You may also want to look at this site :

http://www.scantips.com/

It details all the theory behind scanning, not only what can be done - but what a scanner cannot do.  You may also want to look into software that gives you the flexibility to do what you need.  We use a program called VueScan (http://www.hamrick.com/) which so far has done a stellar job, better than the software that comes with scanners.  

The one point that I can give - as outlined at scantips.com is that all scanning depends on the original.  With prints (not negatives) scanning at anything higher than 300-600 dpi you get no more detail (simply because the detail is just not there).  DPI higher than this is just scanning for size (i.e. to blow up the image).  Once you really start getting into the theory and science behind scanning it gets complicated and you really need to know it all to get the best results.  The times where you put the image on the scanner bed and hit scan should be over, it takes a lot of work to get a good digital representation of an analog work.  


Andrew Macdonald

New Media Officer / Agent des nouveaux médias
Canada Aviation Museum / Musée de l'aviation du Canada
Phone / Téléphone : (613) 998-5689
Fax / Télécopie : (613) 990-3655
Website: www.aviation.technomuses.ca
Email: amacdon...@technomuses.ca



"Amy Stidwill" <astidw...@hillwoodmuseum.org>

10/13/2004 09:18 AM
Please respond to mcn-l

       
        To:        mcn-l@mcn.edu
        cc:        
        Subject:        Re: Standards for Digital Masters



Thank you to all who responded to my query.  Your questions and
responses have in turn challenged my thinking about the original
problem.  While the "functional" master will need to be quite large to
meet many potential uses, I wonder if we need an "archival" master of a
surrogate of a surrogate of a object?  A file created through direct
digital capture of an object, however, will need to replicate and
hopefully exceed the detail and quality of the first generation
surrogate transparency.

Thanks again,

Amy Stidwill
Visual Resources Manager
Hillwood Museum & Gardens
4155 Linnean Avenue, NW
Washington, D.C.  20008
(202) 243-3910 phone
(202) 966-7846 fax
astidw...@hillwoodmuseum.org



>>> tr...@dig-mar.com 10/12/04 05:23PM >>>
Amy -
If your master is to create derivatives, then I advise creating a
master
that meets your needs for 90% of your possible uses. I find that on
the
occasion that you need to make that unique use, it is better to rescan
for
that specific purpose, this might be a large wall mounted displays for
exhibits.  Since you have transparencies, I assume you have been using
them
for printed material - posters, postcards, catalogs, promotional
material
and possible some electronic presentations.  The future of digital
imaging
will improve the image we can display electronically, but I don't think
it
will change the resolution of the printed image. You, however, may want
to
print a small detail at a larger scale. This being considered, I would
scan
at a resolution to be able to print a quarter of your image at your
90%
commonly printed size and dpi.

And as non PC as it is, I don't believe in archival digital images
anyway.
Just because we can capture huge images, should we? Digitize for
Access, yes
and mass distribution, but not for preservation, except as it reduces
handling  of the original.   The right resolution for proper access
depends
on the material being scanned.


--

Trudy Levy
Consultant for Digital Imaging Projects

Image Integration 415 750 1274    http://www.DIG-Mar.com
Membership Chair, Visual Resources Association  http://vraweb.org
Images are information - Manage them





On 10/12/04 1:53 PM, "Amy Stidwill" <astidw...@hillwoodmuseum.org>
wrote:

> Peter,
>
> Yes to your second description of an image that can be used to make
> derivatives for a variety of purposes.
>
> Thanks,
> Amy
>
> Amy Stidwill
> Visual Resources Manager
> Hillwood Museum & Gardens
> 4155 Linnean Avenue, NW
> Washington, D.C.  20008
> (202) 243-3910 phone
> (202) 966-7846 fax
> astidw...@hillwoodmuseum.org
>
>

>
>>>> p...@digitaltransitions.com 10/12/04 04:12PM >>>
> Hi Amy
>
> When you say master, are considering this an "Archive" type image (a
> file that can replace the original film if destroyed), or an image
that
>
> can be multi-purposed for offset press, web, analysis, research
etc.?
>
>
> On Oct 12, 2004, at 3:31 PM, Amy Stidwill wrote:
>
>> I am in the process of reviewing and updating our standards for
> master
>> digital files as we switch to a new collections management system.
> We
>> have not entered the realm of direct digital capture and are
> scanning
>> primarily from 4 x 5 transparencies.  If this sounds like your
> museum,
>> please let me know what resolution and/or pixel length you are
> scanning
>> at and why you chose those numbers.  All replies are greatly
>> appreciated.
>>
>> Many thanks,
>>
>> Amy Stidwill
>> Visual Resources Manager
>> Hillwood Museum & Gardens
>> 4155 Linnean Avenue, NW
>> Washington, D.C.  20008
>> (202) 243-3910 phone
>> (202) 966-7846 fax
>> astidw...@hillwoodmuseum.org
>>
>>
>>
>>
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>>
> Peter Siegel
> Division of Cultural Heritage
> Digital Transitions
> tel. 212-529-6825 xt. 228
> fax. 212-504-2713
> p...@digitaltransitions.com
>
>
>
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