Cropping an Indexed Image

FaithHamm

As I am indexing the thought came to me, is there any way to crop an indexed image so that there is not of lot of background from when it scanned? If not, could it be an option? With someone cropping an image I also realize that someone may make the image smaller than what it should be so an undoing of the cropped image along with the ability to re-crop the image would be a great feature too. Just a thought and idea that I passing along.

Thanks in advance,

Faith

KLaRRees

We do not believe that we can crop an indexing image. Those who digitize the images are very careful not to add too much background so that the images are easier to read and use. We can use the + and - in the tools to help bring the images closer or further away. If you still feel that that cropping would be useful - I would copy this and put it in the "Suggest an idea" up in the top of the Community page.

Paul W

@FaithHamm

Are you saying that whilst you were indexing the idea mentioned suddenly came to mind? As I don't take part in indexing I'm not sure if part of the process involves making adjustments to the images, or if you are only ever expected to use the image to record the details it contains.

Once indexed, any linked image should usually be available for the FamilySearch user to download, after which they can adust / crop the image as they wish. Perhaps you could describe what you are requesting here by adding a little more detail in how you are encountering this situation.

Susan Ann Mullen

There may be issues with contracts if indexers start saving documents to their computer while indexing. Some of the records we index are intended for archive storage or have other restrictions placed on them due to contractual obligations.

Melissa S Himes

Hi Faith! What project are you working on? Do you have a batch you can share so that others can better understand what your idea is about? To share an image (Batch), you need to provide the batch code and/or the URL link. The batch code is the series of letters/numbers in brackets following the project title.

I have never noticed that the images would benefit from being cropped, but, it could be a certain collection that has some problems.

As Anne mentions, the agreement that we made with FamilySearch does not allow us to save documents as well as a variety of other scenarios:

"We grant you a limited license to use images of historical records that you view for indexing via the FamilySearch indexing website (the “Images”). You may use the Images only as displayed on the FamilySearch indexing website, and you agree not to attempt to copy, distribute, re-post, e-mail, decrypt, or otherwise use the Images except as permitted and controlled by the FamilySearch indexing website. You agree not to use screenshot technologies of any kind to bypass any access controls or digital rights management features of the Images except as permitted above."

Here is a link to the Agreement we all make with FamilySearch when we begin to index:

https://www.familysearch.org/indexing/terms

FaithHamm

This is sort of what I was referring two but it had only 1 image per page. Sorry this came out huge. This the area of the entire scanned image. This image came from US, New York—Military Discharge Records, 1865–1946[M3Q7-XX2]

The reason I was asking this question and or was making a suggestion idea is because when you go from page 1 to 2, is that you are having to keep adjusting the pages up and down because page 1 is at bottom and page 2 is at the top. When I cropped the images it shows that I did not take away from any part of the image itself as to leave extra on the side to how that the original image is still intact itself. I am not sure how large or small the images themselves were before they scanned.

Thank you for taking your time looking at these examples and listening to me thought.

Faith

This is the original image of Page 1 is approximately 5 1/2 x 7.

This the cropped image of page 1 is approximately 3/12 x 4

This is the page that goes with this image:

Page 2 original is approximately 5 1/2 x 4 1/2.

This the same image cropped of page 2 is approximately 3 1/2 x 3

John Empoliti

Hi @FaithHamm

Maybe I'm missing your point, but I'm not sure what cropping will do that zooming and panning won't to help your indexing efficiency. The original and the reference images can be adjusted independently - including inverting, zooming, panning, etc. Here, with the thumbnails showing at the bottom is, a similar batch displayed for indexing from both images at once - reference images are on the right. Effectively you are "cropping" it by zooming in far enough to be readable. And you may need to pan each image and zoom in and out as you progress through the fields in an entry to expose the portions of the images you need to see for indexing a given field. You would need to do this even if you could crop them. I'm not sure what cropping would buy you.

FaithHamm

I believe that getting or scanning all of the images at either the top or bottom of the page was the idea or the thought of cropping of an image would have helped. This was only a thought or idea or suggestion that I had, that was all.

Thank you everyone for giving me some perspective on this, it truly has been helpful.

Faith