Digitisation of Traditional Format Library Materials

Guidelines for presentation of digitised pictures

1. Overview

These guidelines exemplify the Library’s policy regarding presentation of digitised pictures on the web.

Guidelines are included for:

Use these guidelines in deciding when and how to crop a digitised picture for best presentation, and when to retain borders in image presentation.

Consult team leader/collection manager for individual guidance with items not covered by these guidelines.

2. Principles for presentation of images for web delivery

3. General instructions

4. Guidelines

4.1 Framed works

4.2 Unframed works without a border

4.3 Unframed works with a border

Avoid inclusion of wide blank borders in web display copies as then the central image would be presented to users with less detail.

Exceptions:

a. Items with a narrow border are to be scanned in their entirety - see examples in Figures 1, 2 and 3:

Fig.1.jpg
Fig 1: B&W print with narrow border

Fig.2.jpg
Fig 2: Albumen print with narrow border

Fig.3.jpg
Fig 3: B&W gelatin print with narrow border

b. Items with signatures, studio stamps, marginal annotations, decorative lines, inscriptions etc., in the area that is imaged - to be digitised in full. See examples in Figures 4, 5, 6 & 7.

Fig.4.jpg
Fig 4: Albumen print with inscriptions
Fig.5.jpg
Fig 5: Print with inscriptions

 

Fig.6.jpg
Fig 6: Item with a secondary support with inscriptions included
Fig.7.jpg
Fig 7: Item with inscriptions on the bottom half

c. Glass plate negatives which have narrow borders - to be digitised in full. See example in Figure 8.

Fig.8.jpg
Fig 8: Glass plate negative with image to edge

 

4.4 Plastic/glass based items with images that do not occupy entire surface.

This approach gives an acceptable image for web presentation using the co-master copy, while all original data is retained in the master copy to preserve the image authenticity

Fig.9.1.jpg
Fig 9.1: Glass plate negative scanned in its entirety – master image
Fig.9.2.jpg
Fig 9.2: Glass plate negative cropped and made into a co-master

 

4.5 35mm transparencies, with or without mounts.

Item in figure 9.3 has been scanned and saved as the master - note that the mount has not been cropped.  Figure 9.4 shows the same image saved as the co-master after cropping.

 

Fig. 9.3 Fig. 9.4
Fig.9.3: 35mm transparency scanned with mount – master image. (NB black area is the mount & the edge of the film)
Fig.9.4: The same item has been cropped with a 1-2mm border and saved as co-master.

Figure 9.5 and 9.6 show a 35mm transparency without a mount, scanned as a  master and then saved as a co-master after cropping.

Fig.9.5 Fig.9.6
Fig.9.5: 35mm unmounted transparency scanned in its entirety -   master image
Fig.9.6: Same image cropped and saved as co-master with a 1-2mm border.

 

 

4.6 Backs of items

4.7 Treatment of artefacts

Revised 14 June 2007

DISCLAIMER: The National Library of Australia disclaims liability for the use of the information provided in these pages. The National Library of Australia accepts no responsibility for the loss occasioned as a direct or indirect result of the use of the information in these guidelines.

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