CHSOS Application note #4: Reflectance Spectra Database for Pigments Checker “Modern & Contemporary Art”

📖 The Scoop

Just published on our website the Reflectance Spectra Database for the new Pigments Checker “Modern & Contemporary Art”. This note discusses some of these spectra and highlights the most important findings.

Used from the late 80′ Reflectance Spectroscopy (RS) is a powerful tool for the identification of pigments and dyes. A reflectance spectrum shows for each wavelength the ratio between the intensity of the reflected and incident radiation. This ratio is called reflectance and is given in percentage (%). Pigments are identified using a spectral database and comparing the spectral features of the investigated unknown spectrum with the spectra available in the database. The advantages of this method with respect to the other spectroscopic methods are: affordable equipment, small dimension, and portability.

This is a collection of the most important pigments used in modern & contemporary art. On the other hand, the STANDARD Pigments Checker is a collection of the most used pigments from prehistory to contemporary art, and consequently, it has just a few modern pigments. This new checker is focused solely on modern pigments and completes those already included in the standard Pigments Checker. The colors are laid with an acrylic binder on a cardboard support. We collected the spectra of the pigments and that of the binder alone on the cardboard. All these spectra are available online on the Pigments Checker webpage.

Genre: Antiques & Collectibles / Art (fancy, right?)