Over the past 150 years or more, fossils and other objects from the past have been collected and archived all over the world by museums, colleges and universities, and many private individuals. Usually considerable work has been put into restoring these objects in an attempt to make them appear whole and more aesthetically pleasing.  Michael Eklund of the University of Texas and ThinklabZ has coined the term “Progressive Photonics” to describe a series of reproducible steps and techniques that are designed to enhance long term data yield from paleontological and archeological specimens. Progressive Photonics involves the use of specific types of cameras, lighting, optical filtering, staging, shrouding and other tools and equipment for obtaining and recording these images. It relies on fixed, predetermined methods, settings and sequences. It is a recording process designed to be easy to follow, relatively inexpensive, and one that allows for later manipulation of the images/data as may be deemed beneficial by individual researchers, scientists or collectors. Of paramount importance is that the images as seen by the unaided eye and recorded by the camera are known, specific and repeatable by anyone, at anytime, anywhere in the world. For this reason, the use of Photoshopping or other similar manipulation of digital images during the recording process is eschewed. Progressive Photonics is therefore not only an attempt to improve the scientific yield from specimens by adopting standard methodologies, instrumentation and practices for imaging, it ultimately also attempts to restore confidence in the integrity of the resulting data and conclusions drawn from interpretation of those images.
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