A multi-purpose large area scanner for x-ray fluorescence and reflectance imaging and its application to Asian art

Abstract To accommodate the analyses of artworks of varied sizes and support requirements, an in-house built system was designed and constructed. This system connects a wall-mounted large area motorized scanner to analytical instrumentation, such as an x-ray fluorescence (XRF) system or a reflectance imaging camera. Though it boasts a large travel area (4.5 m by 1 m), its open architecture allows for positioning and scanning over objects wider than these dimensions. A study on a panel painting by Tawaraya Sōtatsu was performed, combining visible near infrared spectral reflectance and XRF imaging spectroscopy from this instrument, along with short wave infrared spectral imaging from a commercial system. This combination of techniques provided information about the pigments used across the panels and provided insight into the use of past conservation materials.