Research Summary

Millions of colour slides created in an industrial setting, with constantly changing formulations, made their way into collections worldwide. Due to the sheer variety of marketed products, contextualizing, interpreting, and preserving them is a complex and common issue to both international and Portuguese institutions.

This project seeks to address the information gap that needs to be filled to expand our collective ability to understand and preserve colour slides, exemplifying their artistic, documental, educational, and scientific use in a national context, integrating different areas of knowledge and interdisciplinary research methodologies. Through surveys, it will be possible to provide an overview of the materials and brands commonly utilized in the country, as well as to establish practical conservation standards and treatment methods. Coupled with the development of a digital reference atlas, it will aim to raise awareness of the importance of colour slides at a national and international level.