Multimodal Foundation Models for Photopolymer Engineering: Text, Spectra, Images, Process Data and Evidence Grounding

Photopolymer engineering generates heterogeneous information: chemical and process text, spectra, rheology curves, optical images, build logs, dimensional measurements and service data. Multimodal foundation models offer mechanisms for joint representation, retrieval and cross-modal association, but current materials-science evidence is not equivalent to a validated photopolymer decision system. This review defines a qualification architecture in which each modality retains identity, units, provenance and measurement uncertainty. The model may assist retrieval, alignment or prediction, but source evidence remains the controlling record. The review distinguishes representation learning from evidence grounding, addresses domain shift and out-of-distribution inputs, and proposes claim-level tests for models used in formulation or process decisions. The central requirement is that a multimodal output must be traceable back to the measured or cited evidence that supports it. ER-404.