In 1987 the Library’s Photography Department merged with the Conservation Department to care for the extensive collection of negatives and to oversee the handling of materials for reprographic services. Darkroom processing was replaced by digital imaging in 1999, and the Digital Imaging Lab was expanded in 2004 to accommodate a number of imaging projects and services. Three full-time digital photographers, and one part-time, are currently on staff.

The Digital Imaging Lab is equipped to capture all forms of photographic materials. Digitizing the Library’s images for preservation and access is driven by both special projects and reprographic requests. High resolution digitized images are saved as uncompressed TIFF files from which reproductions of the original images are made.

Quality Control Workstation

Digital Capture

The lab scans acetate, nitrate, and polyester negatives, in addition to silver gelatin, carbon prints, platinum prints, cyanoprints, and tintypes. Materials are scanned at high resolution to capture the maximum information available from the original image. Smaller derivative files are created from the master file in Adobe Photoshop for publication and printing. Format and fragility of materials determine the type of equipment used to capture the image. Technicians regularly calibrate scanners, monitors, and printers to maintain accurate capture and output of images from the Collection.

Digital Output

Printing from digital files is done in-house. Inkjet printers are used for creating standard and oversized archival prints for exhibitions and publications. A silver halide-based dye transfer printer is used to make photographic prints from digital images.