Bruner Project
Scanning Standards
(Archival and Display)

Spring 2000

The scanner settings used are determined by the type of document in hand. In the Bruner project there are 4 document types:

  1. Text: perspective sheets, articles, background information, etc.
  2. Drawings, Maps, Illustrations, etc.: These include, siteplans, blueprints, archtect renderings, etc.
  3. Photographs: Black and white and color.
  4. Graphics: logos, PR material, advertisements, etc.

For each of these documents and archival "master file" is created. These large, high-resolution TIF files are created in order to retain as much data as possible from the original document scan. Smaller files (GIF, JPEG) are then derived from the master a nd used for screen display. Because these derivative files are compressed, they will load much faster and use up significantly less file space than their archival TIF counterparts.

Media Type

Scan Resolution

Archive File Format

Presentation Format
Text Document 400 dpi

TIFF (uncompressed)

GIF for docs up to 8.5"x14" or 119 sq. in.

  • 4 bit - greyscale
  • 8 bit - color
  • resolution - 100 dpi

    JPEG for docs over 8.5"x14" or 119 sq. in.

  • 8 bit - grayscale
  • 24 bit - color
  • resolution - 100 dpi

    • Drawings, Maps, Illustrations, etc.

    		200 dpi

    TIFF (uncompressed)

    JPEG

  • 8 bit - grayscale
  • 24 bit - color
  • resolution - 100 dpi

    • Photographs

    200 dpi

    TIFF (uncompressed)

    JPEG

  • 8 bit - grayscale
  • 24 bit - color
  • resolution - 75 dpi

    • Graphics

    200 dpi

    TIFF (uncompressed)

    GIF for docs up to 11"x17" or 187 sq. in.

  • 4 bit - greyscale
  • 8 bit - color
  • resolution - 100 dpi

    JPEG for docs over 11"x17" or 187 sq. in.

  • 8 bit - grayscale
  • 24 bit - color
  • resolution - 100 dpi

    • Standards information derived from NARA Guidelines for Digitizing Archival Materials for Electronic Access, compiled by Steven Puglia, National Archives and Records Administration, 1998.

    Oversized Images
    If an image is larger than legal size, it must be scanned in pieces. Follow the same resolution standards outlined above, taking into consideration the size of the "whole" document. Photoshop will be used to "reassemble" the document.

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    Created April 4, 2000.
    Brenda L. Battleson - Digitization Coordinator
    URL: http://ublib.buffalo.edu/libraries/projects/bruner/images/scan_standards.html

    Please send comments, suggestions or questions to: askcts@acsu.buffalo.edu