L05 - Loose materials, oversized, larger than *19"x26"***

The materials in this category will be digitized using a medium format camera or a roller-fed scanner (see the links or pics below) at the discretion of Imaging Services. Each workflow has its unique advantages while also having some limitations.

The medium format camera workflow:

Camera capture workflow is best for:

Originals that have sensitive surfaces such as pastels and drawings with loose graphite.
Continuous tone graphics and artworks that require exacting photorealistic reproduction.
Drawings fixed to stiff mounts and for smaller originals, which can be more quickly photographed with a camera system.

Camera capture workflow advantages are:

The most adaptable workflow.
Works can be photographed with no surface contact.
Flexible lighting options, soft or hard, balanced or directional, special filtration can be added such as polarization, etc.
Very accurate color and tonal reproduction is possible.
Works well for both mounted and flexible originals.
Can be used for all kind of materials, books, objects, installations, etc.

Camera capture workflow limitations are:

Requires additional equipment to build a copy system. A copy stand or camera stand and lighting equipment at minimum.
Requires a workspace that can be isolated from other light sources and reflections.
Size of originals that can be captured in a single image is limited by camera sensor pixel dimensions and required resolution. Larger size originals may require multiple captures and digital assembly.
Repetitive print and or design elements such as print screen dot patterns and some etchings can cause moiré.

The roller-fed scanner workflow

The roller-fed scanner workflow is best for:

Line drawings, plans, blueprints, maps, large originals with fine detail.
Grayscale, black and white, and monochromatic works.
Works that can be rolled and safely placed in Mylar enclosures.

The roller-fed scanner workflow advantages are:

Self-contained unit can be operated in a variety of studio or office environments. Units are made to be free standing or tabletop.
Ambient room lighting is not an issue.
Larger sized originals can be captured at higher resolutions.
Uniform lighting and focus.
Very good reproduction of fine line detail.
No moiré issues with dot or line patterns.

The roller-fed scanner workflow limitations are:

Scan time is longer than with a single shot camera.
Dust on mylar enclosure or the scanner glass can cause streaks.
Some noise present in scans of solid dark colors.
Task specific. Made for scanning flat loose items.
Our workflow requires Mylar enclosures and is restricted to items we can roll.

The roller-fed scanner workflow - IS specific setup:

Workflow was developed in consultation with Harvard Library conservators.
Mylar sleeves of various sizes with white backing sheets to protect the originals. The white backing sheet also ensures that the scans have a clean and uniform appearance.
Sleeved originals are rolled and placed in a cloth bin at the front edge of the scanner. The scanner draws them out, completes a scan and ejects them onto a table to the rear.
The front edge of the scanner and the table are covered in a soft cloth to reduce scratching of the mylar.
The sleeves are open on three sides and sealed on one short end which goes into the scanner first. This prevents the sleeve from buckling.

The roller-fed scanner workflow - Mylar sleeve sizes (inches):

44" x 66"
36" x 50"
27" x 36"

Pricing

Project price: $25

The service lines you would see in your billing could be one or both of these services:

Digital Capture (loose/19x26"-30x40")	$25.00
Digital Scan (loose/up to 42x72")	$25.00

Examples digitized via this service

Maps
- From camera with stitching
- From camera without stitching
- From canner
Drawings
- From camera with stitching
- From camera without stitching
- From scanner
Posters
- From camera with stitching
- From camera without stitching
- From scanner
Color concerns
- From camera

Contact us

For information about how to evaluate, prepare, and deliver materials for digitization, please contact imagingservices-list@lists.fas.harvard.edu.

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