IMAGING PAPYRI WITH A KONTRON CAMERA

1997
University of Michigan Papyrology Collection

1. General guidelines

• enter all papyri to be scanned in a database and prepare a list with the location of the papyri, size and line number.
• examine the daily batch of papyri for their physical condition and determine what preservation measures are needed.
• verify that you have the same piece as that mentionned in the edition (mislabellings do occur). Make sure to locate and prepare for scanning all fragments mentionned in the edition. Some of the fragments may not be in the possession of the repository any more in which case locate and scan a fotograph.
• naming the image files: keep to the naming that appears in the edition. E.g. recto and verso cannot be used for vellum pieces. Adhere to the page-indications in the edition: e.g. Inv. No p. i, p.ii etc. Make sure that the names of the files appear correctly, i.e compare the papyrus with the text in the edition.
• monitor the right orientation of the papyrus on the image and the sharpness of the writing.

  Unmounted papyri:

  • examine papyri carefully for broken pieces and dislocations well in advance of scheduled imaging in order to be able to take preservation measures.
  • if more permanent preservation measures are not warranted, align and position correctly dislocated pieces for scanning.
  • put a glass over the papyrus without removing it from folder.
  • use the same technique for verso by turning over the papyrus in the folder.

2. Specific guidelines for the full-size image

• If there is any writing on the verso, make a full-size image of the entire surface in order to register the position of the writing on the surface (the 600 dpi image will capture only the close image). Make note of all verso files that are captured in the imaging process, but have not found their place in the publication. This can be done in the FileMaker Pro database field, called 'side section', e.g. r/v (PMich has recto only).

3. Specific guidelines for the 600 dpi images:

• one must assure sufficient overlap, otherwise (especially with curving and uneven lines) one might miss information. The minimum amount of overlap should be one line on the horizontal axis and two words on the vertical axis. Ideally, cropping should be done along word-ends.
• cropping becomes a complicated issue with images 10x12" and larger which consist of 4+ tiles. One must make sure that the tiles are of equal size which can be done by keeping the previous image on the screen while cropping. ( Tiles of inv. 281 are left uneven). Make sure that cropping is done along the same horizontal line and tiles can be matched up easily.
• when there are big gaps in the papyrus (half of left margin missing, e.g. 281 or gap in the middle) one should photograph the empty space as well, because it can be important for making conjectures.
• the technique for photographing a missing part of a left margin is as follows. Align a ruler along the existing part of the margin and put a yellow post-it mark along the line to help determine the width of the empty space that needs to be included. If a part of the post-it note gets into the image, it can be easily cropped out.
• in the case of several lines on the verso, photograph only the portion containing the text. The thumbnail version gives the position of the writing on the surface.
• do not include ruler in 600 dpi images
• the order in which the 600 dpi images were taken should be recorded in the imaging database. The arrangement follows several patterns which can be expressed with a grid attached to each individual file and the type of arrangement recorded in the database.