Technical specifications for graphic material
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 |
Posters, illustrations, maps, technical drawings
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 |
Photographic slides (film and glass plate lantern slides)
Format | Document Type | Film Type | Colour Setting | Brightness | Contrast | 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 |
Photographic film negatives
Format | Document Type | Film Type | Colour Setting | Brightness | Contrast | 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 |
Collodion negatives
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 | ||