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This full day specialist workshop will provide participants with practical experience on three iterations of the microfading tester (MFT) instrument commonly in use today: the original Whitmore MFT design, the Retroreflective MFT, and the Fotonowy MFT.
This workshop is for museum, gallery and Conservation professionals, who are prospective or emerging MFT users, as well as those interested in alternatives to their current MFT setups.
Introduced in the mid-1990’s by conservation scientist Paul Whitmore, the MFT has become an important preventive conservation tool for assessing the light sensitivity of an object. By exposing an object to an intense and tiny spot of light—greater than 1 million lux and less than 0.5 mm in diameter—and simultaneously monitoring colour change with a spectrometer, the MFT provides information on an object’s vulnerability to light, as well as supporting object selection for exhibitions and the development of object-specific lighting guidelines for display.
Though the MFT is employed at heritage institutions around the world, there have been obstacles to its more widespread use. Because it is a unique technique that emerged from within the conservation field rather than from a commercial manufacturer, the formal training and technical support normally offered by instrument companies have not been available. Over the years, MFT users also began exploring alternatives to the original Whitmore MFT setup, including changes to the light source, measurement geometry, and means of automation. Thus, it is incumbent on the conservation field itself to support MFT practice, and this training workshop represents a contribution to this effort.
The bulk of the workshop will be dedicated to gaining hands-on experience with the Whitmore MFT, Retroreflective MFT, and Fotonowy MFT.
The day will include:
- An introductory talk about microfading.
- Three approximately 90-minute sessions on each instrument, where participants will work in small groups with expert instructors to begin learning how to operate the instrument (including assessing the light source, establishing test parameters, focusing the light spot, choosing test locations and conducting the tests).
- A chance for group discussion of general microfading concepts and case studies, and a Q&A. Information will also be shared on the acquisition, assembly, portability, and maintenance of each instrument.
Lunch will be provided.
There will be some preparation required and a reading / viewing list will be shared with attendees ahead of the workshop.
The workshop is organized by the Microfading Tester International Discussion Group, which is supported by the American Institute for Conservation and AIC's Preventive Care Network and The Getty Conservation Institute.
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