Scanners and digital cameras are the most commonly used devices for capturing still images; the digital files they create fit seamlessly into the modern workflow. This document looks at scanners and digital cameras and how they can be used to capture non-typical objects. In this document we look at a range of different objects and how we can capture them with a camera or scanner and a few accessories.
Read full advice document...As digital cameras become more popular, we ask whether there is any need for traditional analogue cameras and film.
Read full advice document...This is a text version of the workflow diagram in the advice document: Generic Image Workflow.
Read full advice document...This document reviews the general concepts of 'best practice' within an image digitisation workflow and then looks at how these concepts can be mapped onto the workflow, to allow the efficient production of all required deliverables.
Read full advice document...Digital SLR cameras have improved dramatically over recent years, they have also become much cheaper. Consumers can now buy an entry level digital SLR for around the same price as a top of the range compact. This paper explains the difference between a digital compact and digital SLR and shows how to get the most out of this type of camera.
Read full advice document...There are many factors that need to be considered before and during a photographic session, this document provides a set of guidelines which will assist in planning a photographic project.
Read full advice document...This document looks at a number of configurations of equipment which can be used to digitise analogue videotapes. This document is intended to be of use to staff engaged in the digitisation of analogue video, whether dealing with only a few or a few hundred tapes.
Read full advice document...The digitisation of an existing video collection has many potential benefits; newly digitised materials offer opportunities to reach new users and to engage with new and existing users in new ways. Digitisation may also prove to be the only viable way to make our vulnerable video materials available to generations of future users. The complexities of achieving a successfully digitised and fully accessible video collection can be considerable but through careful preparation, the task can be broken down into manageable stages.
Read full advice document...This introductory document is aimed at smaller video archives or paper-based collections which have a video element. This document may also prove beneficial to specially funded video digitisation projects. We shall look at ways in which best practice can be observed and incorporated into each stage of even the smallest video digitisation project, from selecting an initial digital format to delivery.
Read full advice document...This paper discusses the considerations needed when planning a workflow for digitisation. It outlines some of the preparation needed when creating a workflow and precepts that need to be incorporated. The paper then offers an example generic workflow for digitising open-reel audiotapes onto a computer hard drive system.
Read full advice document...This document aims to provide information needed when equipping an audio digitisation project of analogue media to a digital hard drive. This document is written with the digitisation of stereo and mono files in mind. For information regarding digitising multi-track recordings, there is a section at the end of this document with some recommendations and considerations. This document is intended to provide a guide to staff who wish to undertake digitisation projects of any scale, be it small or large.
Read full advice document...This document is a discussion of some of the primary audio digitisation systems available for digitising analogue audio media. This document is intended to be of use to staff engaged in the digitisation of analogue audio, whether dealing with only a few or a few hundred tapes.
Read full advice document...An introductory guide to the physical properties of sound and a basic introduction to the acoustics of enclosed spaces.
Read full advice document...A guide to the theory of digital audio, explaining the process of analogue to digital conversion and how sound is represented and stored in digital form.
Read full advice document...JISC Digital Media contacted a number of digitisation service providers for more information about the services they supply. The following list is not an endorsement of any of the services, but is provided to help you identify services to evaluate in more detail.
Read full advice document...This document looks at the history of photographic and movie film and how and why the film type has altered over time. The document also contains some frequently asked questions on film types and handling.
Read full advice document...This guide provides an overview of the JISC Digital Media website materials we think digitisation project staff will find useful during the lifetime of a digitisation project.
Read full advice document...The list below survey a selection of audiovisual and digital preservation related organisations and provides links to their websites.
Read full advice document...It is not possible to provide detailed information on budgeting for a digitisation project; these costs will depend on the nature, condition and amount of analogue materials to be digitised and the extent and accuracy of existing metadata. However, some general advice which assigns comparative values to different activities within a project may help when planning a digitisation project.
Read full advice document...This document proposes a number of potential challenges associated with the digitisation of a collection. It then examines the value of lessons learned from previous projects when attempting to meet those challenges. It is intended to be of use to resource management staff considering the digitisation of all or part of their collection.
Read full advice document...This paper takes a look at the role and responsibilities of the digitisation project manager. It addresses common managerial challenges such balancing the expectations of stakeholders and ensuring the of quality of output. It is intended to be of use to the management team of time limited digitisation projects or to resource management staff planning to digitise their collection.
Read full advice document...This brief document takes an introductory view of pre-digitisation project considerations. It is intended to be of use to resource management staff considering the digitisation of all or part of their collection.
Read full advice document...This paper identifies some of the more common risks associated with a digitisation project. It is intended to be of use to the management team of time limited digitisation projects or to permanent collection management staff planning to digitise.
Read full advice document...This document is intended to inform the managers of analogue collections which have been identified for digitisation. It looks at the pros and cons of outsourcing digitisation work before contrasting these with carrying out work in-house.
Read full advice document...This is a text version of the 'Decision tree (simplified)' diagram in the Selection Procedures for Digitisation document.
Read full advice document...This document looks at points to consider when developing a selection criteria for digitisation. Some of the points made here will not be relevant to all projects and collections, but the document has been designed to serve as a useful overview and to stimulate some further thinking and research. It is intended to be of use to resource managers who intend to digitise all or part of their collection.
Read full advice document...Analogue media deteriorates at an alarming rate and few digitisation projects can hope to retrieve great signals from aged collections. In order to archive maximum usefulness some basic digital remastering is often required. Fortunately, today’s digital tools mean we can easily remove unwanted ‘defects’ whether hisses and scratches from shellac discs or the distorted colours of old videotapes
N.B. This course covers digital restoration of audio-visual resources only. It does not cover restoration of still images
Read course description...To meet the skills required by libraries, archives and institutions to digitise their existing analogue collections, this course aims to provide a complete introduction to the theory and practicalities of successfully digitising analogue audio resources. The workshop will provide hands-on tuition alongside presenting theoretical knowledge with group discussions of topics surrounding the digital lifecycle, in a digitisation project based context. The workshop has been designed as a precursor for our more technical, media specific training modules. The practical elements will involve digitising audiocassette tapes as example media.
Read course description...Over the past fifty years the videotape has grown from an obscure television production tool into a vibrant and vital social document. But videotape has proved to be a fragile long-term medium and its contents are at risk. This risk can only be mitigated through careful planning. This workshop will investigate the challenges associated with the preservation of videotapes. Through practical exercises, we will look at how digitising materials to archival standards can both safeguard and help develop a collection. We will also look at the challenge of creating a sustainable digital collection. Quality assurance procedures and best practice will be referred to throughout.
Read course description...This course is designed to meet the requirements of staff in libraries, archives and other related institutions needing to digitise existing analogue collections. The course builds on our Digitising Analogue Audio workshop, by introducing a range of legacy audio media and examining them in more detail.
The workshop will provide the opportunity to both handle these media and configure the equipment needed for their successful playback. A recommended, pragmatic workflow will be followed.
Essential theoretical and interesting historical information is included which together contribute to understanding: the development of audio recording technologies; how to handle and best reproduce each medium; how to digitise each medium to archival standard.
Read course description...Creative Cow has published a wonderful article from Ken Weissman, supervisor of the Film Preservation Lab at the Library of Congress in the US.
Read blog entry...Optical Character Recognition (OCR) is the process of converting printed text into a computer readable format.
Read blog entry...A new music repository from King’s College London, the CHARM Sound File Search engine allows the user to browse and search a library of around 5,000 individual sides of 78s, digitised to a high standard.
Read blog entry...For anyone who’s ever wondered what the grooves on a vinly recording really look like, here’s your answer.
Read blog entry...We have just published a new advice document on scanning and photography.
Read blog entry...The keen-eyed among you will have already noticed we have just released details of our new training programme for September to December.
Read blog entry...The Tape Project is releaseing a series of recordings on 1/4 inch, reel-to-reel, 15 ips, half track, analogue tape.
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