{"id":2548,"date":"2020-01-29T21:44:09","date_gmt":"2020-01-29T21:44:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/libapps.libraries.uc.edu\/thepreservationlab\/?p=2548"},"modified":"2020-04-28T12:42:03","modified_gmt":"2020-04-28T12:42:03","slug":"fun-with-photodoc-new-and-improved-uv-setup","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/libapps.libraries.uc.edu\/thepreservationlab\/2020\/01\/fun-with-photodoc-new-and-improved-uv-setup","title":{"rendered":"Fun with PhotoDoc: New and Improved UV Setup"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

You may recall back in September of 2018 when we shared<\/a> an article I had written in our UC Libraries\u2019 newsletter about photographic documentation in the Lab and a recent workshop I had attended through FAIC<\/a>: http:\/\/libapps.libraries.uc.edu\/source\/photo-documentation-in-the-preservation-lab\/<\/a>  If you missed it, basically the workshop focused on a standardized and replicable UV\/visible fluorescence documentation workflow, and was taught by Conservator Jennifer McGlinchey Sexton at Duke University.  It was a fantastic workshop and I came back from it with a plan for a new UV workflow and a list of equipment for an improved UV setup.  However, conservation photography equipment can be pricey, especially when you are embarking on improving a very specialized setup, like UV.  On top of that we had just included a Near Infrared workflow into our photography repertoire and our budget was feeling the strain.  So we took the smart approach and slowly bought equipment, here and there, when the budget allowed.  Finally, we now have all the equipment we need for the new setup.  Check out the results from today’s session: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Fun<\/a>
Left: normal illumination, Right: UV radiation <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Lucky for me, when it came to refreshing myself on the actual workflow I had learned at Duke the binder that Jennifer had put together for each workshop participant was incredibly thorough and all I needed to replicate the workflow in the Lab.  Before we dive into the aspects of the new workflow and why it is \u201cimproved\u201d, let\u2019s discuss our previous workflow for a second.  Like most conservation labs, we refer to The AIC Guide to Digital Photography and Conservation Documentation<\/em><\/a> (currently on sale for $20!) for almost anything PhotoDoc-related.  For UV, the book details the different types of ultraviolet radiation, various types of UV lamps, safety (both for the object and yourself), setup, filters, and workflow.  In this volume the basic workflow describes using the camera\u2019s \u201cshade\u201d white balance setting and then adjusting the temperature to 10000K and the tint to +35 in CameraRaw.  Exposure is determined by the photographer using visual cues alone, as there is no way to white balance using a standard color checker; the Neutral 8 (N8) patch will no longer be neutral grey under UV fluorescence.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

While this workflow produces very usable images that illustrate the fluorescence of materials, inks, pigments, adhesive and staining, it is subjective and makes replication of results more difficult. While our prior workflow for UV photography could use improvement, the workflow itself was not the main issue, in fact, this is the workflow used in many other labs.  The problem child of our setup was the equipment, and I\u2019m sure any lab trying to piece together a completely brand new PhotoDoc studio (which happened six years ago for us<\/a>) on a budget can relate.  Behold our previous \u201cUV\u201d lamps, which I affectionately referred to as the \u201cHome Depot setup\u201d: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Fun<\/a>
Good ole black lights!  Though, unfortunately, we did not have a velvet Elvis black light poster hanging in the studio to really take full advantage of these babies. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

If we\u2019re being honest, these low-pressure fluorescent lamps were super cheap and served their purpose for 6 years.  Shooting with them was a bear; since the intensity was very weak, I would have to shoot with both lamps and we did not have any clamps to hold them in place. I had to either get someone to assist me or, once I got a wireless mouse, I got even more creative (ask me about it sometime \u2013 it\u2019s pretty funny).  The downside of these inexpensive lamps is the significant and noticeable visible light leakage.  Since the fluorescent tubes are not properly filtered, the image you are left with has a blueish-purple cast to it: <\/p>\n\n\n\n