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Rapid Imaging ProjectArt Institute of Chicago

July 2007 - July 2009

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Goals for the R.I.P. project included:•Gaining maximum access to the collection•Develop a workflow to facilitate the uploading of tif.image files to our CMS and there by to our web site•Process 150 files a day from 3 workstations•Capture files at a quality that could be used for 8 x 10prints, published as medium size reproductions andused on the web. Not to overlap with studioproduction.•Create aesthetically pleasing images•Use off the shelf software and equipment•Archive both tif. and DNG files using ExtensisPortfolio (tif. files were balanced to the referencetarget and cropped. Files used for publications wouldbe created from the DNG an proofed against the art.)

Right: An image of the image file record and the Information we keep track of.

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Documentation

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Workflow: (Image Capture) Technicians

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Workflow: Image Archive

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2D workstations

Photography

Asian Prints

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PD Oversize Photography Station

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3-D workstation

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26,446 images linked to 23,390 records in CITI

Prints and Drawings:

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20,282 images linked to 16,115 records in CITIPhotography Dept.

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14,427 images linked to 12,286 object records in CITIJapanese Woodblock Prints

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Approx. 3000 coins photographedCoin Photography

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Asian Dept

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Ancient Collection

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Miniature portraits and medallionsArms and Armor

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•What made it work;a mandate that fit with organizational missionattainable daily numbers, based on experiencerealistic timetable, expected downtimeclosed ended with endgame strategysynergy, part of an organizational project to update CMS to port to web

•Hired staff specifically for project;1 manager and 3 technicianshad experience with department collections and CMScuratorial departments part of hiring processtrained by curatorial department staffwere not photographers, used studio photographers for aesthetic decisionswere ultimately responsible to the Imaging Departmentoverall manager who was responsible for working with curatorial departments

•Understood the culture of the organization and the participating departments

•Documentationworkflow proceduresprogress reports

•Know your budgetplan you equipment around your purpose, use and start timekeep to the planno regrets

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Rapid Imaging Projectnot

Rest In Peace

Special Thanks to:IMLSSam QuigleyKarin PatzkeGreg HarrisSusan CarlsonJoyce KuechlerJennifer AndersonJanine Nock

Final numbers:68,693 new images in twoyears, across the curatorialdepartments, averaging justunder 148 images per day.

98.6% of goal