The Voynich Ninja

Sorry, I'm not sure what you mean.

If parchment that has been written on has been sanded down and rewritten, you can make the original writing visible again using UV light.
Here, the ink has migrated through the parchment. You can see it with the naked eye. Would that be even clearer under UV light?
My view is, if you can already make it visible on the back, what must it look like on the front?
The ink has migrated due to moisture.
What do you think?
Even clearer with UV light?

I see. Show-through can sometimes be visible under UV light, depending on how deeply it has seeped into the parchment. For example, mirrored show-through from 116r is clearly visible on the UV image of 116v:

[attachment=15285]

A big thank you to you, Lisa.
Great photo! I didn't realize there was so much text.
It's completely clear to me now. The ink has penetrated deeply and can no longer be removed by rubbing or sanding.
Since the ink hasn't penetrated all the way through, there might still be a few surprises in store.
Thanks again.

Ein grosses Danke an Dich Lisa.
Super Bild! Ich hätte nicht gedacht das es so viel Text ist.
Für mich ist jetzt ganz klar. Die Tinte sitzt tief und kann mit reiben oder schleifen nicht mehr entfernt werden.
Da das durchdrücken keine Einbahnstrasse ist, hält das vielleicht noch einige Überraschungen bereit.
Nochmals Danke.

The following article shows iron gall ink as nearly transparent in 900-1500nm: You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view. (needs an account to access)
There are photos of test panels showing how 8 different writing materials are visible by themselves and when covered with 8 different paint types, in all possible combinations in visible light, 900-1500nm and 1500-2000nm. Iron gall ink looks nearly transparent in either IR band both when covered and by itself. Quoting from the article: 

Quote:In summary, all the pigments studied are penetrated in the infrared, with the exception of lapis lazuli and chrome oxide green. The underdrawing materials that are rendered visible include mined black chalk, leadpoint, silverpoint and carbon black ink. The underdrawing materials that become transparent, and are not therefore visible, include red Conte crayon, charcoal and iron gall ink.

@Lisa
Do you happen to have a UV photo of the other side as well?
Technically speaking (under the same conditions), the images of the sheep or goat and the nymph should also be visible on the other side under UV light.
Let’s call it a cross-check.

This drive has all of the images that were taken. 116r was not imaged.
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(23-04-2026, 08:30 PM)Aga Tentakulus Wrote: You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view.The ink has penetrated deeply and can no longer be removed by rubbing or sanding.

I don't think that is what is happening in that image.  Vellum is translucent, therefore even writing or paint that sits on the surface will be faintly visible from the other side.  

And that is not just an UV image, it must be a composite with images at other wavelengths and/or transmitted light (backlighted) images.  And possibly contrast-stretched to bring out the faint seethrough writing more clearly.  Here is just the UV image with frontal illumination, with no contrast stretching:

[attachment=15290]

Note that the writing on the back is only faintly visible.  Instead what is very visible is the edge of the big water spill (A).  And possibly the edge of the area where someone rubbed chemicals (B), like Wilfrid did at the bottom of f1r.

All the best, --stolfi

(23-04-2026, 09:57 PM)oshfdk Wrote: You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view.The following article shows iron gall ink as nearly transparent in 900-1500nm:  ... Quoting from the article: 

Quote:The underdrawing materials that become transparent, and are not therefore visible, include red Conte crayon, charcoal and iron gall ink.

Yes, but that is what the article I quoted said too: iron-gall ink remains opaque up to 1200 nm, while ocher becomes transparent by 800 nm.  And the VMS ink is already transparent before 940 nm (the longest wavelength used in those images).

All the best, --stolfi

[attachment=15291]

When I look at Lisa’s UV image and compare it to yours.
The writing is visible everywhere—in the water stain, near the possible chemicals, and, hmm, even where there’s nothing.
It’s visible in all three places. I can even see it without UV light.
When I look at the writing on the other side, I don’t see any pigments in the ink or on the parchment. The ink is dissolved and isn’t pigmented.
That’s why the ink has migrated through the parchment due to the moisture.