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Photograph Policy Update Cover Letter

Dear Colleagues:

Enclosed is an updated National Register Photographic Policy as currently proposed by the National Park Service. A single-sheet Digital Photography Specifications Checklist is also enclosed. Please note that the specifications included in both of these documents are fully consistent with current National Archives photographic standards.

We ask that you start utilizing the updated policy on an interim basis as soon as possible, and provide our office with any comments you may have about it based on that experience no later than October 31, 2008. Final implementation of the updated policy incorporating appropriate suggestions based on user input is currently scheduled for January 2, 2009.

The enclosed Digital Photography Specifications Checklist summarizes the updated National Register photographic requirements for digital images media, including use of CD-R Gold or DVD-R Gold, image size, and labeling. As noted, digital images must either be shot and recorded as .tiff files, or shot in raw file format and converted to .tiff files.

Images shot in raw file format can be converted to .tiff files in a variety of ways, using Adobe Photoshop, proprietary software that is normally included with a camera when purchased, or free “shareware” available through the internet (e.g. via Coolutils.com; download.com, Oriens-RAWConverter and Stepok-RAW-Importer; wizards.de; irfanview.net; nchsoftware.com).

Please note that the information provided above and in the enclosed checklist concerning specific products and /or manufacturers is not intended to be comprehensive, nor should it be taken as an endorsement by the National Park Service of those products and/or manufacturers. Rather, it is a sampling of some of the more readily available combinations currently known to meet the minimum standards of the updated National Register Photographic Policy as proposed. Similar products that can be demonstrated to meet these same minimum specifications are also acceptable.

Please forward you comments or questions regarding the updated policy by October 1, 2008, to Alexis Abernathy at:
1201 I “Eye” St. NW, Mail Stop #2280, Washington, DC 20005;
(Phone: 202-354-2236; e-mail: alexis_abernathy@contractor.nps.gov)

We look forward to receiving your comments.

Sincerely,

J. Paul Loether
Chief, National Register of Historic Places and
National Historic Landmark Programs

Enclosure