Digitization Technician Course

Lesson 1 • Core Imaging Concepts

Introduces resolution, bit depth, color space, and file format fundamentals. Provides the technical vocabulary needed to configure capture equipment correctly.

Lesson 2 • Introduction to Digitization Standards

Presents widely adopted technical benchmarks for resolution, color accuracy, and file formats. Students understand why standards exist and how they guide project decisions.

Lesson 3 • Types of Source Materials

Surveys the range of physical materials commonly digitized, including paper, photographs, film, and objects. Connects material type to appropriate handling and capture strategies.

Lesson 4 • Overview of Digitization Equipment

Introduces flatbed scanners, overhead cameras, drum scanners, and microfilm readers. Students identify which device class suits each material type.

Lesson 1 • Focus, Alignment, and Geometric Accuracy

Addresses achieving sharp focus, square alignment, and minimal geometric distortion. These factors directly affect the usability of digitized images for research and reproduction.

Lesson 2 • Workstation Ergonomics and Safety

Covers safe workstation layout, lighting conditions, and repetitive-strain prevention. Proper setup reduces errors and protects both operator and materials.

Lesson 3 • Camera and Lighting Setup

Teaches lens selection, aperture, and controlled lighting for overhead capture systems. Consistent lighting eliminates shadows and color casts that degrade image quality.

Lesson 4 • Scanner Configuration and Drivers

Walks through installing drivers, setting scan parameters, and verifying device communication. Correct configuration is the prerequisite for all subsequent capture work.

Lesson 1 • Hazardous Materials Awareness

Identifies materials with chemical hazards such as nitrate film, mercury-process photographs, and mold-contaminated items. Students apply appropriate protective measures.

Lesson 2 • Condition Assessment Before Capture

Teaches systematic inspection for tears, brittleness, mold, and other hazards. Assessment results determine handling protocols and flag items needing conservation review.

Lesson 3 • Preparing Materials for Scanning

Covers unfolding, flattening, and minor surface cleaning to improve scan quality. Preparation steps are balanced against the risk of causing additional damage.

Lesson 4 • Safe Handling Techniques by Material

Provides material-specific handling methods for paper, photographs, film, and bound volumes. Correct technique prevents tears, abrasion, and chemical transfer.

Lesson 1 • In-Process Quality Control Checks

Teaches real-time inspection of captures for focus, exposure, color, and completeness. Early detection of errors prevents rework of entire batches.

Lesson 2 • Rescan Decisions and Error Logging

Establishes criteria for accepting or rejecting captures and logging defects systematically. Consistent error logging supports process improvement over time.

Lesson 3 • Scanning Flat and Bound Materials

Provides step-by-step scanning procedures for documents, photographs, and books. Students apply correct settings and placement for each material class.

Lesson 4 • Camera Capture for Complex Items

Covers overhead and copy-stand photography for three-dimensional, oversized, or fragile items. Students adjust exposure and focus for non-standard originals.

Lesson 1 • Creating Derivative Files

Generates access copies, thumbnails, and print-ready files from archival masters. Each derivative is optimized for its intended delivery channel and audience.

Lesson 2 • Non-Destructive Editing Practices

Introduces adjustment layers, smart objects, and sidecar-based editing to protect master files. Non-destructive methods allow corrections to be revised without re-scanning.

Lesson 3 • Tone and Color Correction

Applies levels, curves, and color balance adjustments to match the original's appearance. Corrections are documented to maintain a transparent processing record.

Lesson 4 • Cropping, Rotation, and Deskewing

Removes borders, corrects skew, and aligns images to standard orientations. Geometric corrections improve usability without altering informational content.

Lesson 1 • Folder Structure and Organization

Defines hierarchical folder schemes aligned with collection and project structures. Logical organization enables efficient retrieval and batch processing.

Lesson 2 • File Format Selection and Conversion

Compares archival formats such as TIFF, JPEG 2000, and PDF/A against access formats. Students select formats based on preservation requirements and intended use.

Lesson 3 • Storage Media and Backup Strategies

Evaluates storage media types and redundancy strategies for protecting master files. Students apply the 3-2-1 backup principle to digitization projects.

Lesson 4 • Principles of File Naming

Presents rules for constructing consistent, machine-readable file names that encode key metadata. Good naming prevents duplication and supports automated processing.

Lesson 1 • Embedded vs. Sidecar Metadata

Compares embedding metadata in file headers with storing it in external sidecar files. Each approach has trade-offs for portability, editability, and long-term access.

Lesson 2 • Types and Functions of Metadata

Distinguishes descriptive, technical, structural, and administrative metadata and their roles. Understanding metadata types guides correct schema selection for each project.

Lesson 3 • Data Entry and Controlled Vocabularies

Teaches consistent data entry using authority files, thesauri, and controlled vocabularies. Controlled input improves search precision and interoperability across systems.

Lesson 4 • Common Metadata Schemas and Standards

Surveys widely used schemas including Dublin Core, MODS, and PREMIS. Students match schemas to project requirements and institutional systems.

Lesson 1 • Documentation and Reporting

Establishes standards for project logs, progress reports, and final project documentation. Thorough records support auditing, handoff, and future project planning.

Lesson 2 • Scoping and Needs Assessment

Defines project boundaries, stakeholder requirements, and success criteria before work begins. Clear scoping prevents scope creep and misaligned deliverables.

Lesson 3 • Quality Assurance at the Project Level

Implements sampling-based quality assurance plans that verify output across entire batches. Project-level QA catches systemic errors that in-process checks may miss.

Lesson 4 • Scheduling and Resource Allocation

Applies scheduling tools to sequence tasks, assign staff, and allocate equipment across a project. Balanced allocation prevents bottlenecks and idle time.