Digitalisierung BSPG

1. Photography Hardware

1.1 Digital Camera Nikon D 7000 with effective resolution: 16,2 million pixel

1.2 Lenses

1.2.1: Nikon AF-S Nikkor 50 mm f /1.8 G for middle-sized objects (10–100 cm)

1.2.2: Tamron SP AF 60 mm F/2 Di II Macro 1:1 for small, flat Fossils (1–10 cm)

1.2.3: Nikon AF-S DX Nikkor 18–200 mm f /3.5-5.6 G ED VR II for large or voluminous objects and special settings (50–500cm)

1.3 Lighting System: Nikon Close-up speedlight command kit R1C1

3. Calibration scales

• x-rite colorchecker in 2 sizes
• lenghth scale (2 sizes: 0–2 cm, 0–10 cm)

4. Digitization workstation - computer hardware and Software

• Mac computer
• 2.5 GHz Intel Core i5 processor
• 4 GB RAM
• Image memory: 8 GB SDHC UHS-I Card for Photos and Video
• Photoshop
• DiversityCollection Database

5. Digitalizing workflow

• fossil specimen is photographed: top view, side view, back view with scales
• labels are photographed
• images are saved on memory card as jpeg files with ~5 MB, using an object code as a file name
• Data transfer to stationary computer
• Selection of best photos and saving in original format
• file-upload via ftp and image processing for web presentation, access via DWB and archiving
• Specimen data inserted via DiversityCollection Client to DC-database
• The whole procedure including metadata entry takes between 20 minutes and one hour. Taking one picture takes between 2 and 5 minutes.

6. Further reading

• Berendsohn, W. G., Einsiedel, B., Merkel, U. Nowak-Krawietz, H., Röpert, D. & Will, I. 2005: Digital imaging at the Herbarium Berolinense. In: Häuser C. L., Steiner, A., Holstein, J. & Scoble, M. J. (ed.): Digital Imaging of Biological Type Specimens – A Manual of Current Best Practice.

This page gives the status in 2014.