Introduction

This page provides technical specifications for the digitization of photographic prints, posters, illustrations, maps, technical drawings, slides, and negatives
Choose 24-bit colour if the scanner cannot create 48-bit colour image files
Choose 8-bit grayscale if the scanner cannot create 16-bit grayscale files
Sepia prints should be scanned with technical specifications for colour prints but saturation should be increased to +100
Brightness, contrast, and saturation specifications are provided as a “starting point.” Technical specifications should always be tested and adjusted if necessary before scanning a new batch of material

Photographic prints

Format	Document Type	Colour Setting	Brightness	Contrast	Saturation	Resolution	File Format
3 x 5 in. colour photographic prints	Reflective	48-bit colour	-20	0	+50		TIFF
3 x 5 in. b&w photographic prints	Reflective	16-bit grayscale	-30	0	N/A		TIFF
4 x 6 in. colour photographic prints	Reflective	48-bit colour	-20	0	+50		TIFF
4 x 6 in. b&w photographic prints	Reflective	16-bit grayscale	-30	0	N/A		TIFF
5 x 7 in. colour photographic prints	Reflective	48-bit colour	-20	0	+50		TIFF
5 x 7 in. b&w photographic prints	Reflective	16-bit grayscale	-30	0	N/A		TIFF
8 x 10 in. colour photographic prints	Reflective	48-bit colour	-20	0	+50	600 dpi	TIFF
8 x 10 in. b&w photographic prints	Reflective	16-bit grayscale	-30	0	N/A	600 dpi	TIFF
Medium size colour photographic prints (up to 11 x 17 in.)	Reflective	48-bit colour	-20	0	+50	600 dpi	TIFF
Medium size b&w photographic prints (up to 11 x 17 in.)	Reflective	16-bit grayscale	-30	0	N/A	600 dpi	TIFF
Oversize colour photographic prints (over 11 x 17 in.)	Reflective	48-bit colour	-20	0	+50	600 dpi	TIFF
Oversize b&w photographic prints (over 11 x 17 in.)	Reflective	16-bit grayscale	-30	0	N/A	600 dpi	TIFF

Format	Document Type	Colour Setting	Brightness	Contrast	Saturation	Resolution	File Format
Posters	Document	48-bit colour	-20	0	+50	600 dpi	TIFF
Illustrations, prints, watercolours	Document	48-bit colour	-20	0	+50	600 dpi	TIFF
Maps and technical drawings	Document	48-bit colour	-20	0	+50	600 dpi	TIFF

Format	Document Type	Film Type	Colour Setting	Saturation	Resolution	File Format
Glass plate lantern slides	Film (with Film Holder)	Positive Film	48-bit colour		3200 dpi	TIFF
35 mm colour slides	Film (with Slide Holder)	Positive Film	48-bit colour		3200 dpi	TIFF
35 mm b&w slides	Film (with Slide Holder)	Positive Film	16-bit grayscale	N/A	3200 dpi	TIFF

Format	Document Type	Film Type	Colour Setting	Saturation	Resolution	File Format
35 mm colour negatives	Film (with Film Holder)	Color Negative Film	48-bit colour		4800 dpi	TIFF
35 mm b&w negatives	Film (with Film Holder)	b&w Negative Film	16-bit colour	N/A	4800 dpi	TIFF
Other negative sizes (colour)	Film (with Area Guide)	Color Negative Film	48-bit colour		4800 dpi	TIFF
Other negative sizes (b&w)	Film (with Area Guide)	b&w Negative Film	16-bit colour	N/A	4800 dpi	TIFF

Format	Document Type	Film Type	Colour Setting	Brightness	Contrast	Saturation	Resolution	File Format
3 x 5 in. plate	Film (with Area Guide)	b&w Negative Film	16-bit colour			N/A	4800 dpi	TIFF