
This study examines energy consumption in cultural heritage imaging systems and workflows, addressing a gap in sustainability research that has to date focused primarily on data storage infrastructure estimations. Using Home Assistant edge computing and Z-Wave smart plugs, seven distinct imaging systems were monitored over 203 hours, capturing 55,211 images, and rendering 2,448 objects. Results show an average energy requirement of 11.1 Wh per object, with an annual total of 747 kWh for digitization activities. Findings highlight opportunities to reduce energy demand and improve efficiency, such as automating continuous light shutoff and optimizing postprocessing routines that support institutional sustainability goals and provide a transparent, reproducible model for other labs and studios.

This study considers near-infrared raking reflectance imaging as a way to record incised lines, pricked holes, and other shallow stylus marks in drawings on paper. Such traces can clarify how a design was constructed, revised, or transferred between supports, but they are often difficult to interpret when drawing media visually compete with surface relief. Standard near-infrared reflectance imaging, typically recorded with symmetrical bilateral copy lighting, can reduce the visibility of some drawing media but does not strongly describe shallow deformations in the paper plane. Visible raking illumination emphasizes relief, yet visible media may remain dominant. Imaging experiments on a group of Renaissance drawings suggests that near-infrared, with a raking illumination geometry can help distinguish material deposits from impressed or incised marks, particularly where a stylus line diverges from adjacent media. The method also draws attention to a limitation in technical-imaging terminology: there is no standardized naming convention or prescribed order of terms for describing new imaging techniques or novel combinations of established methods. This paper proposes “near-infrared raking reflectance” as a description of the condition examined here and considers how recording illumination wavelength, geometry, and radiation mode in that order, may support more consistent documentation.


This work presents insights into the imaging workflow from cultural heritage domain experts, gathered from an online survey. Non-invasive 2D imaging technology has become a cornerstone in the analysis and documentation of cultural heritage artefacts. Techniques such as hyperspectral imaging (HSI) and X-ray fluorescence (XRF) can investigate material properties, artistic processes, and conservation states. Existing analysis and visualisation tools offer functionality for specific data types but lack integration for holistic multimodal analysis. To address these limitations, we conducted a structured survey targeting researchers and practitioners in CH working with imaging technology. The survey explores their workflows, imaging technology usage, and software preferences. This study identifies key trends, challenges, and feature requirements.

Mobile phone cameras are imaging tools that are rapidly being adopted by various industries due to their portability and ease of use. Though not currently considered an adopted imaging tool for cultural heritage, there has been increased interest in their potential use within the field. To better understand how cultural heritage professionals considered mobile phone cameras as tools for various types of documentation, a survey was created and administered. A survey was designed and sent to cultural heritage groups involved with imaging with the goal of determining whether these types of cameras are practical imaging devices in circumstances where a studio or a DSLR may not be readily available. Initial results have shown a variety of responses and that mobile phones are being used for various types of documentation.

In this paper we introduce MISHA3D, a set of tools that enable 3D surface capture using the MISHA multispectral imaging system. MISHA3D uses a novel multispectral photometric stereo algorithm to estimate normal, height, and RGB albedo maps as part of the standard multispectral imaging workflow. The maps can be visualized and analyzed directly, or rendered as realistic, interactive digital surrogates using standard graphics APIs. Our hope is that these tools will significantly increase the usefulness of the MISHA system for librarians, curators, and scholars studying historical and cultural heritage artifacts.


Multispectral Imaging has become an indispensable tool for Cultural Heritage materials and objects analyzing, documenting, and visualizing. This study delves into applying this technique to an 18th-century illuminated manuscript at the Minas Gerais Public Archive, Brazil. Currently undergoing restoration intervention at The Federal University of Minas Gerais, the manuscript exhibits faded writing due to moisture, and the application of multispectral imaging (UV, Visible, and IR) with seven different wavelengths proves highly effective in recovering lost information. The light source was provided from LED and Halogen Lamp, and the result shows a very clear text on the manuscript after the digital processing by ImageJ and PCA. The Minas Gerais Public Archive, established in 1895, plays a vital role in safeguarding the state's documentary and historical heritage. It was the first-time multispectral imaging was applied to cultural objects in Minas Gerais.


Cultural-heritage imaging is a critical aspect of the efforts to preserve world treasures. This field is so demanding of color accuracy that the inherent limitations of RGB imaging can often be an issue. Various imaging systems of increasing complexity have been proposed, up to and including those that report full spectral reflectance for each pixel. These systems improve color accuracy, but their complexity and slow operational speed hamper their widespread use in this field. A simpler and faster bi-color lighting and dual-RGB processing system is proposed that improves the color accuracy of profiling and verification targets. The system can be used with any off-the-shelf RGB camera, including prosumer models.