DOCUMENTING LOCAL HISTORY
Scanning, File Formats, and Digitization of Historic Photographs,
and Preservation of Originals

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This Branch Links to These Areas of Work in Local History

Topics Covered in this Branch

PHOTOGRAPHIC FILE FORMATS — What Is With All These File Formats?
There are many file formats used in digital graphics, but we recommend you work with the best two traditional file formats: TIF and JPG.
Objective: To familiarize yourself with the uses, benefits, and conversion of TIF and JPG .

A PINPOINT — When Is It a Dot, When Is It a Pixel?
Whether a picture is on paper or monitor, the picture itself is made up of discrete points.What are these points, and what is their relevance?
Objective: To understand dots and pixels and be able to size and save the file in the correct format .

SCANNING PHOTOGRAPHS — Get the Picture!
Preservation of historical photographs requires a digital backup, with this backup becoming a stand-in for the original. This digital file is created electronically with a scanner and computer, a simple process although you should be aware of the mechanics underlying it.
Objective: Learn how to scan a picture and save it as a master .

RETOUCHING PHOTOGRAPHS — Needing an Improved Picture!
Photographic retouching should not be done on historic pictures — a rip or crack in the picture is as valid an indicator of age as the faces and dress in the picture. Nevertheless, there are some applications where the value of a picture is improved by a minor retouching.
Objective: Learn how and when to retouch a historic photograph .

Hints on Preservation of Photographs , by Paul Schlotthauer
Objective: Learn and use the needs of historic photographs .

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