![ae1b83ecbee137927d2079336d5dbde9_large.png](/system/images/photos/000/001/163/medium/ae1b83ecbee137927d2079336d5dbde9_large.png) _The Infra-whatnow?_ The **Infragram** is a simple, affordable infrared camera platform -- developed collaboratively, by the Public Lab community -- for measuring plant health and geeking out on gardening. It's for home gardeners, hikers, makers, farmers, amateur scientists, teachers, artists, and anyone curious about the secret lives of plants! **Quick links** * [Kickstarter page](http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/publiclab/infragram-the-infrared-photography-project/) (also the short link: http://kck.st/11XOglZ) * [Infragram media page (images)](/wiki/infragram-media) * Main [near infrared camera research page](/wiki/near-infrared-camera) * [Recent Infragram updates and research](/tag/infragram) ##Getting started So you have an Infragram camera, or a filter kit, and you want to start analyzing plant health? After this page first place to look for answers is Public Lab's [infrared photography discussion list](/wiki/mailing-lists), which you can sign up for in the left-hand column. There are plenty of other DIY infrared photographers, from novices to experts, willing to offer advice and help troubleshoot. ###Converting cameras We'll soon be posting more information, but for now check out this list of cameras, detailing how to convert some and collecting information on which cameras work and which don't: * [Infragram-convertible cameras](/wiki/infragram-convertible-cameras) ###White balance We've learned that careful white balancing of your converted Infragram camera can result in much better images. Learn how [in this short video](/notes/warren/08-15-2013/white-balancing-a-canon-camera-for-infragram-photography) and [read in depth on the topic in research by Chris Fastie](/notes/cfastie/06-17-2013/white-balance). There is also a wiki page on the subject at http://publiclab.org/wiki/infrablue-white-balance If you have a Public Lab Infragram DIY Filter Kit, you'll also have [a QR code which we've printed](/system/images/photos/000/001/169/medium/1307649934001_l.jpg) which leads to "infragram.org". The idea, which has not yet been attempted, is to use the QR code both as a black/white contrast reference, and as a means to automatically white balance images which include the QR code, upon image uploading at Infragram.org. Please stay tuned, and chip in if you have ideas about this. ###Filters The Infragram DIY Filter Kit ships with two different filters. This is because our research on which filter works best has evolved over time, but currently we believe the **Rosco #2007** works best with CCD cameras, and the **Rosco #74** works best with CMOS cameras. (this is being debated; please see [this series of research notes for more detail](/tag/infragram-filters)) **** ##Background The Infragram camera was originally developed by Public Lab contributors to assess damage to wetlands [in the wake of the BP oil spill](/wiki/gulf-coast); but it's also a simple, easy-to-modify, open-source hardware and software tool that anyone who's curious about plant physiology and health can use. You can go back and read through much of this work by [reading research notes tagged with 'near-infrared-camera'](/tag/near-infrared-camera) and the most recent work on the Infragram technique by looking for [the tag 'infragram'](/tag/infragram). ![dorn](https://i.publiclab.org/system/images/photos/000/000/342/medium/dorn) Vineyards, large farms, and NASA all use near-infrared photography for assessment, usually by mounting expensive sensors on airplanes and satellites. **Infragram** brings this technology to average citizens, enabling them to monitor their environment through quantifiable, citizen-generated data. ![kites](https://i.publiclab.org/system/images/photos/000/000/343/medium/kites) Just as photography was instrumental to the rise of credible print journalism, DIY data collection technologies like **Infragram** set out to democratize and improve reporting about environmental impacts. By creating a low-cost camera and working with farmers and environmental activists, we hope to explore grassroots uses for this kind of technology. ###What exactly is an Infragram camera? The [Kickstarter project](http://kickstarter.com/projects/publiclab/infragram-the-infrared-photography-project) offered a few different versions: