Blogs

Update (2026 January 6) : The MFT-IDG team is happy to share the recording of our 2025 November 14 webinar “ Microfading Testers in Use: Whitmore, Fotonowy, and Retroreflective ”. Many thanks to our speakers f or graciously sharing their knowledge with us, and the Getty for their support in organizing the webinar. ---------- The Microfading Tester International Discussion Group (MFT-IDG) will host its first webinar titled “Microfading Testers In Use: Whitmore, Fotonowy, and Retroreflective” on Friday, November 14, from 8-930am (Los Angeles) / 11am-1230pm (New York) / 1-230pm (Rio de Janeiro) / 4-530pm (Edinburgh) / 8-930pm (Dubai) / 12-130am (next day, ...

When describing the Microfading Tester International Discussion Group (MFT-IDG), conservation scientist Paul Whitmore is mentioned early and prominently as the originator of the microfading tester (MFT), which can assess the in situ light sensitivity of an object. While an aspiration of the MFT-IDG had been to interview Paul, he efficiently pointed us to an FAIC oral history conducted in 2020 with Kelsey Wingel, and housed at the Winterthur Museum, Library, and Archives. This fascinating three-part oral history covers the breadth of Paul’s career: Part 1 documents his discovery of conservation and conservation science and his early work at Caltech and the Fogg ...

Organizing and launching the Microfading Tester International Discussion Group (MFT-IDG) has been the definition of a team effort and we wanted to briefly introduce you to the amazing MFT-IDG officers working behind the scenes. -------------------- Kirsten Dunne ACR, MFT-IDG Information Repository Officer ( Senior Projects Conservator, National Galleries of Scotland) • How were you introduced to MFT? I started Microfading in 2012, when we purchased an MFT for our Conservation Department. Our Director of Collections Care Jacqueline Ridge trained as a paintings conservator and, having worked with Dr. Paul Whitmore on the Rothko paintings ...

While some of you may have seen the sneak preview at the recent AIC conference in Minneapolis (many thanks to my fellow MFT-IDG officers @JP Brown and @Cindy Connelly Ryan !), I'm thrilled to finally share our animation about the microfading tester or MFT: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Qc3bSTldOc This project was a collaborative effort with talented artist Alex Brown from The Disruption Society and the Getty's Jessie Hendricks who shared her mellifluous narration, as well as a host of other generous contributors. Drawing inspiration from fond memories of Schoolhouse Rock! , we wanted to use animation as a fun and accessible way of "illuminating" ...