title: Revealing Invisible Beauty, Ultra Detailed: The Influence of Low Cost UV Exposure on Natural History Specimens in 2D+ Digitization.
abstract: Digitization of the natural history specimens usually occurs by taking detailed pictures from different sides or producing 3D models. Additionally this is normally limited to imaging the specimen while exposed by light of the visual spectrum. However many specimens can see in or react to other spectra as well. Fluorescence is a well known reaction to the ultraviolet (UV) spectrum by animals, plants, minerals etc. but rarely taken into account while examining natural history specimens. Our tests show that museum specimens still fluoresce when exposed to UV light of 395 nm and 365 nm, even after many years of preservation. When the UV exposure is used in the digitization of specimens using our low cost focus stacking (2D+) setup, the resulting pictures reveal more detail than the conventional 2D+ images. Differences in fluorescence using 395 nm or 365 nm UV lights were noticed, however there isn't a preferred wavelength as some specimens react more to the first, while others have better results with the latter exposure. Given the increased detail and the low cost of the system, UV exposure should be considered while digitizing natural history museum collections.
authors.affiliation: Scientific Heritage Service, Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences, Vautierstraat 29, B-1000 Brussels, Belgium.|Biological Collection and Data Management, Royal Museum for Central Africa, Leuvensesteenweg 13, B-3080 Tervuren, Belgium.
authors.forename: Jonathan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Brecko
authors.affiliation: Scientific Heritage Service, Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences, Vautierstraat 29, B-1000 Brussels, Belgium.|Biological Collection and Data Management, Royal Museum for Central Africa, Leuvensesteenweg 13, B-3080 Tervuren, Belgium.
authors.forename: Aurore
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mathys
authors.affiliation: Scientific Heritage Service, Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences, Vautierstraat 29, B-1000 Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: Wouter
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Dekoninck
authors.affiliation: Scientific Heritage Service, Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences, Vautierstraat 29, B-1000 Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: Marleen
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: De Ceukelaire
authors.affiliation: Biological Collection and Data Management, Royal Museum for Central Africa, Leuvensesteenweg 13, B-3080 Tervuren, Belgium.
authors.forename: Didier
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: VandenSpiegel
authors.affiliation: Scientific Heritage Service, Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences, Vautierstraat 29, B-1000 Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Semal
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D009144:Museums; D019021:Natural History / Q000379:methods*; D010781:Photography / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays