Emissivity Explained; In Plain English

This short video explains thermal emissivity in a simple to understand format using thermal imaging or thermography to illustrate the concepts.

MSX Explained - in Plain English

Have you ever wished you could have a high fidelity thermal image, but also be able to read labels and see discrete details not shown in the thermal image?

Well now you can, with a new technology called MSX.

MSX stands for Multi Spectral Dynamic Imaging, an exclusive image enhancement technology now available on several infrared cameras. This new technology is based on a unique onboard processor that provides extraordinary thermal image details in real time. MSX incorporates real-time thermal video augmented with visible spectrum definition. It produces exceptional thermal clarity to highlight exactly where the problem is. MSX ensures easier target identification without compromising radiometric data. The quality of the thermal images is excellent. There is almost no need any more for a separate digital image; MSX embosses digital camera detail onto thermal video and stills.

How does it work?

An onboard processor continually processes the visual channel and extracts only the visual detail from the visible channel. That visual detail is then added to the thermal image information. Unlike many thermal fusion technologies, the thermal information is not diluted at all, it is just augmented with visual detail not apparent in the thermal image. The result is an incredibly robust and fully radiometric thermal image displaying details and making it easy to know what is being viewed and where problems lie. See this video.

MSX Explained

Online Introduction to Outdoor Electrical Surveys using IR Thermography Course Updated

This introductory course is designed to give you a straight forward explanation of how Infrared technology fits in the outdoor electrical inspection industry.

Objectives

• An overview of a outdoor electrical survey goal and process
• An outline of industry guidelines and standards
• A demonstration of images and analysis
• A summary of reporting capabilities
• A briefing on additional accessory tools

Course Home Page

Optical Gas Imaging Re-Certification Exam Now Available

The Optical Gas Imaging Recertification Examination is designed for the Optical Gas Imaging thermographer who needs to recertify an ITC Optical Gas Imaging certification. The prime candidate is a thermographer who has been unable to accumulate 32 certification renewal credits (by attending IR conferences, other IR courses, and/or writing/presenting articles and papers) during the 5 years of his certification validity. Payment is by credit card.

Click here to go to the Exam Home page

Using a Wide Angle Lens as a Macro or Close Up Lens

Some thermographers are surprised to learn that many wide angle lenses can be used for high magnification work. After all, the wide angle lenses have a larger IFOV and IFOV footprint, so how can they be used for small targets effectively?

Here is a typical example for a FLIR E60 camera (320 x 240 resolution):

Lens FOV	IFOV (mrad)	IFOV footprint at 19.7” Working Distance
25° x 19°	1.36	0.03”
45° × 33.8°	2.59	0.05”

The specs above don’t indicate that a wide angle lens is any better, in fact it has a larger footprint. So what gives?

Take a look at the thermograms below:

	Here is a thermogram of a ruler taken with the standard 25° lens at its closest focus distance of 9.2”. Note how the scribed lines on the 100ths scale are fuzzy and merge together. The horizontal FOV is about 3”. This indicates that items this small cannot be resolved using this lens.
	I have enlarged the 25° image to illustrate the blurred lines on the scale.
	Here is the same ruler taken with a 45° lens. The scribed lines can clearly be seen and differentiated. The horizontal FOV is about 1.5”. What’s the secret? The 45° lens can be focused much closer to the target (1.2”). Hence it effectively can resolve smaller targets.

Does a wide angle lens work as well as a dedicated close up lens? No, of course not. You might notice that the sharpest areas are in the middle of the image. A dedicated optic for close up work would be designed to reduce this effect while achieving higher magnification.

But as a dual purpose optic, when you need to do some close up work, a wide angle lens is pretty handy.

Here are some images from a FLIR P640 for comparison.