Evaluation methodology for light sources used to illuminate highly photosensitive artwork

Abstract

Spectral energy radiated by light sources is the primary source of colour damage in highly photosensitive artworks (HPAs). However, spectral power distributions differ for different light sources, and the absorption and reflection characteristics of different materials, when irradiated by each narrow spectral energy band, also differ. This could result in large differences in the degree of radiation damage for materials under the same lighting intensity. In this paper, the suitability of different light sources used to illuminate HPAs was experimentally investigated over a long period of time by irradiating nine types of typical HPA materials with 10 different narrow-band light sources. By analysing the colour difference data of the illuminated material against the amount of exposure, a mathematical model relating the spectral composition and the damage to the colour of HPA materials was obtained. Based on this, a colour damage evaluation equation for light sources used for lighting HPAs was proposed. Finally, the equations were discussed using an example.