
A. Gh. Podoleanu, J. A. Rogers, D. A. Jackson, and S. Dunne, “Three dimensional OCT images from retina and skin,” Opt. Express , 7, 292–298, (2000). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
B. R. Masters, “Three-dimensional confocal microscopy of the human optic nerve in vivo,” Opt. Express , 3, 356–359 (1998). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
A. Gh. Podoleanu, G. M. Dobre, D. J. Webb, and D. A. Jackson, “Coherence imaging by use of a Newton rings sampling function,” Opt. Lett. , 21, 1789–1791, 1996. [CrossRef] [PubMed]
A. Gh. Podoleanu, M. Seeger, G. M. Dobre, D. J. Webb, D. A. Jackson, and F. Fitzke “Transversal and longitudinal images from the retina of the living eye using low coherence reflectometry,” J. Biomed. Opt. , 3, 12- (1998). [CrossRef]
J.R.J van Asperen de Boer, “Reflectography of paintings using an infra-red vidicon television system,” Studies in Conservation 14, 96–118 (1969). [CrossRef]
3. Results
3.1 Varnish on glass substrate
3.2 Painted test samples
3.3 Test paintings
3.4 Imaging of underdrawings
J.R.J van Asperen de Boer, “Reflectography of paintings using an infra-red vidicon television system,” Studies in Conservation 14, 96–118 (1969). [CrossRef]
3.5 3D volume imaging
4. Conclusions
References and links
N. Khandekar, “Preparation of cross-sections from easel paintings,” Reviews in Conservation 4, 52–64 (2003). | |
A. Byrne, “The structure beneath,” in The articulate surface: dialogues on paintings between conservators, curators and art historians, Humanities Research Centre monograph series, No. 10. S. Wallace, J. Macnaughtan, and J. Parvey, ed. (Australian National University. Humanities Research Centre, 1996). | |
J. Padfield, D. Saunders, J. Cupitt, and R. Atkinson, “Improvements in the acquisition and processing of X-ray images of paintings,” The National Gallery Technical Bulletin 23, 62–75 (2002). | |
J.R.J van Asperen de Boer, “Reflectography of paintings using an infra-red vidicon television system,” Studies in Conservation 14, 96–118 (1969). [CrossRef] | |
D. Bertani, M. Cetica, and G. Molesini, “Holographic tests on the Ghiberti panel, The Life of Joseph,” Studies in Conservation 27, 61–64 (1982). [CrossRef] | |
D. Paoletti and G. Schirripa Spagnolo, “Automated digital speckle pattern interferometry contouring in artwork surface inspection,” Opt. Eng. 32, 1348–1353 (1993). [CrossRef] | |
C. R. T. Young and R. Hibberd, “The role of attachments in the degradation and strain distribution of canvas paintings,” in Traditions and Innovation: Advances in Conservation , (International Institute of Conservation Melbourne Congress October 2000), pp212–220 | |
D. Ambrosini and D. Paoletti, “Holographic and speckle methods for the analysis of panel paintings. Developments since the early 1970s,” Reviews in Conservation 5, 38–48 (2005). | |
K. Polikreti, A. Othonos, and C. Christofides, “Optical characterization of varnish films by spectroscopic ellipsometry for application in artwork conservation,” Appl. Spectrosc. 59, 69–74 (2005). [CrossRef] | |
R. M. A. Azzam and N. M. Bashara, Ellipsometry and Polarized light , (Amsterdam: North Holland, 1977). | |
P. Boher and J. L. Stehle, “Atomic scale characterization of semiconductors by in-situ real time spectroscopic ellipsometry,” Thin Solid Film 318, 120–133 (1998). [CrossRef] | |
R. Rajadhyaksha, R. Anderson, and R. Webb, “Video-rate confocal scanning laser microscope for imaging human tissues in vivo,” Appl. Opt. 38, 2105–2115 (1999). [CrossRef] | |
M.-L. Yang, C.-W. Lu, I.-J. Hsu, and C. C. Yang, “The use of optical coherence tomography for monitoring the subsurface morphologies of archaic jades,” Archaeometry 46, 171–182 (2004). [CrossRef] | |
H. Liang, M. Gomez Cid, R. Cucu, G. Dobre, D. Jackson, C. Pannell, J. Pedro, D. Saunders, and A. Podoleanu, “Application of OCT to examination of easel paintings,” Second European Workshop on Optical Fibre Sensors, Proc. SPIE 5502, 378–381 (2004). [CrossRef] | |
P. Targowski, B. Rouba, M. Wojtkowski, and A. Kowalczyk, “The application of optical coherence tomography to non-destructive examination of museum objects,” Studies in Conservation 49, 107–114 (2004). | |
D. Huang, E. A. Swanson, C. P. Lin, J. S. Schuman, W. G. Stinson, W. Chang, M. R. Hee, T. Flotte, K. Gregory, C. A. Puliafito, and J. G. Fujimoto, “Optical coherence tomography,” Science , 254, 1178–1181 (1991). [CrossRef] [PubMed] | |
W. Drexler, “Ultrahigh-resolution optical coherence tomography,” J. Biomed. Opt. , 9, 47–74 (2004). [CrossRef] [PubMed] | |
A. Gh. Podoleanu, M. Seeger, G. M. Dobre, D. J. Webb, D. A. Jackson, and F. Fitzke “Transversal and longitudinal images from the retina of the living eye using low coherence reflectometry,” J. Biomed. Opt. , 3, 12- (1998). [CrossRef] | |
A. Gh. Podoleanu, J. A. Rogers, D. A. Jackson, and S. Dunne, “Three dimensional OCT images from retina and skin,” Opt. Express , 7, 292–298, (2000). [CrossRef] [PubMed] | |
B. R. Masters, “Three-dimensional confocal microscopy of the human optic nerve in vivo,” Opt. Express , 3, 356–359 (1998). [CrossRef] [PubMed] | |
A. Gh. Podoleanu, G. M. Dobre, D. J. Webb, and D. A. Jackson, “Coherence imaging by use of a Newton rings sampling function,” Opt. Lett. , 21, 1789–1791, 1996. [CrossRef] [PubMed] | |
J. H. Townsend, “The Refractive Index of 19th-Century Paint Media: A Preliminary Study,” ICOM Committee for Conservation, Working Group 16, Vol. II, 586, 1993. |
OCIS Codes
(110.4500) Imaging systems : Optical coherence tomography
(120.3180) Instrumentation, measurement, and metrology : Interferometry
(170.4500) Medical optics and biotechnology : Optical coherence tomography
ToC Category:
Research Papers
History
Original Manuscript: June 16, 2005
Revised Manuscript: July 28, 2005
Published: August 8, 2005
Citation
Haida Liang, Marta Cid, R. Cucu, G. Dobre, A. Podoleanu, Justin Pedro, and David Saunders, "En-face optical coherence tomography �?? a novel application of non-invasive imaging to art conservation," Opt. Express 13, 6133-6144 (2005)
http://www.opticsinfobase.org/oe/abstract.cfm?URI=oe-13-16-6133
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References
- N. Khandekar, �??Preparation of cross-sections from easel paintings,�?? Reviews in Conservation 4, 52-64 (2003).
- A. Byrne, �??The structure beneath,�?? in The articulate surface: dialogues on paintings between conservators, curators and art historians, Humanities Research Centre monograph series, No. 10. S. Wallace, J. Macnaughtan and J. Parvey, ed. (Australian National University. Humanities Research Centre, 1996).
- J. Padfield, D. Saunders, J. Cupitt, R. Atkinson, �??Improvements in the acquisition and processing of X-ray images of paintings,�?? The National Gallery Technical Bulletin 23, 62-75 (2002).
- J.R.J van Asperen de Boer, �??Reflectography of paintings using an infra-red vidicon television system,�?? Studies in Conservation 14, 96�??118 (1969). [CrossRef]
- D. Bertani, M. Cetica, G. Molesini, �??Holographic tests on the Ghiberti panel, The Life of Joseph,�?? Studies in Conservation 27, 61-64 (1982). [CrossRef]
- D. Paoletti and G. Schirripa Spagnolo, �??Automated digital speckle pattern interferometry contouring in artwork surface inspection,�?? Opt. Eng. 32, 1348-1353 (1993). [CrossRef]
- C. R. T. Young and R. Hibberd, �??The role of attachments in the degradation and strain distribution of canvas paintings,�?? in Traditions and Innovation: Advances in Conservation, (International Institute of Conservation Melbourne Congress October 2000), pp. 212-220.
- D. Ambrosini and D. Paoletti, �??Holographic and speckle methods for the analysis of panel paintings. Developments since the early 1970s,�?? Reviews in Conservation 5, 38-48 (2005).
- K. Polikreti, A. Othonos, C. Christofides, �??Optical characterization of varnish films by spectroscopic ellipsometry for application in artwork conservation,�?? Appl. Spectrosc. 59, 69-74 (2005). [CrossRef]
- R. M. A. Azzam, N. M. Bashara, Ellipsometry and Polarized light, (Amsterdam: North Holland, 1977).
- P. Boher and J. L. Stehle, �??Atomic scale characterization of semiconductors by in-situ real time spectroscopic ellipsometry,�?? Thin Solid Film 318, 120-133 (1998). [CrossRef]
- R. Rajadhyaksha, R. Anderson and R. Webb, �??Video-rate confocal scanning laser microscope for imaging human tissues in vivo,�?? Appl. Opt. 38, 2105-2115 (1999). [CrossRef]
- M.-L. Yang, C.-W. Lu, I.-J. Hsu, C. C. Yang, �??The use of optical coherence tomography for monitoring the subsurface morphologies of archaic jades,�?? Archaeometry 46, 171-182 (2004). [CrossRef]
- H. Liang, M. Gomez Cid, R. Cucu, G. Dobre, D. Jackson, C. Pannell, J. Pedro, D. Saunders, A. Podoleanu, �??Application of OCT to examination of easel paintings,�?? Second European Workshop on Optical Fibre Sensors, Proc. SPIE 5502, 378-381 (2004). [CrossRef]
- P. Targowski, B. Rouba, M. Wojtkowski, and A. Kowalczyk, �??The application of optical coherence tomography to non-destructive examination of museum objects,�?? Studies in Conservation 49, 107-114 (2004).
- D. Huang, E. A. Swanson, C. P. Lin, J. S. Schuman, W. G. Stinson, W. Chang, M. R. Hee, T. Flotte, K. Gregory, C. A. Puliafito, J. G. Fujimoto, �??Optical coherence tomography,�?? Science 254, 1178-1181 (1991). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- W. Drexler, �??Ultrahigh-resolution optical coherence tomography,�?? J. Biomed. Opt. 9, 47-74 (2004). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- A. Gh. Podoleanu, M. Seeger, G. M. Dobre, D. J. Webb, D. A. Jackson and F. Fitzke, �??Transversal and longitudinal images from the retina of the living eye using low coherence reflectometry,�?? J. Biomed. Opt. 3, 12- (1998). [CrossRef]
- A. Gh. Podoleanu, J. A. Rogers, D. A. Jackson and S. Dunne, �??Three dimensional OCT images from retina and skin,�?? Opt. Express 7, 292-298, (2000). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- B. R. Masters, �??Three-dimensional confocal microscopy of the human optic nerve in vivo,�?? Opt. Express 3, 356-359 (1998). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- A. Gh.Podoleanu, G. M. Dobre, D. J. Webb, D. A. Jackson, �??Coherence imaging by use of a Newton rings sampling function,�?? Opt. Lett. 21, 1789-1791, 1996. [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- J. H. Townsend, �??The Refractive Index of 19th-Century Paint Media: A Preliminary Study,�?? ICOM Committee for Conservation, Working Group 16, Vol. II, 586, 1993.
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