Researchers Use Soft X-Rays to Restore Ancient Ruined Daguerreotypes

Western University researchers have created a new technique to bring ancient daguerreotypes from utter ruin back to life.

According to researchers, the new technique can be used to restore other damaged historic artifacts like ancient texts or even fossils.

Researchers led by Chemistry Professor Tson-Kong Sham (T.K.) have recently improved upon an older technique that they had explored for the first time in 2018 to rescue corroded Daguerreotypes.

Daguerreotypes, developed by French inventor Louis Daguerre around 180 years ago, are some of the oldest photos that exist.

Researchers from Western University, Ontario, Canada, describe their method for reconstructing the earliest types photographic stills by using a technique called synchrotron imaging.

T.K Sham and his team were able to reconstruct images even from the most heavily corroded plates dating back to the early to mid-19th century.

They used the beamlines called VESPERS, SXRMB, and Advanced Photon Source from the Argonne National Lab in Chicago, Illinois, as well as the Canadian Light Source in Saskatchewan.

Private collectors and The National Gallery of Canada lent the daguerreotypes for this project. Many of them were severely damaged over the years by general deterioration, and in some cases poor cleaning.