Macro laser profilometry scanner applied to paintings on canvas, wood, metal, and leather supports

Here, we present a custom-built macro laser profilometry scanning system designed to quantitatively reveal both artistic and morphological features of artworks. The surface morphology of four paintings, differing in support and dimensions, was investigated across multiple spatial frequency scales (roughness and waviness). The analyzed artworks included pieces on canvas, wood, metal, and leather, covering areas between 0.3 and 2.0 m², with acquisition times ranging from 10 min to 5 h. A 405 nm laser source enabled detailed surface reconstructions with a lateral resolution of 12.5 μm and a height resolution of 1.6 μm. The scanning system employs motorized X-Y translation stages with a positioning accuracy of ±0.01 mm and a Python-based workflow for the automation of the data acquisition process. The high reproducibility of ~10 μm allows reliable capture of 3D profiles that convey information about the surface condition of the artworks at both macro- and micro scale.