Western States Digital Standards Group Digital Imaging Working Group Western States Digital Imaging Best Practices Version 1.0 January 2003 Funded by an IMLS grant to University of Denver and the Colorado Digitization Program Created on: 2002-07-17 Last Modified: 2003-05-22 Western States Digital Imaging Digital Standards Group Best Practices A Cultural Heritage Collaboration January 2003 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ........................................................................................................................................2 PURPOSE ....................................................................................................................................................................3 SCOPE........................................................................................................................................................................4 REVISIONS .................................................................................................................................................................4 PIXELS PER INCH (PPI) VS. DOTS PER INCH (DPI).....................................................................................................4 GENERAL PRINCIPLES................................................................................................................................................5 RELATED DOCUMENTS ..............................................................................................................................................5 PROJECT PLANNING ..............................................................................................................................................6 DOCUMENTATION......................................................................................................................................................6 STAFFING...................................................................................................................................................................6 TRAINING ..................................................................................................................................................................7 IN-HOUSE OR OUTSOURCE?........................................................................................................................................8 COSTS........................................................................................................................................................................9 DIGITIZATION TOOLBOX...................................................................................................................................10 HARDWARE .............................................................................................................................................................10 SOFTWARE...............................................................................................................................................................15 WORKSPACE............................................................................................................................................................17 ONLINE STORAGE ....................................................................................................................................................20 METADATA..............................................................................................................................................................22 INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY CONCERNS .......................................................................................................23 WATERMARKS: WHAT WORKS AND WHAT DOESN’T.................................................................................................23 GUIDELINES FOR CREATING DIGITAL IMAGES.........................................................................................24 MODES OF CAPTURE................................................................................................................................................26 SPATIAL RESOLUTION .............................................................................................................................................26 BIT DEPTH (COLOR DEPTH).....................................................................................................................................28 FILE FORMATS.........................................................................................................................................................28 GUIDELINES BY SOURCE TYPE.................................................................................................................................31 TEXT........................................................................................................................................................................31 PHOTOGRAPHS.........................................................................................................................................................32 MAPS.......................................................................................................................................................................33 GRAPHIC MATERIALS ..............................................................................................................................................34 ARTWORK / 3 DIMENSIONAL OBJECTS.....................................................................................................................34 QUALITY CONTROL FOR IMAGES...................................................................................................................35 TONAL DYNAMIC RANGE. .......................................................................................................................................35 COLOR MANAGEMENT ............................................................................................................................................36 QUALITY CONTROL WORKFLOW .............................................................................................................................38 Funded by an IMLS grant to Created on: 2003-05-22 4:55 PM The University of Denver and Last Modified: 2003-05-22 5:10 PM The Colorado Digitization Program Page 1 of 41 Western States Digital Imaging Digital Standards Group Best Practices A Cultural Heritage Collaboration January 2003 Acknowledgements In the Fall of 2001, the University of Denver was awarded an Institute for Museum and Library Services (IMLS) grant to develop a multi-state collaborative initiative that demonstrates the ability to broaden access to a collection of widely dispersed digital resources by creating a virtual collection of digital resources using the topic Western Trails. Twenty-three institutions in four Western states were awarded mini-grants to create digital content and associated metadata. Additionally, the grant was to develop a set of Best Practices for Digital Imaging, with involvement of representatives from cultural heritage institutions in the four participating states. In June 2002 6 representatives from Western States met in Denver, Colorado to begin the task of reviewing and updating the existing Colorado Digitization Program best practice guidelines. I would like to thank the following individuals for their contribution to the creation of this document: Steve Boss, University of Wyoming, Clee Library; Jill Koelling, Nebraska State Historical Society; Jennifer S. Kutzik, Colorado State University; Roel Muñoz, Denver Public Library; Mark Shelstad, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming; Sarah Goodwin Thiel, Spencer Research Library, University of Kansas; Richard Urban, Colorado Digitization Program; Brian Pytlik Zillig, Electronic Text Center, University of Nebraska - Lincoln Libraries Liz Bishoff November 2002 Funded by an IMLS grant to Created on: 2003-05-22 4:55 PM The University of Denver and Last Modified: 2003-05-22 5:10 PM The Colorado Digitization Program Page 2 of 41 Western States Digital Imaging Digital Standards Group Best Practices A Cultural Heritage Collaboration January 2003 Purpose The purpose of this document is to offer guidance and to provide minimum digital imaging recommendations to institutions that are planning for or are involved in digitization projects. These guidelines are not intended to be used as the de facto standard for digital imaging, but rather as a guide for image capture, presentation, storage, and preservation. Inherent or unique characteristics of different source materials necessitate different approaches to scanning and conversion requirements for digital projects should be considered on a case-by-case basis (particularly for grant projects with specific requirements). The recommendations we make in this document are purposely broad enough to apply to a variety of institutions and collections and attempt to synthesize different recommendations previously made for specific institutions or projects. This document addresses the more standard formats of text, photographs, maps, and graphic materials and is written for institutions that have the equipment and expertise to scan in-house. If you are planning to primarily scan oversize materials, bound materials, or materials in non- standard formats and sizes, you may consider outsourcing these materials to imaging vendors. These guidelines have been developed in order to: 1. increase the interoperability and accessibility of digital collections across