Image Archive
Our repository of images of the state revenue stamps we collect
About
The SRS Image Archive is our central place to deposit, store, and organize images of the state revenue stamps we collect. The images in the archive are used in the SRN, catalog, our website, or other publications.
Members can upload scans of their stamps to add to the archive. The ability of members to view images in the Archive will come at a later point.
Uploading Scans
Upload your scans of state revenues to the SRS Image Archive using this Google form. Please read the scanning standard below before uploading.
Upload Scans to the SRS Image Archive
These scans are essential to our release of a new edition of the State Revenue Catalog, and we value every submission!
Scanning Standard
Scans provided to archive should be in the style described below. Our standard gives our images a consistently high level of quality, suitable for publication in print or across digital platforms.
Resolution
Scans should have a resolution of at least 600 DPI. This high resolution is needed since these images are the source for any print or web work.
While 300 DPI is a good resolution for most print work, 600 DPI lets one see more details and allows for enlargements for print to show defining characteristics.
600 DPI is a floor; members may continue to scan at higher resolutions (e.g., 800 or 1000 DPI) and submit those.
File Format
The SRS prefers TIFF files with lossless or no compression. Setting your image scanning program to output TIFF files should be sufficient.
JPEG, on the other hand, is a type of lossy compression. This means image information is discarded when saving a JPEG, which can distort the scan’s details.
TIFF files may be a bit larger, but they’re better for editing. An editor can crop and transform the scans without fear of distorting the underlying image.
For these reasons, both the Smithsonian Institution Archives and Library of Congress recommend TIFF as the preferred preservation format for still images.
Appearance
Scans should have a black background. We suggest using a black cardstock when scanning.
The image should be at least 10% wider and 10% taller than the scanned stamp. That is, the black background should extend at least 5% from each side of the stamp. This margin gives the stamp room to breathe and lets its details stand out.
Scans don’t have to be perfectly cropped when submitted to the archive, but should provide enough imagery such that we could present the stamp nicely with some editing. Our Catalog Editor doesn’t mind cropping large margins, rotating, and centering, if needed.
Examples
Note that the above examples are rescaled for web use, simply to illustrate proper margins. They are not the original TIFF files. For some sample TIFF uploads to the archive, please examine the following (noting the difference in detail available at higher DPI):
| Link | Resolution | File size |
|---|---|---|
NY-ST165b-1200DPI.tif
|
1200 DPI | 7.0 MB |
NY-ST165b-600DPI.tif
|
600 DPI | 2.6 MB |
Previously Scanned Collections
We understand that some members may have previously scanned their collection in a way that doesn’t meet the SRS Image Archive standard. If rescanning these would be prohibitively time-consuming, we will accept noncomplying scans, as something is better than nothing.
Of course, all new scans should be in the preferred format: at least 600 DPI TIFF files on a black background with a 5% margin in all dimensions.