Digitization Project: Conversion of TIFF files to PDF  for web

Purpose: As part of the yearbook digitization project archival TIFF images must be converted to .pdf format for delivery in a web environment.  File size is many times smaller and supportable.   A parent file will be created and then sections extracted to deliver efficiently.  Bookmarks will be added to assist patron navigation and photographs identified for showcasing as .jpf files on the web site.

Create parent PDF from multiple TIFF files

Open Adobe Acrobat 7.0

• Keep a log as you process each year. Include the following information:
  • Start time of your session
  • Size of full .pdf file
  • Number of images for yearbook
  • Length of time it took for:
    • assembly process
    • file save
    • extraction process
    • individual image extractions
• Under file menu select "Create .pdf from multiple files"
• Browse to files in "Finished Books" on K:Kirtas Scans drive for next year of files to convert
• Highlight (use shift control keys) all the tiff files that make up the pages of the yearbook.
• Note number of pages
• Click Add
• Check to be sure all pages were added
• Click OK; files will now be assembled.
• Each tiff file is about 25 MB so this step will take 20 to 40 minutes, depending on how many pages are in the yearbook. 
• Once pages finish assembling, click save.
• Name the parent file [year].pdf and save in the "PDF converted Scans" folder under K:Kirtas Scans

   

Create Outline of Table of Contents

Tip: If you first open the file folder to view the thumbnails outside the application, you can work on identifying the first page of the different sections of the yearbook for the table of contents (presented on the web) while waiting for the assembly process to finish. [Ignore if parent pdf already created]

Sections generally are:

• Front matter and dedication
• Administration and Faculty
• Seniors
• Juniors
• Sophomores
• Freshman
• Activities
• Advertisements
• Index

Use form provided to keep track of pagination for the various sections and the 30page pdf files you have created.  You may find that the section headings above do not lend themselves to every yearbook.  Match as best you can.  If no meaningful match, look for a table of contents in the yearbook in hand and follow it.  See for example 1996.

TIP: While browsing the thumbnails to identify pagination for each section, also keep an eye out for interesting pages to consider extracting for images to use on the web site. Try to keep a mix of activities, ads, persons, etc. in mind.  Watch for notable historical events (WWII in the forties for example).

Break parent file into deliverable segments

• Open Adobe Acrobat from icon on workstation desktop
• Open K: PDF converted scans folder and look for year subfolder you want to segment
• Double Click the parent file and it should open in Acrobat

Tip: Keep both the Acrobat application and a files view of your work open on the desk top.  The files view will provide you with file size information that you will log on your table of contents sheet for each segment that you extract and save as a separate file for web server access..

• Click pages tab or icon on side of screen to activate the thumbnail navigation display.
• In Options pulldown select "Extract files"
• In dialogue box that pops up select 1 and last page for section to extract. (examples: 1 to 30, 31 to 60, 61 to 90, etc.)
• A new file will automatically be created of the extracted pages while the original file remains intact. Note: 30 pages is roughly 15mb so most yearbooks will consist of 7-8 sections of numbered pages. NOTE: a 400 page yearbook may require as many as 12-14 sections.
• Bookmarking: if a table of contents section or sections of the yearbook begins in the 30 page segment (eg. Seniors) create a bookmark as follows:
  • Scroll to the page where the yearbook section begins to highlight
  • Click the Bookmark tab or icon on the left-hand side of the Acrobat screen display
  • Under options pulldown select new bookmark
  • In resulting box key in title of bookmark (eg. Seniors)
  • Click to confirm bookmark creation
• Save file as [year_1to30.pdf] etc. in a subfolder in the "Converted PDF Scans" folder with the name, "[year] and chunks."
• After all segment files have been created, extract selected individual pages for web site images.
  • Scroll to page identified for potential showcase in web site
  • Dialog box will display the single page number
  • Under File menu select "save" as and browse to the S:Kirtas/Yearbook images subfolder.
  • Use year of yearbook as prefix for description file name (eg. 1945_WingateFire)
  • Choose the .jpg format option from the pulldown under the file TYPE.
  • Place in year labeled subfolder under "Converted PDF Scans" on the K:drive OR in the "Yearbook images" subfolder in S:Share/Kirtas so the jpegs will then be available for editing outside the scanning lab.
  • Click OK to confirm save
• Keep a log on the form provided as you process each year. Include the following information:
  • Start time of your session
  • Size of full .pdf file
  • Number of images for yearbook
  • Length of time it took for:
    • assembly process
    • file save
    • extraction process
    • individual image extractions
• Send Sharon an update on progress with a cc: to Jessica.
  • Sharon will then copy sectioned files to the Content folder on Library 17 for public access
  • Jessica will know the TIFF files are no longer needed and move them off the workstation to the external hard drive for storage

Contact Us | Revised: 12/23/2011

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Created by: Library Staff | Revised: 12/23/2011