Active and passive sensors for art works analysis and investigations

In this contribution we describe the modern 2D and 3D technologies for the documentation, analysis and restoration of paintings. RGB color imaging, IR and UV fluorescence sensors, together with highly precise active sensors are among the most widely technologies in this field. The devices provide information on the painting’s materials, on the employed technique and on the conservation’s state of the art work. However, all information must be correctly registered to be able to draw safe conclusions and perform the most adequate conservation interventions. We also present a complete example where multispectral visible images, IR reflectography, UV fluorescence and 3D data are acquired and then combined, showing how the integration gives a new and significant improvement in the analysis of painting.