-------- Original Message --------
Subject: [ARCHIVES] TOC Tips #1
Resent-Date: Sun, 2 Feb 2003 22:58:49 -0700
Resent-From: ARCHIVES-L(a)rootsweb.com
Date: Mon, 03 Feb 2003 00:59:10 -0500
From: Javan Michael DeLoach <javan(a)deloach.org>
Reply-To: ARCHIVES-L(a)rootsweb.com
To: ARCHIVES-L(a)rootsweb.com
_____________________________________________________________________
The USGenWeb Archives TOC Tips #1
_____________________________________________________________________
This is issue #1 of TOC Tips. TOC Tips will be a periodic newsletter
published with the goal of keeping our USGenWeb Archives volunteers
up to date on standards, policies and procedures. The range of
subjects will be fairly unlimited, and may include such things as
software recommendations, file conversion tips, best ways to organize
data storage, etc. There will also be a Questions and Answers section
which will address recent procedural queries.
TOC Tips will be distributed through the ARCHIVES-L Mail List, and will
also be posted on the Web at URI:
http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/toctips/toctipsndx.htm
Linda
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Graphic Images and Software
Mike DeLoach
We often receive images of genealogical documents that meet our criteria
for posting in the Archives. More often than not, these images are not
usable in the form sent by the contributor. The most common problems
are
non-compressed image formats, such as BMP or TIFF, or images that have
been scanned at a higher than needed resolution.
Images that are stored in the Archives should be in either the JPEG or
GIF format. These forms of images can be viewed by all browsers that
have a graphics capability. They are also compressed, permitting
smaller
file size and faster down loading. Images that have been scanned at
high
resolutions have large physical dimensions which do not fit on a browser
screen. Practically all images can be successfully displayed and viewed
at 800 pixels width. You should strive to keep the width of all
archived
images below 800 pixels.
Most graphics programs that come bundled with scanners have the ability
to change graphic file formats and resize images. High end graphics
programs will also do this, but are expensive and are often hard to use.
If you do not have a graphics program, or you don't want to fire up your
full featured program, here is a freebie (ad supported) that will do
most
everything and is easy to use.
PicPerk is a free download at:
http://www.picperk.com/more.htm
Images may be converted from and to one of 11 different formats.
Maintaining the aspect ratio when resizing is the default setting.
The one fault that this program has is the capability to change images
to the GIF format. The reason for this is that Compuserve has a copy-
right on the GIF format, and programs that produce or save images in
the GIF format have to pay royalties to Compuserve. However, you can
save images as JPEGs, which works just as well if not better than the
GIF.
This is a neat little program that you will enjoy using.
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Questions and Answers
Question.
On 1/30/03, Sue Skay Abruscato, USGenWeb MS Archives wrote:
"I have a CC who has transcribed a census record. It has been uploaded
to
http://www.us-census.org/. She also wants it in the archives.
Can I copy it directly from their site, or do I have to obtain
permission?"
Answer.
The USGenWeb Census Project, that is hosted by the USGenNet, has
a copyright policy that is similar to our own. Specifically, they
state:
"Our project has always maintained that the census transcription
copyright is held by the transcriber solely. Only the individual
transcribers can decide where they wish for their work to be
displayed."
So, if a contributor contacts you and asks that a census record they
have transcribed be placed in the Mississippi USGenWeb Archives, you may
copy that record directly from the USGenNet site.
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Please exchange your reviews and comments about information included in
TOC Tips on the ARCHIVES-L Mail List.