[kik5150]

There is no mystery that the shroud is contaminated. Early artists used to lay their cloths directly on the shroud in order to copy it. What is a mystery is that the image on the shroud is not the result of any process known to mankind. It is a negative image with 3-D information produced via a Dot-Matrix pattern of a resolution higher than most modern printers. In fact, the image is not in the cloth fibers themselves, rather on a micro-thin layer of soapwort which dries on the outside of the fibers in the manufacturing of the cloth. Absolutely facinating.

[Talisker]

Well said, and yes, fascinating. Almost like a recording of a dematerialization into pure light...

[RushIsMyTeddyBear]

It is truly remarkable.

[TXnMA]

Closest analogue imaging process that comes to mind is "Dye Sublimation" Printing, wherein the dye is vaporized from one surface by intense, localized, patterned heat -- and the resulting dye vapor condenses only on the surface of the material being printed.

Makes sense to me...

[smokingfrog]

Soapwort is also known as fuller’s herb because the textile industry once used it as a fulling (cleaning and sizing) agent.

There are several Biblical references to fulling (2 Kings 18:17; Isaiah 7:3 and 36:2; Malachi 3:2; Mark 9:3).