Hyperspectral Imaging applied to the study of negative and positive films

Hyperspectral imaging technique, well established in the art conservation field, was applied for the first time on contemporary negative and positive films within the Tuscan Region (Italy) and IFAC-CNR Florence (Italy) "Memoria Fotografica" (Photographic Memory, 2018-2019) project. In this project, different classes of photographic materials (color negatives, color slides, prints with chromogen and inkjet development), that were severely compromised by a dramatic flood, were studied. The acquired HSI data were processed in order to obtain information on the state of conservation of the color negative film, to support with accurate spectroscopic information the digitalization phase and the subsequent digital restoration of the photographic materials.