===== PHOTOGRAPHY - Manual to the Reference Type ===== mb, Oct. 4, 2006 The 'PHOTOGRAPHY' reference type is used to enter photographs into the VL-Literature database. A record references a single photograph or a series of closely related photographs. Closely related are photographs that can be described with only one main title, e.g., //'Ten views of the physiological laboratory of XYZ university'//. The reference type is not meant to hold data of figures or photographs taken from published sources, it is for original photographs from archives and collections only. Figures must be entered into the VL-Images database instead. ==== Series vs. individual photographs ==== It is not possible to enter captions/descriptions for individual images of a series, if this is required, there are two options, depending on your intentions: **Option 1**: Split the series into single photographs, each with a literature database record for its own. This will make all captions/descriptions available for the library search. To combine multiple 'PHOTOGRAPHY' records to a group or an archival item (like a box or folder) use the '(Collection)' and '(Generic Container)' reference types. **Option 2**: Keep the series intact, but register all photographs contained to the VL-Images database where fields for caption, translation and the like are available for each individual image. Individual data of the images then is **not accessable in the standard Library search**, but can be searched from the (image) search pages of the related VL sections, e.g. Technology, Sites, and the global image search of the library. This of course applies to single photographs as well, they can also be added to the VL-Images database to make them available for both searches (Library and Images) - this is in most cases the recommended option. Adding the photographs to the VL-Images database is always recommended, it is mandatory if you want to reference them in the other databases, e.g., VL-Experiments, VL-Technology, VL-Sites - it is not required for the use in the articles of the Essays section of the VL. Only for photographs registered in VL-Images a preview will be shown in the [[http://vlp.mpiwg-berlin.mpg.de/library/photography.html|Photographs]] section of the VL Library web site. By default the first image will be displayed, according to their appearance in the source. To choose any other image as the preview tick the checkbox 'This is the Poster Frame' in the VL-Images database. ==== Data definitions ==== The data describing a photograph is diveded into two parts: the 'bibliographic' data of the 'PHOTOGRAPHY' record in the VL-Literature database and - optionally - captions, translations, technical data and meta data like the assignment to the VL sections in the VL-Images database. It is not intended to manage the complete set of possible archival information in the context of the VL: detailed information about material, technique, size, state of preservation, provenance, copyrights can not be stored in a structured way, but feel free to enter any information available to the comments fields in either the literature or the images database. A text field for copyright notes (sometimes required by the archives or collaboration partners) is provided in the VL-Literature database. === A. VL-Literature field definitions for PHOTOGRAPHY records === * photographer: //'Anonymous'//, if unknown; please don't confuse with the portayed person or the owner, client, collector, ... * caption/title: original caption/inscription, if available; descriptive title in square brackets [...] otherwise, other relevant information may be included; do not explicitly mention photographs: //'[Alpine equipment from the property of Angelo Mosso]'//, not //'[Eight photographs of alpine ...]'// * year: estimations in square brackets, 'ca.' postpositioned: //'[1925, ca.]'//; if unknown: //'n.d.'// (no date) * date: date of shooting * number of items (applies to series) * collectionID: complete ID (litID) of the record of the parent container (most likely a (Generic Container) or a (Collection)) * collection: archival detail information, like the call number, e.g., //'Box 15/2'//, if part of a container, otherwise complete archival information: //'Archive xyz, Place - Box 15/2'// * copyright notice: as given by the cooperation partners, becomes part of the full reference * production comment (at the index.meta layout): information on how the scans have been produced: device (flatbed scanner, camera), resolution, color profile (if any); short description of the editing process of the final image. This is used by the MPIWG local archive system. === B. VL-Images field definitions for images related to PHOTOGRAPHY records === There are no differing definitions concerning photographs related to PHOTOGRAPHY records. Most technical data will be entered by script during the import, the thumbnail is created at the same time. The web caption field holds an english translation for captions in other languages; please be aware, that either the original caption or a translation must be present for the image to show up on the web site. See the [[imageDB_import|manual]] for detailed information on the import process. ==== Scanning Photographs ==== For scanning photographs (as well as other archival material, like manuscripts) the standard instructions apply. Photographs will be treated as 'pages' and filed under the usual folder structure. Back sides should also be scanned, at least if they show any inscriptions, stickers or stamps. Blank back sides may be omitted from the public versions (pages, pagesHi, pagesLo). To indicate the status in the literature database tick the '**text**' checkbox when the public versions are available on the (presentation) server, the 'img' checkbox must be set only if the images are registered additionally in the images database Vl-Images. === Naming Conventions === Since photographs always have a defined front and back side, there a some differences in naming the files: * if only the front sides are scanned: name the files //p0001.tif//, //p0002.tif//, and so on * front and back side are scanned (preferred): //p0001recto.tif// (front), //p0001verso.tif// (back), //p0002recto.tif//, and so on * if both sides are scanned, but back sides are omitted in public versions, raw scans should be named with, and public versions without the recto/verso addition. Note: The image database provides the information which thumbnail to use on the web site (if any). In the rare case that you have an image published together with clips/parts of this image (e.g. the images from the Münsterberg collection), figure numbers are required in the file names. This applies to the original image as well as to the clips; the figure number of the original image must always be the first one in alpabetical order (e.g. f1 or even f0) and may not be omitted. === Technical Guidelines === **Raw Scan**: Photographs are always scanned in full colour, preferrable with a 600 dpi resolution, but with a minimum resolution of 300 dpi at least. They are saved as an uncompressed TIFF file. For all archival material scanning a standard colour chart and a ruler together with the object is recommended. Do not crop out the borders of the document. File the unedited scan under //litID/raw/ // in the projects archive directory (MPIWG: //foxridge/archive_data/vlp/ //; ASU: //not yet available?// ). **Edited Scan**: The scan usually has to be edited before publication: adjust alignment, levels and colour, crop, and cautiously retouch spots, stains and scratches if necessary. Scale to 300 dpi, sharpen carefully and save again with the same name as an uncompressed TIFF file under //litID/pages/ // in the projects online directory (MPIWG: //foxridge/online_permanent/vlp/ //; ASU: //xserve/Volumes/RAID/vlp/ //). A copy of the complete pages folder also goes to the related archive directory. **JPG versions**: 150 dpi and 75 dpi JPG versions are required for every file, they are offered in the library for download in PDF format (the PDF is just a wrapper for the JPG files). Scale the edited TIFF file, slightly sharpen edges and save with a quality level of 7 (Adobe PhotoShop) or 75% (GraphicConverter) as a JPG file in litID/pagesHi (150 dpi) and litID/pagesLo (75 dpi) in the projects online directory (see above). Note: Currently the 150 dpi file is also used as the source file for the library. === Folder Structure Example === * archive directory (MPIWG: //foxridge/archive_data/vlp //; ASU: //?// ) * litID * raw (unedited scans, TIFF, best resolution (600dpi)) * p0001recto.tif * p0001verso.tif * pages (edited scans, TIFF, 300 dpi) * p0001recto.tif * p0001verso.tif * online directory (MPIWG: //foxridge/online_permanent/vlp //; ASU: //xserve/Volumes/RAID/vlp // ) * litID * pages (edited scans, TIFF, 300 dpi) * p0001recto.tif * p0001verso.tif * pagesHi (edited scans, JPG, 150 dpi) * p0001recto.jpg * p0001verso.jpg * pagesLo (edited scans, JPG, 75 dpi) * p0001recto.jpg * p0001verso.jpg