Hi Madeline,
Thanks for your question. I don't have much experience with specific vendors, but I have a few thoughts that I can offer. I would first consider what you are hoping for in terms of your final output. Are you looking to emphasize the text of a document, or will there be images that are important to capture? How accurate does your color rendering need to be? Would a color-copy printout be acceptable, or do you want to experiment with printing on different types of paper to achieve a more sympathetic look? There are many different perspectives and approaches regarding facsimiles. For what it's worth, I personally prefer facsimiles that don't try too hard to be substitutes for an original. Creating exhibit elements that are clear and honest representations gives respect to both your viewer and your collection. Also keep in mind that a facsimile can do what an original often cannot. Zooming in or out, and highlighting particular portions of a work may be more appropriate than showing the entire thing. It may be worth taking the time to experiment with a few techniques to achieve the product you're hoping for.
I am not clear if you were considering using a vendor to image your documents, but I would recommend doing this work yourself in-house. Maintaining control of your documents in terms of security and proper handling is critical, and making your own reproductions is very achievable with a modest setup. There are numerous equipment options for image capture that would give you the level of quality you need to create a good facsimile. I think your choice depends on what you are most comfortable working with, and your budget. My personal preference is to use a camera and copy stand set up with good quality lights. Good lighting will help you achieve more accurate color reproduction without a lot of image editing after the fact. I believe Adobe Photoshop is still the gold standard for image software, but again it depends on what you are trying to achieve. There are less expensive photo editing options that will offer the most important tools such as cropping, exposure, and color adjustment. The best software is one that your institution can easily use, and maintain in terms of upgrades. Also be sure to check compatibility of your software with any equipment you may wish to use.
Once you have images you're happy with, your final output will depend on your initial goals. I prefer to use a vendor for this part of the process. A good local print shop should be able to offer great prints, but they should also be able to provide help with trimming, mounting, and custom solutions. I used our local print shop to create a large multi-page facsimile book. They were able to help with a complex page layout, and were willing to print on a specific paper that I brought in for the project. Experimenting with different papers can widen your options in terms of achieving the final look you are hoping for. Your print shop will be able to give advice regarding papers that will print well with their equipment.
Creating facsimiles can be a creative process with a range of successful approaches. I hope I was able to offer a few helpful considerations. Please feel free to follow up with any further questions.
Best,
Jen
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Jen Hunt Johnson
Special Collections Conservator
Hesburgh Libraries, University of Notre Dame
jhuntjoh@nd.eduConnecting to Collections Care Monitor
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Original Message:
Sent: 01-31-2025 08:52
From: Madeline Calise
Subject: Facsimile
Our museum is looking to incorporate facsimiles of historic documents into a display. Do you have any advice such as resources, vendors, or favorite equipment and software?