This is a listing
of documents, instruction manuals, etc. that are of interest
to HMML employees and colleagues in various locations around
the world. Most of these relate to the use of
digitization equipment used in HMML's overseas projects.
NOTE: Some of these documents are quite large; check the
file size before attempting to download.
Metadata Tools:
-
ApprovedManuscript Metadata 1.0.mdb
A ZIp archive file containing our current field metadata
recording form in Microsoft Access format. This is used by the technicians in the
field to enter rudimentary metadata about the
manuscripts photographed. Data from this form can be
appended to HMML's master manuscript database.
-
Excel-based cataloging tool.
This is a more comprehensive cataloguing tool for
researchers creating more detailed manuscript records.
The system is based on a standard Excel worksheet
template which is renamed for each manuscript catalogued
(the system is based on one workbook per manuscript)
This system allows for a multi-level metadata scheme.
Consult with HMML on the use of this workbook. If you
need a workbook that can handle a manuscript with more
than 50 texts, you can use
this one.
-
Cataloging workbook manual.pdf
Description of the Excel-based system listed above, with
instructions and data dictionary.
How and Why HMML Does What It Does
-
Manuscript Photography Project Procedure.pdf
A master procedure document for HMML's digital projects. Serves
to link together other documents on this site. This is the
starting point for those learning how to work with HMML's
system.
-
Rationale.pdf
(2.6MB)
Document outlining the reason for HMML's switch from
microfilm to digital capture for manuscript
preservation. Includes cost comparisons between film and
digital.
-
foliation&filenames3.pdf (850KB)
Updated and expanded explanation of file naming, foliation, and
work processes involved in photographing manuscripts and getting
the data onto external hard drives for delivery to HMML.
-
Book photography.pdf:
This concise guide outlines our manuscript photography
procedures, with information on setup, file-naming, and
workflow. (23 megabytes)
-
Image
Requirements.pdf
Technical specs required for
HMML images.
Cameras and Camera Operation
HMML always recommends
that users of digital camera equipment read the instruction
manuals that come with the equipment. The following
documents were prepared for specific projects that use these
cameras and deal mostly with their use in photographing
manuscripts.
-
Best Practices Manual.pdf
The first camera and studio setup manual I wrote, done
in 2003 at HMML's pilot project in Balamand, Lebanon.
Outlines the setup and use of a Hasselblad/Phase One
digital camera system (15 megabytes).
- 350D manual.pdf:
A
concise user guide for the Canon 350D
digital camera and software (This is model known as the Digital
Rebel XT). Written to accompany a camera sent to Romania for a
test project. (6.5 megabytes)
-
Malta Project Nikon D2x manual
Prepared for a
project at the Notarial Archives of Malta (4.5MB)
-
Canon IDs User Manual.pdf:
The user guide for the Canon EOS 1Ds digital camera used in
many of our overseas projects. Although it has specific
operational information about the Canon 1Ds, it's useful reading
for anyone working on HMML digitization projects. (1 megabyte)
- Nikon D2X User Notes:
Supplement to the Nikon D2X manual with specific information for
manuscript digitization. Prepared for an expedition to rural
Ethiopia in 2006. PDF format (8 megabytes).
- Nikon D2X Manual.pdf
Guide to using the Nikon D2x digital camera and capture software
to produce photographs of manuscripts. Prepared for Romanian manuscript digitization project in 2007. (2.4
megabytes).
- Canon 5D manual.pdf.
A user guide for the Canon EOS 5D digital SLR and its
software. Covers setup and issues related to the use of the 5D
for manuscript photography (2.5 megabytes).
-
Official_Canon_EOS_5d_mkII_User_Manual.pdf
Canon's manual for the 5D Mark II
-
HMML_Canon 5D MKII manual.pdf
Guide to setting up
the Canon 5D Mark II and its software for manuscript
photography.
Official Camera Instruction Manuals from Nikon and Canon
for the Models Used by HMML (English versions)
Generally, each studio receives the original instruction
manual for the camera, allowing users to familiarize
themselves with all the camera's functions. If the printed
manual is not available, these downloads are listed here.
Other Technical Documents
- Solar-Powered Digitization Setup:
Document outlining the setting up of solar-powered field
digitization equipment. PDF format (40 megabytes).
-
HMML Digitization Studio Setup.pdf (1.7MB)
Supplementary document
created in 2007. Explains the physical
setup of manuscript photography system and how to wire
all the components together.
- hardwiring.pdf
(1MB)
Document from White Lightning (maker of
the flash units used at many of HMML's projects) indicating the wiring diagram for
"hard wiring" two or more flash units together. This is the
method used to prevent one station's flash lights from setting
off the other's. This information would apply to other makes
of strobe lights.
- Fluorescent
Lights.pdf (3.8MB)
For certain projects, HMML is using special fluorescent lighting
fixtures. This document outlines how to assemble, set up, and
produce the color calibration needed for manuscript photography.
- Transformer
use.pdf (278KB)
Explains how to set up and use the step-down voltage
transformer/stabilizer used in conjunction with fluorescent
lights.
Utility Files and Software:
-
Directory List Utility.xls
Excel workbook that allows user to create spreadsheet
cell information from the contents of computers file
directories (folders). Very useful for creating lists of
digital assets. Allows the user to essentially create a
database of folder contents with a few Excel actions.
-
rasterfile calculator.xls
This Excel spreadsheet is my own creation, allowing the
user to figure out the size of raster image files based
on scanning specifications. Also has charts for the
image size and aspect ratios of various camera and media
systems. Ideal for doing “budgeting” to figure out how
many megabytes or gigabytes a scanning project will
create.
-
FlashRen46.exe
Right-click and download this to your PC.
Then, double-click on the file to run the Flash Renamer
installer. Consult Wayne Torborg about getting the
software registered.
Other Documents
- arrows.pdf
(11KB)
Printable array of “up” arrows to be used when
photographing manuscripts
- metadata
slate.pdf (23KB)
This printable PDF has two metadata forms per page
(to conserve paper). The camera operator fills out the
form and photographs it as one of the images created
during manuscript digitization. This form should be used
if metadata information is not being printed out from the
Microsoft Access metadata collection tool.
-
ruler and grayscale slates600ppi.pdf (1.2MB)
This PDF
contains a number of centimeter scales and grayscale
patches. IMPORTANT: when printing this document, take
care to be sure that page scaling is set to “none” so
that the centimeter scale isn't distorted by the
printer.
-
dsdata5.mdb and
dsdbms6.mdb. These are the
front-end and back-end of the OLIVER manuscript database system.
emptied of records. Place the file "dsdata5" in a folder titled
"ACCESS" and keep the other file outside of this folder. Then,
the front-end will connect properly with the actual data file.
Posted for use of Dr. Theresa Vann. NOTE: user must
"right-click" on the link and choose to "save file as" to the
computer.
-
CD and DVD
Recording.pdf
This is a collection of some ideas on how to create CD and DVD
disks that will work well on multiple computer platforms.