Package compiled for FAA managers

Federal Agencies Digitization Initiative Still Image Working Group - August 201 O
temperature may also be necessary for older monitors to reach an appropriate brightness, as long as neutrals don't
appear too blue when compared to neutral hardcopy under the specified illumination.
Monitor Calibration
In order to meet and maintain the monitor settings summarized above, we recommend using LCD monitors designed
for the graphic arts, photography, or multimedia markets.
A photosensor-based color calibrator (colorimeter or spectrodensitometer) and appropriate software (either bundled
with the monitor or a third party application) should be used to calibrate the monitor to the aims discussed above.
This is to ensure desired color temperature, luminance level, neutral color balance, and linearity of the red, green,
and blue representations on the monitor are achieved.
If using an ICC color managed workflow (see section on color management), an ICC profile should be created after
monitor calibration for c01Tect rendering of images.
The monitor should be checked regularly and recalibrated when necessary.
Using a photosensor-based monitor calibrator, however, does not always ensure monitors are calibrated well. Ten
years of practical experience has shown ca librators and calibration software may not work accurately or
consistently. After calibration, it is important to assess the monitor visually, to make sure the monitor is adjusted
appropriately. Assess overall contrast, brightness, and color neutrality of the gray desktop. Also, evaluate both color
neutrality and detail rendering in white and black areas. This can be done using an image target of neutral patches
ranging from black to white and saved in LAB color mode (since LAB does not require an ICC profile and can be
viewed independently of the color managed process). In addition, it may be helpful to evaluate sample images or
scans of targets - such as the NARA Monitor Adjustment Target (shown below) and/or a known image such as a
scan of a Kodak grayscale adjusted to the aimpoints (such as the NARA aimpoints 8-8-8/105-105-105/24 7-247-247)
described below.
When the monitor is adjusted anci calihrnted appropriately, the NARA
Monitor Adjustment Target (shown at left) and/or an adjusted image of a
Kodak gray scale will look reasonably accurate. Images with ICC color
profiles will display accurately within color managed applications, and
sRGB profiled images should display reasonably accurately outside color
managed applications as well. The NARA Monitor Adjustment Target and
the gray scale aimpoints are based on an empirical evaluation of a large
number of monitors, on both Windows and Macintosh computers, and
represent the average of the group. Over the last fifteen of years calibrating
and adjusting monitors in this manner, we have found the onscreen representation to be very good on a wide variety
of monitors and computers.
Quantifying Scanner/Digital Camera Performance
Introduction
A key element in our approach to developing guidelines is to describe and document a common foundation of
quality metrics for investigating and evaluating digital objects created through digital imaging.
The first table in this section (Part 1 - Taxonomy of Digital Imaging Performance) provides just that - a taxonomy
of imaging performance. Thi s hierarchical classification demonstrates the connections among related [existing]
imaging characteristics, and provides context and a framework for the army of commonly used terms and the
appropriate imag ing standards available for the evaluation of digital image files .
The additional five tables in this section (Part 11 - Evaluation and Quality Control of Digital Imaging) build upon the
framework set forth in the first table and provide operational metrics and criteria for evaluating digital image
characteristics for purposes of investigation or, when used with specific requirements, or for quality control
purposes.
Technical Guidelines for Digitizing Cultural Heritage Materials: Creation of Raster Image Master Files 7