Photographs: Preservation and Digitization

Presented by Lori HostuttlerWVAM 2010

Benefits of Digitization

• Helps preserve originals– Not full surrogates– Management of digital data – will it last?

• Increases access to images– Can lead to increased use of originals

• Can provide outreach and fundraising possibilities

Basic Photograph Preservation

• Take a holistic approach• Focus on environmental controls, handling,

and storage• Avoid the need for conservation or repair

Temperature and Humidity

• Crucial to preservation– Rate of degradation doubles with every 10 degree

temperature increase– High humidity provides moisture that leads to

fading and discoloration.– High temp and high humidity enables mold

growth and insects– Low humidity can cause embrittlement and

curling

Temperature and Humidity

• Consistency is the key• Temperature 65 - 70° F• Humidity 30% - 50%• Lower is better• Avoid attics and basements

Light

• Causes embrittlement, yellowing and fading• Cumulative and irreversible• Direct sunlight the worst• Use reproductions for display• Be aware of light sources if hanging originals• UV absorbing sleeves available for fluorescent

lights or use low UV bulbs

Handling and Storage

• Wear gloves – don’t touch emulsion side• Enclosures– Archival Quality Paper

• Protects from light, but increases handling for viewing– Plastic

• Polyester, Polypropylene, Polyethylene• Can trap moisture – do not enclose all four sides

• Boxes and Folders– Acid Free– Horizontal or Vertical

Resources

• Society of American Archivists– http://www.archivists.org– Photographs: Archival Care and Management

by Mary Lynn Ritzenthaler, Diane Vogt-O’Conner, et al

• Northeast Document Conservation Center– http://www.nedcc.org

Arrangement and Description

• Organizing your photos– Provenance– Subject

• Metadata– Descriptive information, “data about data”– Dublin Core Metadata Element set• A standard for digital information • 15 elements or fields – you don’t have to use them all

and you can repeat an element if necessary

Dublin Core Elements

• Title• Date• Creator• Description• Subject• Source• Format• Identifier• Rights

• Contributor• Coverage• Language• Publisher• Relation• Type

http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/

Considerations

• Will digitization harm the original?• Is there a commitment to keeping up with

storage and file standards? Migration?• Copyright questions• Access and Use policies

Hardware

• Computer Specifications– RAM (2 to 4 Gigabytes)– Processor Speed ( 1.5 Ghz minimum)– Hard Drive Size (200 – 500 Gigabytes)http://reviews.cnet.com/desktop-computer-buying-

guide/• Scanner– Epson (my personal fav)– Make sure has the capability to do high resolution

scans

Software

• Scanning utility will come with scanner• Photo editing software may also accompany

scanner program• Adobe Photoshop is the best, but expensive• Irfan View – very functional and FREE

http://www.irfanview.com/ • GIMP, Picasa, Photoscape• http://www.cnet.com for hardware/software

information, reviews, downloads

Storage of Digital Files

• Computer Hard Drive• External Hard Drive• CDs / DVDs– Use a Sharpie CD/DVD markers

• Redundant Storage – storing data in more than one place is a very good idea

• Migration to the latest technology

Scanning Specifications

• File Types– Master files: .tif

• Keep a master file that can be edited as needed– User files: .jpeg– Text files: .pdf (FYI)

• Color or Grayscale– 8 bit grayscale

• Smaller file size– 24 bit color

• Larger file size but will retain any sepia in b&w photos

Scanning Specifications

• Resolution– For master files at least 300 dpi (dots per inch),

which is publication quality, but higher is better– Higher dpi will mean bigger file size and more

storage needs• File Naming Schemas– Use an alpha numeric combination that is logical

for your project or collection: cm0001, cm0002– Connect original to scan by writing number on

back in pencil

Scanning Demo

Scanner Interface

Preview

Preview in Color

Preview in Grayscale

Select Scanning Area

Adjust Specifications and Scan

Image in IrfanView - Rotate

Options for Online Display

• Content Management Systems– CONTENTdm (proprietary), dlxs, Dspace and

Greenstone (open source)

• Online sites– Flikr, Picasa, MyPhotoAlbum

• Web site

Thanks!

• Questions?