Exploring confocal microscopy to analyze ancient photography

In this work, we explore the use of confocal microscopy to identify the composition of ancient photographs, taking advantage of the binders’ fluorescence and the organic materials nature used as protective coating in their respective manufacture processes. At the same time, the feasibility of using confocal technologies for the analysis of different photographic strata has been proposed. It is found that such technique provides relevant information about morphological features of the photographic surface as well as on the inner layers; thus, confocal microscopy provides useful images on the stratigraphic structure of photographs. In that sense, the technique is capable to determine the binder nature, the presence of intermediate layers such baryta layer, the presence of protective organic coating on photographic surface and inferred print typologies. © 2018 Elsevier Masson SAS

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