Images are checked at the time of capture with the operator seeing in real time on screen the image being captured. Each batch of Images is checked at the end of each batch for consistency and correct numbering. When descriptions are keyed and labels attached there is another check for correct matching and identification. Finally when the database is built there is a further check on the entire system. The images can be in a variety of forms, including slides, transparencies, prints and glass plates.
Most clients take the opportunity to cull and sort the collection.
The sorting and culling process can take considerable time and involve senior staff members, often the time and involvement is under estimated by clients. Cleaning of the original material is generally undertaken if considered necessary and of course identification and numbering of each item if not already undertaken is essential. Providing descriptions of each image is also of vital importance. The time taken in developing each Pictorial Description can far exceed the image capture time and often has to be undertaken by elderly people who can identify the material. The cost of a project is best considered on a unit basis as the size of the collection is a major factor in determining the cost structure.