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FIU Digital Project Guidelines and Help Materials

The internal standard operating procedures for FIU Libraries' digital collections

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Image processing plays a critical role in preparing materials for OCR and digital preservation. It enhances the quality and usability of digitized materials by addressing issues such as skew, lighting imbalances, and color inaccuracies. Proper image processing ensures that scanned or photographed materials are optimized for text recognition and digital storage, reducing errors during OCR and improving the visual clarity of access copies. By refining the digital representation, image processing helps maintain the integrity and accessibility of the original material, supporting both preservation goals and user needs.

The goal of digital preservation is to create a digital replica that accurately reflects the original material in its current state. This includes capturing the quality, tonality, color, and overall essence of the original item. Whenever possible, digitization should be performed directly from the original material, such as a slide, negative, photograph, or document. If the original is unavailable, use the highest quality substitute available. Digitized materials should be stored in a high-resolution, uncompressed format, such as TIFF files for images, to ensure long-term preservation.

Accurate digital representation requires a properly calibrated workstation. A high-quality monitor capable of displaying the appropriate color space is essential to ensure the master copy's colors and tones closely match the original material. Significant alterations should be reserved for access versions or specific projects, while the master copy should remain as close to the original as possible.

For some digitization projects, including color calibration targets during scanning can be helpful. These targets provide a reference for ensuring color accuracy but are typically cropped from the final image to avoid confusion for viewers. Post-scanning image adjustments should be handled carefully. Basic adjustments, such as brightness and contrast, are permissible, but changes that could misrepresent the item's cultural or historical context, such as artificially enhancing colors, over-sharpening, or removing natural imperfections like dust, stains, or writing, should be avoided.

When processing images, software like Adobe Photoshop is recommended due to its ability to perform lossless editing. Less powerful photo editing tools may introduce complications, especially when images are viewed online via streaming platforms or embedded viewers. Common image processing tasks for creating access copies for digital repositories include:

  • Cropping

  • Color and Light Balance

  • Rotation

  • Deskewing

  • Stitching

Detailed instructions and step-by-step guides for performing these tasks, including batch processing in Adobe Photoshop, are provided in this guide. For more in-depth information, please consult with staff in the Digital Collections Center and Digital Scholarship Studio for training and project guidance.