Infrared Photography Distinguishes Water, Alcohol, and Acetone

Alex Bock 2024-02-07

False color composite near infrared image showing decreasing light absorption in water, ethanol, isopropanol, and acetone

This is a near infrared false color composite of water, 76% ethanol (aq), 91% isopropanol (aq), and acetone. The red, green, and blue channels of this image represent the 1000 nm longpass, 850 nm longpass, and visible frames respectively. These images were captured using a Sigma sd Quattro with no IR filter and a custom near infrared lens, the same setup used in my previous post demonstrating that red wine is transparent to near infrared light .

These are the visible, 850 nm longpass, and 1000 nm longpass source images:

Monochrome capture in visible light (all solutions clear)

Monochrome capture with 850 nm longpass filter (solutions with more water become darker)

Monochrome capture with 1000 nm longpass filter (solutions with more water become dramatically darker)

Back to Index