Abstract: An apparatus for photometric analysis and/or identification of properties of a material object comprises a collection of light sources having substantially distinct wavelength envelopes and activated in a rapid sequence of distinct combinations. The apparatus comprises a collection of spatially distributed light detectors which detect radiation from the object and produce detected signals. A signal processor for controlling the light sources and analyzing the detected signals synchronizes the detected signals with the activation of the sequence of distinct combinations of the light sources to produce associated combinations of detected signals which are then analyzed to determine a physical property of the object and/or compared for similarity to previously detected signals from known objects. The photometric data may be combined and correlated with other measured data to enhance identification.