Tuesday, July 29, 2014

Portraits of a Life – Step 2: Archive the Original Image

To bring the original family portraits and snapshots into the digital realm there are several steps that I follow. A series of blog posts will explain the workflow that is used for the Portraits of a Life project.

Step 1: Create a Digital Image
Step 2: Archive the Original Image
Step 3: Preliminary Sort
Step 4: Edit, Enhance & Restore
Step 5: Identification
Step 6: Finalize Organization
Step 7: Share


The second step in the process is archive the original photograph. Of all the steps in the process Step 1: Create a Digital Image and Step 2: Archive the Original Image are the most critical. Step 1 ensures that a copy of the original photograph exists and step 2 ensures that the original photograph is properly preserved and stored.  Proper preservation ensures that the photographs can be handed down to the next generation of researchers.

The Materials

The first step is to use quality archive materials. In order to protect the original photographs it is important to use the correct materials for storage. The recommended method is to store photographs in individual sleeves.  Photographs taken at different times can contain different chemicals. Storing the photos in sleeves will ensure that the chemicals from one photo do not leach into another and cause damage. An acid free backing board can be used for old photographs that are very fragile. After placing the photographs in sleeves, the photographs should be stacked on their ends in archival boxes that are acid free.  Storing an old photo on the end reduces the amount of pressure on the image. 

After some research I opted to purchase products from Bags Unlimited. Bags Unlimited was great and answered my questions when I called seeking advice.  Their line of polypropylene sleeves, acid free backing boards and storage boxes are designed to work as a system. There is also an option to purchase dividers which can be used with to organize photographs within storage boxes.  The prices were affordable and I was pleased with the quality of the products. 


Michelle M. Murosky: Portraits of a Life &emdash; Step 2: Archive the Original Image
Archive supplies in a range of sizes
The collections in my care feature many photographs there are some that are over one hundred years old. It is very important to purchase the correct materials. Note that different types of sleeve materials are available. Be sure to check with the manufacturer that the sleeve material you intend to use is appropriate for your storage method.

Many of my old photographs are small. I opted to order a range of polypropylene sleeve sizes including 3-1/2x5, 4x5 and 4x6. All three sleeve sizes store nicely in the 4x6 archive box.  I also opted to order one large 8-1/2x 11archive box. This box allows me to storage larger 8-1/2x11 photographs, 5x7 photographs and other odd sized photographs.  I also opted to order 8x10 polypropylene sleeves and 5x7 polypropylene sleeves.

Handling the Photos

It is very important to make sure that your hands are clean when you handle photographs. Minimizing the amount of contact is important to ensure that oil and finger prints are not transferred to the photographs.
If you have a large quantity of photographs to sort through consider getting white cotton gloves that archivists use. These will allow the photographs to be handled without the risk of adding finger prints.

Moving from Chaos to Order

The workflow I am currently using is to re-photograph the original image as described in Step 1: Create a Digital Image. After taking a photograph of the original I place the original photograph in a polypropylene sleeve and store the photo in the archive boxes.  Photographing the originals before placing in sleeves minimizes the contact with the original photograph.

Michelle M. Murosky: Portraits of a Life &emdash; Step 2: Archive the Original Image
Old photographs in the original piles

If this step appears over whelming – one way to start would be to take old photographs that are currently sitting in piles, place them in sleeves and store on their ends.  The photographs can then be viewed, studied or sorted at a later time. The preliminary use of dividers allows the option to maintain the original piles or groupings in the storage boxes.

Michelle M. Murosky: Portraits of a Life &emdash; Step 2: Archive the Original Image
Move from old photographs stored in envelopes to 
photographs sleeved and placed in archival storage boxes. 


The use of dividers can also allow you to take another step – separating the photographs by family, event, ect. 

Michelle M. Murosky: Portraits of a Life &emdash; Step 2: Archive the Original Image
The 4x6 storage box with photographs placed in polypropylene sleeves and stored on end. 

Storage

It is important to store photographs in the correct conditions.  Old photographs can be damaged by exposure to light, moisture and temperature variations. It is not recommended to store old photographs in unconditioned spaces – basements and attics. The photos should be stored in climate controlled areas – for example a closet in a heating and air-conditioned portion of your home.

Display

If you have what you believe is an original or the only copy of an old photograph it is recommended that a copy be made for display and the original properly stored. Over time continued exposure to light can damage old photographs.  Additionally – over time photographs can bond to glass if displayed in frames. 

Very old photographs like Daguerreotypes, Ambrotypes and Tin Types should be re-photographed and the original stored where it is not exposed to light.

If you have old photographs in original frames such as the oval frames popular in the 1920’s consider hanging the original in a location where the photograph will not be exposed to direct sunlight.  Old photographs in original frames can also be photographed in their frames using the steps discussed in Step 1: Create a Digital Image.

There are other helpful tips about care and storage of photographs available at this link.

The review of the Bags Unlimited products was done at my discretion. Our Ancestors - The Murosky & McDonald Ancestral Lines did not receive any compensation for providing a review of products.  

Thursday, July 3, 2014

Portraits of a Life – Step 1: Create a Digital Image

To bring the original family portraits and snapshots into the digital realm there are several steps that I follow. A series of blog posts will explain the workflow that is used for the Portraits of a Life project. 

Step 1: Create a Digital Image
Step 2: Archive the Original Image
Step 3: Preliminary Sort
Step 4: Edit, Enhance & Restore
Step 5: Identification
Step 6: Finalize Organization
Step 7: Share

The first of many steps in this process is to create a digital image of the original photograph. Creating a digital image is important for several reasons. The first is if the original is ever lost or damaged a copy of the photograph can live on. Every year natural disasters occur and houses burn down. With careful planning you can ensure that a natural disaster or other incident does not destroy the only copy of family photographs.  Respected author Dick Eastman discusses this topic in detail in his article Suggestion: The Time to Digitize Historic Items is NOW

The second reason for creating a digital image is the opportunity to share these treasures.  The digital images can distribute to family members. Many genealogists are bringing their online family trees to life by including images of their ancestors. Family trees are no longer limited to facts and figures. The images can also be printed in family history books as I have opted to do. Copies of images can also be displayed in frames without having to worry about damage to the original. 

There are a few methods that can be used to do create a digital image – taking a photograph of the original or using a high resolution scanning.  If you are interested in archival photography Gary W. Clark has written a great guide called Archive Photography: How to photograph oversize photos, curled documents, and heirloom treasuresSome tips for creating digital versions of the original visit this link.

After some experimenting with both photography and scanning - the method I have opted to use is taking a photograph of the original. I opted to photograph the original for a few reasons. The first – I felt the resolution was much better. The second – higher resolution was achieved in less time. The third – the most flexibility for future sharing and printing. This method allows the original image to be printed at a larger size. A scan will only allow the original to be reproduced at the same size. 

This process works best when done with a partner. My husband assists me with this step.  He operates the camera and I place the images in range on the view finder. We use an old photo album with a black page as the background.  

HERE


Michelle M. Murosky: Portraits of a Life &emdash; Step 1: Create a Digital Image
A two person process makes it go faster. I am holding my grandparent's wedding photo. 

We place our digital SLR camera on a tripod and adjust the camera to face the image.  The camera is set to manual mode to photograph the images in Raw format (.raw). [Note that some newer digital cameras may have the ability to photograph in Raw format in automatic mode.] We use manual mode in order to shoot with natural lighting and no flash.  Natural lighting provides the best coloring of the original image. We shoot in our kitchen and use the blinds to adjust the light level. The lamp above the table is off when we photograph the originals.
Michelle M. Murosky: Portraits of a Life &emdash; Step 1: Create a Digital Image

Digital SLR Camera mounted on tripod. 

Michelle M. Murosky: Portraits of a Life &emdash; Step 1: Create a Digital Image

Digital SLR Camera mounted on tripod. 

The goal is to fill the view finder with the image. Filling the image with the view finder is important to ensure the image has the highest resolution possible.

Why shoot in Raw?

A Raw image preserves the largest range of information from the original image. Using the Raw format the details from the original image can be picked up and enhanced. The raw format also provides the ability to increase the size of the original.

In the examples below the original image is approximately 4 inches x 3 inches. The printed size of the book is a 12 inch x 12 inch page. The original photograph is shown with the same image printed in the book. In these examples the printed image was double the size of the original while maintaining resolution.

Michelle M. Murosky: Portraits of a Life &emdash; Step 1: Create a Digital Image
Original image 4x3 - Printed book page is 12x12

Michelle M. Murosky: Portraits of a Life &emdash; Step 1: Create a Digital Image>

Original image 4x3 - Printed book page is 12x12


Opting to shoot in photograph the original images does require more steps to produce an image that can be used for sharing and printing. The additional steps will be detailed in future blog posts. 

What is most important is that if you find the method that works the best for you. If you have priceless family photos – make a digital image to preserve the original.