Multispectral imaging

For broader coverage of this topic, see Spectral imaging.

"Multispectral analysis" redirects here; not to be confused with spectral analysis.

Multispectral image of part of the Mississippi River obtained by combining three images acquired at different nominal wavelengths (800 nm/infrared, 645 nm/red, and 525 nm/green) by Apollo 9 in 1969

Multispectral image of Bek crater and its ray system on the surface of Mercury, acquired by MESSENGER, combining images at wavelengths of 996, 748, 433 nm. The bright yellow patches in other parts of the image are hollows.

Multispectral imaging captures image data within specific wavelength ranges across the electromagnetic spectrum. The wavelengths may be separated by filters or detected with the use of instruments that are sensitive to particular wavelengths, including light from frequencies beyond the visible light range (i.e. infrared and ultraviolet). It can allow extraction of additional information the human eye fails to capture with its visible receptors for red, green and blue. It was originally developed for military target identification and reconnaissance. Early space-based imaging platforms incorporated multispectral imaging technology to map details of the Earth related to coastal boundaries, vegetation, and landforms. Multispectral imaging has also found use in document and painting analysis.

Multispectral imaging measures light in a small number (typically 3 to 15) of spectral bands. Hyperspectral imaging is a special case of spectral imaging where often hundreds of contiguous spectral bands are available.