Whether the requirement is FADGI 4-star or just ‘good,’ our goal as partners in the digitization process is to always ensure that clients receive the best image quality required for their project or from their scanner.

Dave Wescott, Crowley Sales Director, Imaging Services

Image Quality that Meets Today’s Digitization Standards

FADGI, ISO, Metamorfoze…
Crowley Imaging has Every Quality Standard Covered

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Corin van de Griek color target
Color targets are just one tool used to set and measure image quality.

For many years, the definition of image quality was highly subjective and a moving target (pun intended). To date, there is still not one single international standard, but there are several with comparable requirements. In 2007, edging closer to a common standard, U.S. federal government agencies began a collaborative effort to articulate “common sustainable practices and guidelines for digitized and born-digital historical, archival and cultural content.” This effort led to the creation of FADGI standards – a four-star ranking system. FADGI (Federal Agencies Digital Guidelines Initiative) is still a work in progress but is becoming the norm for any materials bound for the National Archives or the Library of Congress.

Crowley’s director of imaging services sales, Dave Westcott, notes that “The days of visual inspection are gone. Digitization standards such as FADGI take the guesswork out of scanner performance by using software programs to measure the final image against a set target quality.”

What is FADGI?

FADGI, which stands for the Federal Agencies Digital Guidelines Initiative, lays out technical standards to help keep digitized materials consistent and high-quality—basically a blueprint for preserving cultural heritage. These guidelines were designed so institutions can create digitized files that are not just good now but reliable for long-term storage and access.

The FADGI rating system uses a scale from one to four stars to measure image quality, factoring in things like resolution, color accuracy, and tonal reproduction. Hitting the higher star ratings shows you’re serious about creating digital files that are as true to the original as possible. FADGI compliance is a standard scale for anyone digitizing historical photos, manuscripts, or delicate archival records.

The Crowley Company is uniquely capable of meeting or exceeding nearly any quality standard parameter, including FADGI, for several reasons:

  1. Equipment. As a manufacturer and distributor of some of the most trusted names in scanning hardware, Crowley’s imaging services division has immediate access to the newest technology and highest-rated scanners in the industry. Noted brand names that can meet FADGI requirements include InoTec (documents), Mekel Technology (microfilm and microfiche), Qidenus (bound materials) and Zeutschel (bound, flat and large-format).
  2. Experience. Crowley’s imaging specialists are familiar with all print media types and sizes, ranging from glass plates to oversized architectural drawings and bound newspapers. Each operator is trained to accurately quantify and qualify image quality specific to the media type, the scanner type and the project requirements.
  3. Expertise. In addition to experienced scan operators, The Crowley Company has color accuracy and image specialists on staff. Working in concert with the Crowley R&D team and/or the complementary team at one of our scanner partners, these specialists bridge the gap between the scanner and final image, testing equipment against the required targets and collaborating with the manufacturing and software teams to coax the very best image quality from every scanner. The ability to work with-house manufacturing to quickly retrofit scanners to meet industry standards when possible is unique to The Crowley Company.

Making Digital Archiving Better with FADGI-Compliant Scanners

Scanning old photos, historical documents, maps, or other valuable stuff? Yeah, it’s a big deal. And to do it right, you need tools that meet the gold standard. Enter FADGI-compliant scanners—the high-quality workhorses built to help you preserve your materials for decades to come.

What Makes FADGI Such a Big Deal?

The Federal Agencies Digital Guidelines Initiative (FADGI)—a mouthful, right?—sets some pretty strict rules for image quality. It’s all about making sure the colors are spot on, the resolution is sharp enough to pick up fine details, and even those subtle shadows or light spots come through accurately. These guidelines are a big deal for museums, archives, government agencies, and private collectors who want their digital copies to last for the long haul.

Using a FADGI-compliant scanner isn’t just about following the rules—it’s about peace of mind. You know your digitized files are high quality, easy to share, and built to outlive trends in tech. Plus, showing you meet FADGI standards says, “We’re serious about this stuff.”

Why FADGI-Compliant Scanners Are the Real MVPs

Not every scanner can hit FADGI’s benchmarks—it’s kind of an exclusive club. FADGI-compliant scanners come with features that are perfect for preserving important materials:

  • High-Resolution Imaging: These scanners pick up every tiny detail so nothing important slips through the cracks.
  • Color Calibration: Colors stay accurate, which matters a ton for art, photos, and fragile docs where details make all the difference.
  • Consistent Quality: These machines go through serious testing to meet FADGI’s one-to-four-star rating system, depending on what level of precision your project needs.

Why Work with The Crowley Company?

The Crowley Company has been in the digitization game for years—they know what’s up. They provide FADGI-compliant scanners and offer digitization services tailored to whatever project you’ve got. Whether you’re working on something delicate, like historical papers, or tackling a bigger job, like digitizing entire archives, they’ve got you covered with the right tools and expertise.

How to Pick the Right Scanner for Your Job

Handling a small stack of documents or digitizing a roomful of materials? Choosing the right scanner is half the battle. The Crowley Company doesn’t just sell FADGI-compliant scanners—they’ll help you figure out which one fits your needs.

Their team combines years of experience with cutting-edge tech while staying locked into FADGI’s high standards. The result? Every project comes out as dependable and top-notch as you’d expect.

Is FADGI Quality Necessary?

Not every digitization project must meet FADGI or other imaging standards. It’s most often the end-use of the digitized collection that determines the image quality required. “As of right now,” says Westcott, “FADGI requirement is fairly specialized. It’s important to note that there are often additional costs involved due to the extra quality checks and scanner calibrations required. These may be unnecessary depending on how the collection will ultimately be utilized. Our goal as partners in the digitization process is to ensure that the client receives excellent image quality on every image regardless of a formal rating and to help them find cost-effective ways to manage their digitization project without sacrificing quality. ”

International Equivalents

We asked trusted German book scanner partner, Zeutschel GmbH, which manufactures several overhead and graphic arts scanners capable of consistently capturing FADGI four-star images, to provide a FADGI equivalent with other international imaging standards. Notes Wolf-Christopher Gramatte, Zeutschel’s head of international sales, “The quality standards for FADGI, ISO and Metamorfoze don’t request similar values for their rankings, so there is not an exact comparison. Generally speaking, the below information is a good approximation.”

• FADGI 4-star = ISO 19264-1 Level A = Metamorfoze Full
• FADGI 3-star = ISO 19264-1 Level B = Metamorfoze Light
• FADGI 2-star = ISO 19264-1 Level C = Metamorfoze Extra light

Learn more about FADGI

In 2018 Crowley ran a three-part blog series entitled, “What the FADGI %*#&!?” A quick read through the posts will enhance general knowledge, help aid understanding as to whether FADGI compliant scanners is right for your collection and give you the information needed to ensure that your chosen vendor can deliver images that consistently meet a FADGI rating. Always ask for project samples in advance to ensure compliance before awarding a contract.

For more information about imaging standards and the steps The Crowley Company takes to ensure image quality on both their manufactured scanners and in the digitization services bureau, call (240) 215-0224.

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