About

The Cultural Heritage Imaging Lab at RIT is located in the Chester F. Carlson Center for Imaging Science. The lab is co-directed by Dr. Juilee Decker (Museum Studies), Dr. Roger L. Easton, Jr. and Dr. David Messinger (Imaging Science). Their current research is focused on a low-cost, end-to-end multispectral imaging system, Multispectral Imaging System for Historical Artifacts (or “MISHA”), developed by RIT’s Imaging Science and Museum Studies Programs that can be used on small format historical documents, sheet, and leaf collections that have overwritten text, faded ink, or other un-readable or unknown content.

Researchers in Color Science have developed “Beyond RBG,” an interactive tool to use spectral imaging for the purposes of color comparison and analysis. This research is led by Dr. Susan Farnand, Associate Professor in Color Science with Leah Humenuck, PhD Candidate in Color Science.

Director of the Magnetic Resonance Laboratory, Dr. Joseph Hornak research focuses on a non-invasive method of mapping and identifying pigments in paintings.

A research center in the College of Art and Design, Image Permanence Institute is dedicated to supporting the preservation of cultural heritage collections in libraries, archives, and museums around the world. IPI is led by Jennifer Jae Gutierrez, and Dr. Emma Richardson serves as Director of Research.

Dr. Sungyoung Kim, Associate Professor in the College of Engineering Technology, has developed methods for audio reproduction of cultural heritage sites, with collaborators Dr. Doyuen Ko, Belmont University, and Dr. Miriam M. Kolar, The Anthropology Institute.

Collaborators Dr. Atia Newman (College of Art & Design) and Alissa de Wit-Paul (Department of Architecture, Golisano Institute for Sustainability) have developed a new method of preserving cultural sites through digital preservation, research, and education.