A Novel Digital-Camera Characterization Method for Pigment Identification in Cultural Heritage

Color represents a primary feature in the field of Art and Cultural Heritage, which can also be of help in defining the conservation state of an artwork. The color identification by means of a digital camera represents a nondestructive methodology which makes use of a non-expensive and portable device and enables a spatial analysis which is not allowed to a colorimeter. The present study compares an original method for camera characterization with two approaches reported in the literature. The comparison is based on parameters such as the Pearson correlation coefficient and the DE00 colorimetric difference, computed according to the CIEDE2000 formula. The data sets used for both the “training” and the “validation” processes are (a) the 24 tiles of the Color Checker Passport Photo X-Rite color scale and (b) 30 samples of oil painting laid down on a canvas prepared according to the indications of Giorgio Vasari in his renowned “Le vite”. The data so far available clearly show that our original method leads to results which are similar or better than those furnished by the literature methods.