Historic paint analysis, or architectural paint research, is the scientific analysis of a broad range of architectural finishes, and is primarily used to determine the color and behavior of surface finishes at any given point in time. This helps us to understand the building's structural history and how its appearance has changed over time. Historic paint analysis shares a common methodology with the conservation and restoration of paintings used to conserve and restore two- and three dimensional works of art. This involves the identification of components such as organic or inorganic pigments and dyes contained in the pigments. Historic paint analysis also identifies the pigments' media of suspension such as (water, oil, or latex and the paints' associated substrate. A variety of techniques are used to identify and analyze the pigment layers and finish exposure, including Finish Exposure, optical microscopy, fluorescent light microscopy, polarized light microscopy, and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. These tools not only allow the conservation scientist to model the paint's physical and chemical behavior but are useful for dating purposes as well. Likewise, analyses are used to evaluate levels of risk arising from agents of deterioration that can affect paint loss, surface deterioration, interaction with newer materials, substrates, de-lamination, media and pigment deterioration, and alligatoring. With this information in hand, the conservation scientist can help the conservator better understand the chronology of the painted surface and make recommendations useful in restoring its appearance to a previous state while ensuring its longevity. History Historic architectural paint analysis finds its roots in the early twentieth century in the United States. The historic preservation movement began in 1849 with the preservation of Mount Vernon, the home of George Washington. Early preservationists became interested in authenticity. They began to realize that paints and finishes which had survived were very important but may not have been the original, or most significant, finishes. In the 1950s and 1960s, paint colours were investigated at Independence National Historical Park in Philadelphia by the architect Penelope Hartshorne Batcheler. Her pioneering efforts introduced the use of a stereo microscope to examine the 18th century paints used at Independence Hall. Batcheler also introduced the use of the Munsell color system for matching and referencing colours. Her landmark publication, Paint Color Research and Restoration, was the first publication concerning the analysis of historic architectural paints for determination of original colour. In the 1960s and early 1970s, Morgan W. Phillips at