Development

Technology doesn’t stand still and neither do we. Our expert team is continuously running tests to refine the performance of our cutting-edge scanners and systems for art analysis.

We are also rolling out new services to make art analysis and authentication easier, including macrophotography, which is now a standard feature for each scanned object.

Future plans for new services include:

• 3D mapping of pigment layers (laminography), which will greatly enhance the ability to detect forgeries and provide a comprehensive analysis for art restoration and repair;
• a portable x-ray spyglass to enable detailed on-site art authentication; and
• the development of a multimodal device incorporating single-photon x-ray capturing with other
  art authentication technologies.

Material resolving x-ray laminography

Both high-resolution x-ray radiography (HRXR) and material resolving x-ray radiography (MRXR) provide invaluable information. However, neither can distinguish in 3D the layering of various pigments used in a painting or other fine art object. This limitation is to be overcome by the laminography technique, which allows for the creation of a 3D map of materials present in the investigated object. Laminography in combination with x-ray imaging is a cutting-edge technique currently under development in our company.

Practical application examples:

• The expansion of current x-ray imaging techniques to the third dimension.
• Material identification in 3D, i.e., stratigraphy of the entire painting.
• Authentication of fine art objects; identification of copies and forgeries.
• Comprehensive information on the material composition of the entire artwork.
• Detection of repairs, re-paintings and secondary changes. Mapping of the extent of damage.

X-ray spyglass

How about having all of the techniques mentioned above in an easy-to-carry briefcase? What if you need to check only a small piece of a painting to make sure that it is signed by the artist whom your client believes is the author? We are currently developing a highly portable x-ray spyglass—combining a handheld x-ray source and our MiniPIX camera—which will let you do just that.

Multimodal device

The essence of multimodal analysis is the combination of available exploration tools across a range of electromagnetic spectrum, such as infrared reflectography (IR), ultraviolet luminescence (UV), x-ray fluorescence (XRF), x-ray radiography (x-ray), and daylight macrophotography.

Merging all of these methods into a single device (RToo) will create a unique tool for the perfect mapping of the technological construction of a work of art, which is essential for the correct determination of its authenticity.

Macrophotography

High-quality macrophotography combined with an x-ray image

High-quality macrophotography of an investigated artwork combined with an x-ray image provides important information about the correlation of the interior structure seen by x-rays and by photography of the object’s surface. Macrophotography takes place within the x-ray scanner, which allows for a high-resolution image aligned precisely at the pixel level with the x-ray image. The spatial resolution is also at the level of 20 to 50 µm. A high-quality, full-area macro image of the artwork forms the basis for post-production digital analysis. This technology allows for the examination of the entire area of an image at the macroscopic scale. With the help of full-area macroscopic mapping, it is possible to perform comparisons and surveys necessary for the verification of artwork authenticity.