CNRS, Centre de Biophysique Moléculaire, UPR4301, avenue de la Recherche Scientifique, CS80054, 45071 Orléans CEDEX 2, France
Guillaume Guimbretière
CNRS, Laboratoire de l’Atmosphère et des Cyclones, UMR8105, Université de La Réunion, 15 Avenue René Cassin, CS 92003, 97744 Saint-Denis CEDEX 09, France
Nicolas Bost
CNRS, Centre de Biophysique Moléculaire, UPR4301, avenue de la Recherche Scientifique, CS80054, 45071 Orléans CEDEX 2, France
Keyron Hickman-Lewis
CNRS, Centre de Biophysique Moléculaire, UPR4301, avenue de la Recherche Scientifique, CS80054, 45071 Orléans CEDEX 2, France
Aurélie Courtois
Université d’Orléans, Château de la Source, Avenue du Parc Floral, BP 6749, 45067 Orléans CEDEX 2, France
Lydie Luengo
Société d’Accélération du Transfert de Technologies, 8, rue Pablo Picasso, 63000 Clermont-Ferrand, France
Etienne Marceau
Université d’Orléans, Château de la Source, Avenue du Parc Floral, BP 6749, 45067 Orléans CEDEX 2, France
Maïtine Bergounioux
Institut Denis Poisson, Université d’Orléans, Collegium Sciences et Techniques, Bâtiment de mathématiques, Rue de Chartres, B.P. 6759, 45067 Orléans CEDEX 2, France
Frances Westall
CNRS, Centre de Biophysique Moléculaire, UPR4301, avenue de la Recherche Scientifique, CS80054, 45071 Orléans CEDEX 2, France
We propose an innovative method based on photography and image processing of interdisciplinary relevance, permitting the uncomplicated and inexpensive evaluation of material properties. This method—CaliPhoto—consists of using a dedicated colour plate with a specific design, placed in the field of view of a photograph of the material to be characterized. A specific image processing workflow is then applied to obtain colour vectors independent of illumination conditions. The method works using commercial colour cameras (e.g., smartphone cameras), and the colour plate can be printed on any colour printer. Herein, we describe the principle of the method and demonstrate that it can be used to describe and compare samples, identify materials or make relatively precise concentration measurements. The CaliPhoto method is highly complementary to any scientific research and may find applications across a range of domains, from planetary science to oceanography. The method may also be widely used in industry.
