[Nhcoll-l] Seeking Protocols for Imaging Entomological Specimens

[Burkhalter, Roger J.]

The Atlas of Living Australia Digitisation guidance is well thought out and provides really excellent documents. It addresses many of the specific needs of collections. It focuses quite a bit on workflow and automating systems whereas we have focused much of our attention on standardized views. Starting with the excellent "Taxonomic-Grade Images" by Arino and Galicia, we sought to image type and figured specimens in our collection (Invertebrate Paleontology) in views standardized for study of that particular taxonomic group. The reasoning being that if we were taking the time to image specimens, to do it in a way most useful to researchers interested in those groups. Low resolution copies of those images are then attached to the on-line database and full resolution images can be made available as digital loans if requested. Many times, a publication will show only one or two views of a specimen whereas many additional views of the same specimen are currently available on-line. We consider this documenting the specimen and not doing the researchers work although we have had that argument internally many times.

We quickly found that standardized views of many groups was a concept passed down from advisor to student, with very little information actually published. Some groups, especially echinoderms, views can vary significantly from the Order or even Family assignment.  I would suspect the same is true in entomological collections.

Since we started this task about 12 years ago, improvements in equipment has changed many things we now do, but one thing has not changed, and has not changed since the days of using film, the quality of the lens is at least as important as the pixel count.  We use what the Atlas of Living Australia Digitisation guidance pdf Digital Imaging Requirements Review calls an Adapted system for photography using a prosumer Canon dSLR (EOS 5d Mark III) with Leitz Aristophot lenses acquired from various sources. These lenses are often setting unused at various institutions because they are "outdated" technology, but we have found no currently available lenses as sharp or with sufficient contrast.

Roger

[Sam Noble Museum]<http://www.snomnh.ou.edu/exhibits/>

Roger Burkhalter


Collection's Manager, Invertebrate Paleontology


t. 405.325.1097


f. 405.325.7699



Sam Noble Museum


University of Oklahoma


2401 Chautauqua Ave. Norman, OK 73072-7029



[Facebook]<http://www.facebook.com/pages/Sam-Noble-Oklahoma-Museum-of-Natural-History/31844734643>[Twitter]<http://twitter.com/#!/SamNobleMuseum>[YouTube]<http://www.youtube.com/user/samnoblemuseum?feature=results_main>[www]<http://www.snomnh.ou.edu/>[Common Fossils of Oklahoma]<http://commonfossilsofoklahoma.snomnh.ou.edu/>


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Hi Jenny,

The South Australian Museum, Australian Museum and others have been working on entomological imaging for the Atlas of Living Australia.

Some of what we have learned, including digitisation and workflow guidance and some helpful tips are available here: http://www.ala.org.au/about-the-atlas/digitisation-guidance/

I'd draw your attention to the bottom of that page, where you can find downloadable pdf 'final reports' for our projects at SAMA and the AM, which include information about equipment purchasing decisions, costs and workflow particular to our projects.

Also, the basic manuals from the SA Museum volunteer digitisation project are available on our website here:
http://www.samuseum.sa.gov.au/index.php?option=com_content&Itemid=171&catid=35&id=403&view=article
(These have had a couple of updates just recently, please get in touch with me off list if you'd like me to send through updated versions, or our Photoshop manual).

Also, happy to answer any particular questions that you have, feel free to email me at alexis.tindall at samuseum.sa.gov.au<mailto:alexis.tindall at samuseum.sa.gov.au>. We don't have all the answers, still struggling with a few things ourselves, but I might be able to help a bit, or point you in the direction of someone who can.

Cheers,
Alexis
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Hello All,

Does anyone happen to have an imaging guide or detailed protocols for imaging entomological specimens? If anyone could share their information with us, I would greatly appreciate it.

Regards,

Jenny Leasor


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