Database retrieval has limits
Similarity ranking can identify candidates, but difficult unknowns often need sample history, preparation details, peak-level reasoning or a second interpretation.
Public help
Ask the community when database retrieval is not enough.
Not every FTIR spectrum can be resolved by database retrieval alone. Publish the spectrum and your question in the public Results discussion area so administrators and other users can bring additional references, sample context, practical experience and reasoning to the investigation. Collective intelligence is an important complement to automated analysis.
Why post here
A searchable spectrum is not always a solved spectrum.
A close library match may not settle mixtures, degradation, unusual preparation, overlapping bands or gaps in the reference collection. A public technical question lets other people examine the same evidence and add context that an automated result may not contain.
Community discussion adds context
An administrator or experienced user may point to alternative references, explain important bands, compare likely materials or suggest a useful follow-up check.
The question can help later searches
Public discussion creates a reusable record. The posted material can support future reference-library retrieval and model training under this public permission.
Choose the right path
Free public discussion or Online Requirement?
Both paths can help with a difficult FTIR question, but they differ in who responds, timing, deliverables and how the submitted data may be used.
| What to expect | Public Results discussion | Online Requirement |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Free. | Paid. Online Requirement submissions are billed separately; see the current Pricing page for pricing and quoting rules. |
| Who responds | Administrators or other community users may reply and share references, experience and suggestions. | The FTIR.fun technical team handles the submitted service request. |
| Response time | There is no guaranteed response time. Replies depend on whether community members are available to help. | The technical team provides the Online Requirement service within the service timeframe confirmed for the request. |
| Deliverable | Open discussion and community suggestions; a formal report or a reply is not guaranteed. | A scoped manual analysis, technical interpretation or formal report according to the selected Online Requirement service. |
| Data use | Public and used for FTIR.fun reference-library retrieval and model training. | Used to deliver the requested Online Requirement; not used as reference-library records for retrieval or model training. |
| Choose this when | You can share the material publicly and are willing to wait for community input. | You need a paid Online Requirement delivered by the FTIR.fun technical team within the confirmed service timeframe. |
Posting guidance
Write enough context for a useful review.
The more clearly you separate known facts from assumptions, the easier it is for someone else to test a proposed interpretation.
What to include as prior knowledge
- What the sample is, or which materials, ingredients, treatment, aging or process history you already suspect.
- The sample matrix, formulation or mixture context, including known or suspected composition where available.
- Instrument, accessory and acquisition details, such as ATR or transmission, resolution, spectral range and preprocessing.
- The important peaks or spectral regions you noticed, together with what the automated search returned or failed to resolve.
- The exact question you want an administrator or community member to investigate.
A clear post usually has
- A title that names the material or sample and the main question.
- A readable spectrum image or data file that you have permission to share.
- Known facts, working hypotheses and uncertainty marked separately.
- The searches, references or preprocessing steps you have already tried.
- A short description of the kind of answer or next check that would be useful.
Privacy and data use
Public discussion is separate from private analysis uploads.
Public Help Discussion: Content you intentionally post there, including the spectrum, images, notes, sample context and discussion text, is public and will be used for FTIR.fun reference-library retrieval and model training.
Users are responsible for ensuring they have the legal right to share the content. Do not upload confidential, trade-secret protected, subject to non-disclosure agreements (NDA) with third parties, or otherwise legally restricted data unless you have prior written authorization from the rights holder.
Standard analysis workflow: Standard analysis uploads remain private and are not automatically added to the public reference library. Uploaded spectra and search results from the standard analysis workflow are used solely to deliver, store, and retrieve your service results. They are not used for model training, spectral library expansion, product research, marketing, resale, or display to other users.
Online Requirement: Spectra, images, supporting files, sample context and related information submitted through Online Requirement are handled by the FTIR.fun technical team to deliver the requested service. They are not used as reference-library records for retrieval or model training.
Image → CSV extraction: Spectrum images and the extracted curve/CSV data from the image-to-spectrum extraction tool may be used to improve its curve-detection model, but they are not used as reference-library records for retrieval.
These four paths have different purposes. Read the full policy before choosing where to upload or publish a spectrum.