Still image services

The NFSA processes requests from a variety of external clients through the collection access section. Requests can vary from providing a small digital image from the database, such as a JPEG, to organising a full size reproduction of a large poster. Some items are too large (e.g. posters) or too fragile (e.g. scrapbooks) to be scanned inhouse. In these circumstances, Still Image Services (SIS) can arrange for an external service provider to digitise the item or to produce film based transparencies and negatives.

SIS responsibilities

The SIS carry out preservation based work that directly benefits the collection and forms the bulk of SIS’s workload. In addition to providing timely and efficient response to client requests, SIS is responsible for:

• analogue copying (photographic reproduction) upon request
• repackaging and relabelling still image items using archival quality packaging materials
• ensuring an accurate physical and intellectual description of the item, a condition assessment and other appropriate data, is entered into the National Film and Sound Archive of Australia’s collection database
• SIS also digitises material on loan for copying.

The still image collection

The NFSA’s still image collection include over 90,000 photographs, 80,000 transparencies, 8,000 posters, 7,000 negatives, and many more items such as glass slides, strip negatives, printed scripts and publicity material.

This significant collection of non-audiovisual items supports and complements the NFSA’s film, sound and broadcast material. Still images provide an important resource for researchers, broadcast producers, filmmakers, advertisers, publicists, etc.

Handling this collection

The SIS has two scanning workstations:

• a Nikon Super Coolscan 40, a high resolution film scanner for 35mm transparencies and film strips
• an A3 size flatbed document scanner with multiple format capacity.

Why digitise?

By creating digital surrogates of items from our documentation collection we can reduce the risk of damage to the original item resulting from frequent access. It also provides us with a backup copy of the original, which serves as a partial record if the original was lost. Digitisation provides a visual display format for easy use on our website and online catalogue, providing easier access to, and use of, items in the collection.

Digital restoration

Master copies are not manipulated —- they represent the original item as accurately as possible including flaws. Co-master or derivative files can be manipulated as required. For example, if a water stained still image is required for publication, SIS can utilise Photoshop software to reduce or remove the marks.

Digital restoration has restored this damaged photograph without loss of integrity to the original.