Incorporating Images in Genealogy Reports

Genealogy research results in a number of facts with supporting documentation for each fact. The information load per individual is manageable, but as the family tree expands through research, the information load can become substantial. If the information has hardcopy components as well as digital, then fulfilling the purpose of the research, and assembling a complete family history document, can be a chore. The tools and tips discussed below can help minimize the effort in presenting Family History Research.

To easily generate a complete historical view, all documents must exist in the same medium. A document and photo scanner is an essential tool for converting, photos and paper documents to computer readable format. The software that accompanies the scanner makes it easy to operate the device. The most complicated decision to be made when scanning a document is how the scanned document will be displayed. Birth , death and marriage certificates will be scanned and displayed at their original size or smaller. These document also have little detail, so a scan resolution of 150-200 pixels per inch (ppi) is adequate to preserve the content of the original. Special problems such as stained or aged originals may need "clean up", so a grayscale scan of 200-300 ppi will allow some manipulation room for clean up. Photo's are the source of "great expectations. A little planning up front will allow the realization of some of those expectations. A pixel density of 300 pixels per inch will render a "good quality" image at the original size of the photo. To produce "blow ups" of the original photo, higher density scans of 600 or more pixels per inch are a must. The trade offs are larger files and less tolerance for dust and fibers on the photo and scanning bed.

A Photo Editor is the tool to cleanup or otherwise make digital images presentable as support and description in historical presentations. Correction of some scene composition errors, lighting , contrast problems, and removing red eye in photographs, are typical problems solved with the Photo Editor. However, restoring and repairing old and faded photographs can be a challenge with inexpensive software. To be successful with a Photo Editor treat the original image like a film negative; always make a working copy of the original. Saving the working image periodically allows recovery to the last saved snapshot, by abandoning the current edit session. The format of the image file is also important in preserving detail, use TIFF or JPEG2000 at least for the original. The Photo Editor is the tool of choice for generating an image resolution targeted for a specific display medium. For printing photographs three options are typically available "draft quality" 150 ppi, "normal" 300 ppi, and "best quality" 600 ppi. Web images are displayed on computer monitors which are set at 72-96 ppi, so web images of higher resolution contribute little to image clarity and can increase web page load times substantially.

A Digital Camera is an indispensable tool to a Family History researcher, especially when combined with a handheld GPS. A digital camera facilitates the inclusion of images as documentation for genealogical events, like a picture of a headstone for the Burial event. Including the GPS coordinates of the headstone in the notes attached to the Burial event will make it easy for interested researchers to locate the burial site. Another important use of the camera is to digitize documents. Simply position the camera directly above the document and move it up or down until the document fills the viewer and snap the image. A camera setting of 2 megapixels minimum is required to capture a readable document.

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