Video transcription (English translation):

University of Padua
University Library System

Antique and special collections section
Botanical Garden Library

==Digitisation of the Botanists portrait collection==

January 2009

The Botanists portrait collection contains 2,380 portraits of Italian and foreign botanists kept at the Padua Botanical Garden Library.

This is a teaching and information video documenting certain steps in the process of digitising the collection.

===The digitisation laboratory set===

Digitisation laboratory set comprises:

*2 light sources;
*image capture station (surface covered in black cloth, easel with colour scale, digital camera mounted on pillar);
*post-production station (optimization of digital images by balancing brightness, contrast, etc., and photo retouch where appropriate).

===Digitisation of positives===

Cleaning of black cloth with brush to remove fluff;

use of white cotton gloves to avoid fingerprints on material being reproduced;

levelling of surface and digital camera;

positioning the photograph so that the sides are parallel with the easel;

image capture front and rear (rear, to record any handwriting or stamps).

===Digitisation of negatives===

Positioning of plate or film negative on screened backlit surface;

adjustment of digital image obtained.

Positioning of plate or film negative on screened backlit surface;

adjustment of digital image obtained.