A DISSERTATION PRESENTED TO THE FACULTY OF INFORMATICS AND DESIGN
OF THE CAPE PENINSULA UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY IN FULFILMENT OF
THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF MAGISTER TECHNOLOGIAE
PHOTOGRAPHY
CAPE PENINSULA UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY
2013 / This study deals with the pitfalls and standards associated with the digitisation of
photographic artefacts in formal collections.
The popularity of the digital medium caused a rapid increase in the demand for
converting images into digital files. The need for equipment capable of executing the
task successfully, the pressure on collection managers to display their collections to the
world and the demand for knowledge needed by managers and operators created
pressure to perform optimally and often in great haste.
As a result of the rush to create digital image files to be displayed and to be
preserved, the decisions that are being made may be questionable. The best choice of
file formats for longevity, setting and maintaining standards to guarantee quality digital
files and consultation with experts in the field of digitisation as well as attention to best
practices are important aspects which must be considered.
In order to determine the state of affairs in countries with an advanced
knowledge and experience in the field of digitisation, a comprehensive literature study
was done. It was found that enough information exists to enable collection managers in
South Africa to make well informed decisions to ensure a high quality of digital
collection.
By means of questionnaires, a survey was undertaken amongst selected
Western Cape image preservation institutions to determine the level of knowledge of the
managers who are required to make informed decisions. The questionnaire was
designed to give insight into choices being made regarding the technical quality,
workflow and best practice aspects of digitisation. Comparing the outcome of the
questionnaires with best practices and recommended standards in countries with an
advanced level of experience it was found that not enough of this experience and
knowledge is used by local collection managers although readily available. In some
cases standards are disregarded completely.
The study also investigated by means of questionnaires the perception of the
digital preservation of image files by fulltime photographic students and volunteer
members of the Photographic Society of South Africa. It was found that uncertainty exist
within both groups with regard to file longevity and access to files in five to ten year's
time.
Digitisation standards are set and maintained by the use of specially designed
targets which enable digitising managers to maintain control over the quality of the
digital content as well as monitoring of equipment performance. The use of these
targets to set standards were investigated and found to be an accurate and easy
method of maintaining control over the standard and quality of digital files.
Suppliers of digitising equipment very often market their equipment as being of a
high quality and being able to fulfil the required digitisation tasks. Testing selected
digitising equipment by means of specially designed targets proved however that
potential buyers of equipment in the high cost range should be very cautious about
suppliers' claims without proof of performance. Using targets to verify performance
should be a routine check before any purchase.
The study concludes with recommendations of implementing standards and it
points to potential future research.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:cput/oai:localhost:20.500.11838/1355 |
| Date | January 2013 |
| Creators | Carstens, Andries Theunis |
| Publisher | Cape Peninsula University of Technology |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Rights | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/za/ |
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