Digitization

Digitization

This section is devoted to the digitization of materials that were not created in digital form, or saved in digital form through Field Collection.

Here we address what you do with that shoebox of photos, documents, photo albums, and other paper-based ephemera, if you have access to a scanner.

In this section of The Workflow, we cover the use of the Epson Perfection V600, featured on the Field Collection page. If using a different scanner, the basic principals will apply, even if the interface looks a little different.

A secondary round of organization is probably in order now. Make sure that you know which files go with your Organization notes and revise and refine your information.

Now you are ready for Adding to the Archive.


A Note on Time-Based Media, Physical Artifacts and Spaces.

Time-based media, like moving picture film, video and audio are complicated and require specialized equipment and training. The digitization of time-based media is something we hope to create a regionally local solution for in Phase 2 of the Manitos Community Memory Project.

If you, or your fragile media, can’t wait, the best possible solution is to consult with a professional time-based media digitization service. New Mexico has a few regionally local companies that offer digitization services, such as Video Factory in Albuquerque and Capital Video in Santa Fe. These regional firms save you the uncertainty of sending your irreplaceable film and video through the mail, but Manitos Community Memory Project has not utilized and cannot endorse either company at this time.

Keep in mind that time-based media transfer is time-consuming and can be expensive. Like most things, if someone offers you a deal to good to be true, it probably is. Transfers done on the cheap, often cut corners at the expense of timecode repair and color correction.

Artifacts and physical spaces can be digitized using 3D scanning technology. This too, is highly specialized, but the tools for doing this are becoming cheaper and easier. Manitos Community Memory Project has acquired a Structure Sensor 3D Scanner for this purpose.

We hope that within this spectrum, that we will eventually every possible option covered to digitally preserve our community’s heritage.