How to best present thermal inspection results

Designed to communicate results and produce action, Thermal imaging inspection reports detect repair orders or requirements to monitor equipment.

This report usually includes thermal and digital (visible light) images and shows details such as the date and time of inspection, location of potential problems and even work order numbers.

On top of this, thermal inspection reports should present a summary that shows potential problems, locations and the corresponding level of urgency (how critical) the problems or issues are.

While the main purpose of the report is to point out issues, it is still crucial to take note that not everyone who reads the report are as well-versed in thermography.

This brings in the importance of having and using a thermal imaging analysis and reporting software to improve the image and make the results more visible to the untrained eye.

Here are the three easy ways of how experienced thermographers can enhance thermal images:

Adjusting level and span

Thermal images exhibit a hot spot and a cold spot, that may or may not be problematic. With a thermal imaging software, you can easily readjust the level (mid-point) and span (the difference between the minimum and maximum temperatures) of your image to highlight the area of concern.

Choosing the right color palette

Thermal imaging software allows you to change the palette in the camera or in the software. A monochromatic palette like grayscale or amber works great to show subtle differences. On the other hand, high contrast palettes make it easier to quickly find obvious anomalies.

Blending infrared and digital images

If your thermal imager is equipped with a built-in digital camera, it’s advised to set the blend to 100% thermal when you’re scanning the component. As the digital camera will still be capturing the visible image in the background, you can blend the digital and infrared images in the software to highlight any anomalies you want to call attention to in your report.

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