Luna Imaging was established with funding from Kodak and the J.Paul Getty Trust to set the bar for imaging standards and has been a notable source for expertise and guidance to standards organizations, including the Commission for Preservation and Access (now part of CLIR), the Digital Library Federation and others.

Developed to meet the exacting requirements and unique challenges of digitizing cultural heritage materials, "The Luna Process" has become an industry recognized best practice approach for creating preservation quality digital reproductions of invaluable source objects.

The Luna Process

1) Inventory and Receipt of Deliverables
Luna begins with strict organizational policies and standards for all incoming projects. Materials are carefully received and compared on an individual basis to electronic data delivered by the client to insure accuracy of the shipment and clear up any discrepancies between data and materials. All materials are logged into Luna's production tracking system which is used to create a detailed "Receive Log" that is sent to the client before work begins. This information serves as the basis for tracking the images throughout subsequent steps in the Luna Process.

2) Image Capture
Luna employs an array of high end Fuji and Scitex scanners to complete the largest of imaging projects. From small collections to collections with hundreds of thousands of images, Luna's consistency and quality remain. Our state of the art scanning rooms are climate and environmentally controlled to maintain cleanliness and near dust free conditions. Scanning technicians maintain strict film handling procedures and all film is run through antistatic systems. Compressed air as well as electrostatic brushes supplement the process to ensure nearly dust free images.

3) Phase One Edit: Color Balance & "Dust Bust"
Professionally trained and Luna certified image technicians individually analyze images to determine proper color space and color balance. Images can be color matched to the original object or reproduction using targets within the scanned image or using the actual film. In cases where only a negative is provided, image technicians rely on expert training and experience to match images using discretion. All images are brought into strict RGB value ranges. In addition, images are analyzed for any remaining dust or other anomalies and meticulously and individually hand "dusted" in Adobe PhotoShop. No filters or other image degrading methods are used in the dusting process.

4) Phase Two Edit: Cropping / Sizing - Derivative Creation
Once the images are checked for proper orientation and quality control checked (QC'd) for color balance and dust removal, the images undergo cropping to client specifications (edge crop, crop to object, crop to content, or hairline crop.) At this stage, images can undergo client specified sharpening to produce master archives with fine detail and clarity. The resulting images are recorded to media and used as a basis for any client specified derivative image creation.

5) Batch and Write to Media, Update Management Data, Initial QC
File naming, directory organization, and management data are updated at this stage and master and derivative images are batched out as tiff's into groups for burning to CD or DVD media. Index prints are created which consist of full color thumbnails of all images on each disc, and index sheets are created linking client file name with thumbnail image number on the index print as well as recording the unique serial number of the disc. Images are then burned onto archive quality CD's or DVD's and packaged into cases containing the disc, index print, and index sheet. Completed discs undergo an initial QC at this stage as each disc is checked and images are opened individually to ensure successful write to media.

6) Final QC - Shipping
All images and discs undergo a final and comprehensive quality control check at this stage. Images are opened individually from the discs and checked for proper orientation, naming, color balance, and cropping. Index prints and index sheets are thoroughly checked for proper file names and contents. Packing lists are created as well as a comprehensive film return log with accompanying metadata which links unique ID's with CD batches and serial numbers. Original materials and discs are carefully packaged and returned to client.