Digitization

Basic questions

What is digitization?

• The translation of analogue data into digital data

• The process of taking a digital image of something

• The creation of a digital representation of something

Why digitize?

?

Phases

1) Initial reflections2) Preparation phase3) Metadata creation4) Actual digitization5) Postproduction6) Long-term storage

Initial reflections

• What do I want to digitize?• Why do I want to do it?• Do I already have the necessary metadata?• What safety precautions are necessary?• Do I want to digitize myself or hire a

company?• What will happen with the digital object, once

produced?

Technical reflections

• Image format (TIFF, JPEG, JPEG2000,…)• Image quality (Resolution, Image

compression)• Equipment (Scanner vs. Digital Camera)• Storage space (webhosting?)• Long-term storage• Filename (Human vs. Computer readable)

Scanner vs. Digital Camera

Scanner• Variable resolution• Lower speed• Mainly for flat objects

Digital Camera• Constant resolution• High speed• Higher adjustability

Metadata for Digitization

Why is this important?• Every digital object has to be identifiable• Most file systems only permit unique names• Changes to filenames are difficult to make

after digitization

Preparation

• Enough space• Constant indirect

lighting, no direct sunlight

• Tables for preparation• Enough power outlets

Digitization

• Speed vs. Quality• Number of people

depending on source material

• Storage of sources during the night

• Delivery of new sources• Quality control• Image postprocessing

Source material

• Flat surface• One sheet• Possibly folded• Possibly packaged

• Book• Possibly very large• Possibly difficult to

open

File naming

Human readability“HHStA_AUR_16890201_r.jpg”

• Easy to read and share• Has to be created by hand• Easy to make mistakes• Temptation to make

changes later on

Computer readability„7c7a1400-dd12-11e0.jpg“

• Can be created quickly before digitization

• Has to be copied, not entered by hand

• Doesn’t mean anything• Can stay the same

regardless of metadata

Postproduction

• Image editing (cutting, compression,…)• Quality control (missing images)• Preparation for storage (file organization)