Still Photo Maximum - 4000 Line [SPF-P1]
Record Type | Still Photographs - Film Negatives and Positives | |
Expected Use | Preservation Master | |
Product Name | Still Photo Maximum - 4000 Line [SPF-P1] | |
Product Purpose |
The purpose of this product is to mitigate risk for loss of information and fulfill researcher/user expectations and requests. This file is at an appropriate quality level to substitute for the original record if the original record copy is no longer viable. |
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Nature of Source Material |
Still photo negatives and film positives (B&W, color, and monochrome) with a size range of 35mm and medium format up to 4" x 5" (square area less than 20 square inches) where there is a need to ensure that all significant visual information is carried forward. |
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File Properties | Data Format |
TIFF, version 6.0 (.tif) |
Capture Information |
Bit Depth
Pixel Array
Spatial Resolution
Dimensions
Tonal orientation
Typical file size:
For 8-bit grayscale: ~12 MB |
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Other Information |
The Photographic Imaging, Microfilm and Textual Preservation Lab uses 48-bit RGB as the default for all negatives, including B&W, monochrome, and color, when creating preservation master files. The NARA 2004 Technical Guidelines and FADGI 2010 Technical Guidelines discuss approaches for the creation of production master files, rather than preservation masters, and do not set a default for higher bit-depth. NARA 2004 and FADGI 2010 suggest that 8-bit grayscale and 24-bit color files may be created from 16-bit grayscale and 48-bit color files. |
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Quality Control |
Quality Assurance and Quality Control for Digital Imaging Products
The Digitization Services Branch’s Quality Assurance and Quality Control (QA/QA) program is evolving as new tools and resources are acquired and implemented. We are moving towards more automated and integrated systems to assure the products we make meet the specifications outlined. Digital products created by the Digitization Services Branch are validated against standardized format specifications and signature files when possible. We use a variety of format specific batch evaluation and validation tools both open source and vendor supplied, to assure technical quality level specifications are met. All files, but especially distribution system specific files, are inspected for successful playback in a variety of tools and environments. Additional quality control workflows are in development.
Equipment/System Evaluation
Metadata
NARA is developing an in house job tracking order system to better coordinate work at the Branch level.
Item Level Evaluation: Automated File Characteristics Analysis
For additional QC protocols for products created on the Zeutschel Camera System, please see Quality Assurance and Quality Control for Digital Products Created on the Zeutschel Camera Systems |
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Rationale |
The Photographic Imaging, Microfilm and Textual Preservation Lab uses the uncompressed TIF file format for preservation master files for all the record types it processes. Currently, NARA does not use JPEG 2000 or other means of compression in preservation master files, including LZW compression within TIF files. Reproduction master files can be either uncompressed TIF or JPG if compression is required. |
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