Capturing Record Images
When I’m searching in the various databases offering images of original documents, I like to capture a copy of that image for later review. For a while I was happy to print copies of census pages or newspaper clips. Recently, new research caused me to go back to my files and re-check some of the information I had collected earlier and I discovered that several of my prints were impossible to read. As a result, I’ve realized two very important things. First, I need to review EVERY captured item before moving on to another search. Just because the last captured item is perfectly legible doesn’t mean the next one will be. Second, I need to determine the best way to capture high-quality images.
Screen-capture applications like Jing, Skitch and SnagIt can capture smaller items easily but lots of the things I’m capturing are larger than my screen can display. The few applications that can capture a scrolling screen are awkward to use and often require multiple tries to get an acceptable capture. None of these apps offer any capability to include metadata with the image file so another application – and effort – is needed to add the descriptive data.
Most document repositories offer some sort of print option allowing you to print a copy of the original document. My next thought was to use my Mac’s built-in print-to-PDF capability and see how well that worked. I’ve tried it with Google Books, Making of America’s book reader, Footnote, Ancestry census images and GenealogyBank newspaper clippings and so far I’m very pleased with the results. One advantage of PDF over hard-copy printing is that low resolution images are much more legible on screen than on paper.
When using the Mac’s PDF tool, you are presented with a form similar to the one shown above which allows you to enter your metadata (all of which is searchable) before saving the file. Some platforms, like GenealogyBank, also include some source data with the printed image.
Windows users can use the PrintPDF addin for Firefox or, even better, the open source PDFCreator application. It installs as another printer on your computer. You just select it as your printer and tell it to print. It will present a screen similar to the one below offering options and fields for adding metadata.
While the PDF option works quite well, another option is quickly becoming my preferred choice – Evernote. It’s amazingly simple to use while providing both a desktop and online repository for my notes and clippings – always synched so everything’s within easy reach at all times.
I can grab a small selection or an entire web page. I can include typed notes with documents attached to them (requires a premium account), scanned images, photos and even audio notes. When I add something, all I need to do is include a few tags [Tags! I love tags!] to help keep things organized. And then there’s the search capability . . . Although it does have a problem with my census images, it will read text and handwriting from many images. The basic account costs nothing and will be more than enough for most researchers. My premium account costs me $45/year and it’s worth every penny.
This has been a lesson learned the hard way, but I’m quickly getting many of those poor copies replaced with better quality ones that are much easier to find when needed. And, I still have the ability to print or export the content to other applications at any time. Life is good.
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July 12th, 2009 at 2:24 pm
And you’re not freaked out by Evernote’s Terms of Service?
Randy
July 13th, 2009 at 1:18 am
Dear Denise,
Why all the hassle? :) Why don’t you just try Voila from Global Delight? I bet you’ll love it. :)