Digital image to archival print

[Fabio Moretzsohn]

Dear all

I receive my emails from Taxacom in digest form, so bear with me if this is
late.

If a regular (i.e., not special archival quality) photographs suffice, then
there are a few photofinishers that can transform digital files into *real*
silver halide photo prints. I use an online photofinisher, Ofoto.com, that
produces great photos provided you have enough pixels. For 4" x 6" print
size, 2.1 megapixels or more are usually almost indistinguishable from
consumer film cameras; for larger sizes, you will need more pixels.

I don't know what how archival regular photographs are - I know you can use
special paper and chemicals to produce photo prints that will last longer.
What is commonly used in herbaria? Perhaps some of the new archival inks and
papers for inkjet printers may outlast some photographs, but only time will
tell. Alternatively, you may include a CD with the digital files with the
herbarium sheets.

And regarding image viewing on computer screens: besides the adjustments on
individual screens, there is a big difference in gamma between Macs and PCs.
PC monitors tend to darken images, and Mac monitors tend to wash out colors.
There seems to be difficult (if not impossible?) to guarantee that the same
image will be displayed correctly on each and all computer screens.

Aloha,  Fabio

Fabio Moretzsohn
PhD Candidate
Department of Zoology
University of Hawaii
fmoretz at hawaii.edu