A laser technique best known for taking out unwanted skin tattoos is finding a second life in upholding sculpts, pictures and other art works.

The method, known as laser ablation, involves removing material from a solid surface by vapourising the substance with beam of light.

Medical doctors, for example, make use of laser ablation in medicine to take away unwanted tattoos. In business, the method can take away paints, coatings and other material without harming the underlying surface.

Salvatore Siano and Renzo Salimbeni indicated that laser cleaning of art works in reality started about 10 years before the better known medical and industrial apps of the method.

Researchers noted that that laser ablation has had a vital impact in maintaining the world's artistic heritage of great artistic works.

They explain the most recent advancements in laser cleaning of stone and metal sculptures as well as paintings comprising masterpieces such as Lorenzo Ghiberti's Porta del Paradiso and Donatello's David.

They also talk about encouraging outcomes of laser cleaning underwater for material, which could degenerate if exposed to air, said a declaration from the American Chemical Society (ACS) through EurekAlert.

These results were issured in the ACS monthly journal, Accounts of Chemical Research. (With Input from Agencies)