Images
 
modern paints close up
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Modern paints close up. Photo: Emile Askey.

modern paints applied to Mylar
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A selection of modern paints applied to Mylar, ready for testing. Photo: Dennis Keeley.

paint samples on glass slides
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Paint samples applied to glass slides - made from paints left in Sam Francis' Santa Monica studio in 1994. Photo: Emile Askey.

conservation image
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Removing a tiny fragment of paint from a test sample in order to perform analytical testing. Photo: Dennis Keeley.

glass slides ready for testing
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A selection of modern paints applied to glass slides and stored in racks, ready for testing. Photo: Dennis Keeley.

selection of chemicals used in modern paints
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A selection of chemicals that are used as additives in many modern paints. Photo: Michael Schilling.

tissue paper stuck to acrylic painting
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As temperature rises, acrylic paints become softer. Here, tissue paper has become stuck to the surface of an acrylic painting. Photo: Tom Learner.

conservation image
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Loading a fragment of acrylic paint into a Thermomechanical analyzer (TMA) - this can accurately measure how much a paint fim expands and contracts under varying temperatures. Photo: Dennis Keeley.

test paints ready for accelerated ageing
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Test paints ready to be placed into a light chamber for accelerated ageing. Photo: Tom Learner ©Tate, London 2008.

test cleaning acrylic paint sample
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Test cleaning an acrylic paint sample. Subsequent testing will determine whether the procedure has caused any changes to the film. Photo: Tom Learner ©Tate, London 2008.

Selection of modern paints
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A selection of modern paints. Each type is likely to require a different cleaning procedure. Photo: David Lambert ©Tate, London 2008.

modern paints very close up
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Modern paints close up. Photo: Emile Askey.

modern paints very close up
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Modern paints. Photo: Emile Askey.

modern paints very close up
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Modern paints. Photo: Emile Askey.

painting studio
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Paints and brushes found in Sam Francis's Santa Monica studio. Photo: Aneta Zebala.

painting studio
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Paints found in Sam Francis's Santa Monica studio. Photo: Aneta Zebala.

Preparing paint samples
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Preparing paint samples: once the orange paint is squeezed out of the tube, it will be drawn down into a thin and uniform paint thickness, similar to the yellow sample next to it. Photo: Dennis Keeley.

Preparing paint samples
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Preparing "draw downs" of modern paints. Films of uniform thickness are essential for scientific testing in order to compare like with like. Photo: Dennis Keeley.