Imaging Guides

I. PLANNING AN IMAGING PROJECT

The goal of this guide is to provide a project planning framework within which appropriate image capture decisions about imaging quality can be made based on an analysis of the interrelationship between users and uses (project goals), characteristics of the originals or sources images, and available resources.

Articulate project scope and goals

Users (characterizing the audience)

Current users
Barriers to wider access and use
Anticipated new users, given digital access
Unknown users (non-specific audience)

Uses (Functional Requirements)

Anticipated uses:
On-screen (browsing, reference, detailed study, classroom projection)
Print publication
Substitute for the original?
Particular interface requirements for on-screen display
Anticipated changes in functional requirements over time

Budgetary considerations

Quality-cost relationships (file size, time, expertise, equipment, etc.)
Fixed vs. variable costs
Role of budget in overall planning and collection management
In-house vs. outsourcing
Anticipated life span of digital images
Analyze characteristics and condition of the source images

Survey physical characteristics of originals (link to guide on selecting a scanner)

Number
Formats represented
Color, grayscale, an so on
Continuous tone, print
Film, positive or negative
Photographic print
Others?
Sizes
Unusual characteristics
Physical relationship must be maintained (as in scrapbook pages, albums, sketchbooks
Mounts, protective enclosures, and so on
Oversize originals
Capturing from film intermediates

Critical features related to anticipated use

Pictorial content
Detail
Correction vs. capturing present condition

Condition and disposition of originals

Pre-scan treatment requirements
Special handling requirements for capture
Develop Appropriate Capture Specifications and Processes

Methodology for determining specifications and appropriate capture techniques

Interrelationship of components
Relationships to capture process of interface requirements for different users and uses
Relationships between uses and source image: when to create "faithful reproductions"
Role of testing/sample scans
Iterative process: test and adjust
Documenting the decision-making process

Note: This guide will be most useful if people can "see themselves" in it. One way to enable such a perspective might be to include case studies or detailed examples of a few projects to digitize visual materials in a number of common formats for specific uses. The presentation of methodology for decision-making used in specific projects should provide a blueprint that would be applicable to other situations.

Suggested references:

Frey, Franziska and Sabine Susstrunk, 1996, "Image Quality Issues for Digitization of Photographic Collections", Very High Resolution and Quality Imaging, SPIE, vol. 2663.

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