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Spectral ModelsAugust 4, 2026 · 7 min read

Spectral preprocessing: SNV, derivatives, and Savitzky-Golay smoothing

Four transforms that decide a model's quality more than the choice of algorithm. When each one helps, and when it strips out the information needed for prediction.

Four preprocessing transforms — SNV, MSC, derivatives, and Savitzky-Golay smoothing — decide the quality of a calibration model more often than the choice of regression algorithm itself. This article is a placeholder: fill it in with a description of when each transform helps, and when it removes information the model needs for prediction.

To fill in

  • When to use SNV, and when to use MSC.
  • The effect of the Savitzky-Golay order and window size on the signal-to-noise ratio.
  • The first and second derivative of a spectrum — what they reveal, and what they hide.
  • A “before / after” example on a real ScanSpectrum spectrum.

Content in progress.

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