30,000 pixels and Above: Challenges in Adapting a Camera-Based Capture System for Multi-Shot Image Stitching

While a final preservation image file is appropriate for most institutional and research needs, certain special projects may require more detail than can be provided in a single scan or capture. In these cases, combining multiple images may deliver the necessary quality, but present technical and logistical challenges to imaging equipment that must first be overcome. Prompted by a recent request to deliver images suitable for creating large promotional banners, this 24x7 presentation proposes to describe the methods used at Texas State University’s Alkek Library by the Digital and Web Services department (DWS) to test, capture, and successfully "stitch" multiple photographs into a single file. The presentation will also cover the evaluation of several scanner and capture station configurations, lighting, material handling, and image post-production techniques; as well as lessons learned in the process.