Make & keep
Include a scale in a research photograph
Document size without laying a ruler over a portrait.
A useful research image records the object’s proportions as well as the faces.
Make a complete-object view
Place a suitable scale beside the strip on a stable surface without obstructing or stressing it. Capture from a position that minimises perspective distortion. Record the units and take an additional overall view if packaging matters. Preserve the master with the reference visible, even if a display crop later removes it.
Evidence: Preservation guidance
Keep measurement separate from appearance
Measure the original safely where possible and enter the result in the catalogue. A resized screen image cannot establish the physical dimensions on its own. State when a dimension is approximate or taken from a reproduction, rather than presenting the display size as the original object’s measurement.
Sources & further reading
Sources for the specific facts and product descriptions above. Our worked examples, interpretations and practical suggestions are original editorial guidance.
- US National Archives — digitising family archivesPreservation guidance