Message-Id: <mailto:199408231812.NAA02455@library.wustl.edu> Date: Tue, 23 Aug 1994 13:08:12 -0400 From: David Johnson <mailto:dave@KRYLOV.CND.MCGILL.CA> Subject: Image access, large images, and the HP transparency adapter To: Multiple recipients of list IMAGELIB <mailto:IMAGELIB@ARIZVM1.BITNET>
Hello.I am a student working for McGill University's Architecture and Art library. The test project I have been hired for is to try imaging various items within the collection including drawings, slides, and old photographs.
We purchased a HP Deskscan IIcx scanner which came with Aldus PhotoStyler Special Edition for Windows.
I have several questions that perhaps some of you may be able to help me with.
The first, and most important question, concerns means of distribution and access of the final images. I had originally hoped that perhaps we could set up a WWW server where we could place the images. My thoughts were that we could allow people to retreive the images via searches on fields such as location, etc.
However, due to time restraints (the funding for this project runs out within the month), I don't see this as being a short-term possibility.
I wish to make these images as accessable as possible by the time my project ends so that we have something to show for my efforts and to possibly help aquire funding for future imaging projects.
I have been looking for database software that could import our existing database of the archive descriptions and link them with the scanned images from the archive. I found MS Access to be unsatisfactory due to its inability to link to pictures other than bit-maps. (The images were saved as JPEGs to conserve file space.)
I have seen some information on a product by Matrix Technologies called Picture Windows which apparently advertises itself as a complete image management software package with a lossless compression file format of 7:1. Have any of you used this package? What other packages should I be looking into?
I apologize if this topic has been covered before or if it inappropriate for this list.
My second question is how does one deal with scanning drawings that are too large for the plattern? I've tried scanning the document in sections and pasting it together but this is, of course, a very time-consuming task. Is there software that will automatically merge a sectioned image properly? My guess is that it must be possible since software exists for the merging of strips from a hand scaner.
Is the only reasonable solution photographing the drawings and scanning the photograph/transparency?
My final question is speciffic to the HP IIcx scanner. We did not purchase the optional transparency adapter for the scanner with the scanner itself. (The IIcx scanner box claimed that it could scan slides and transparencies and the dealer knew little about the scanner.) We know that we will want to be able to scan slides, how good is the HP transparency adapter?
Thank you very much for your time. (I apologise for my spelling / grammer mistakes today, I'm pretty much typing blind right now.)
David Johnson McGill University