A Multispectral Camera – What Can You Do with One in Science Education
Most cameras capture only what the human eye can see — the visible spectrum of light. A multispectral camera, however, goes further. It can record different bands of light, from ultraviolet to infrared, revealing details that ordinary photography misses. At Philip M Russell Ltd, we’ve been exploring how multispectral imaging can enrich both teaching and research across the sciences. Although expensive, basically most of these cameras are ordinary cameras with the IR filter removed. For UV cameras, great care must be taken when choosing the lens, as many cameras have special coatings that block UV light. When filming just infrared, we use a 720nm filter to block out all the visible light.
What a Multispectral Camera Sees
A multispectral camera captures several images simultaneously, each through a different wavelength filter. These can include:
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Ultraviolet (UV) for detecting fluorescence and surface coatings.
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Visible light (RGB) for colour and contrast.
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Near-infrared (NIR) for temperature, moisture, or plant health.
When combined, these layers reveal how materials absorb or reflect light differently — data invisible to the naked eye.
Applications in Education
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Biology: analysing leaf structure, photosynthesis, and plant stress using NIR reflection.
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Chemistry: identifying different compounds or pigments based on spectral response.
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Physics: teaching about wavelengths, filters, and the electromagnetic spectrum.
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Forensics and Conservation: examining inks, dyes, or damage invisible in normal light.
Building Understanding
By comparing visible and invisible light, students can see how scientific imaging extends human perception. It encourages curiosity, links theory to practice, and highlights how technology transforms observation.
The Takeaway
A multispectral camera turns light into data. It helps students explore how science reveals what lies beyond ordinary sight — making abstract ideas about wavelength and energy concrete, colourful, and measurable.
An excellent article on this is
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