Problems and Prospects of Application of multispectral imaging in the manuscript studies

Abstract

By the beginning of the 21^st century, digital multispectral and hyperspectral visualization has become one of the key components of the systematic study of historical manuscripts. Over the past twenty years, a significant amount of research has been carried out using this method, therefore the authors considered it necessary to reflect the current situation in the field of application of multispectral visualization methods provide an overview of the most representative projects. Of the permanently operating foreign scientific institutions using multispectral imaging methods, the most fruitful are the Center for the Study of Manuscript Cultures of the University of Hamburg (CSMC), CIMA and the Research Department of the Bodleian Library. Among the temporary projects, studies related to the complex study of palimpsests, as well as the assessment of the state of the text carrier, were singled out, since they had a significant impact on the development of multispectral visualization at the methodological and technical levels. The review provides characteristics of the equipment used for multispectral imaging, discusses the relationship between methods and specific research tasks. It is stated that nowadays in solving utilitarian tasks multispectral visualization has become a routine technique. As the most promising for the development of the research potential of this method the following directions are distinguished: 1) analysis of the spectral behavior of the substance in determining the composition of the dye; 2) analysis of the spectral behavior of a text made with different inks, including in research related to the study of writing skills; 3) control of the state and dynamics of processes of the carrier.

Keywords:

manuscript studies, multispectral imaging, hyperspectral imaging, infrared reflectography