Image Permanence Institute

IPI News

New Poster: Knowing and Protecting Motion Picture Film

This large poster (47" x 35") takes the viewer through the fascinating history of motion picture film materials. Using microscopy-imaging techniques, this poster features the striking characteristics of twelve distinct film materials from the silent era to present day. It features a time-line of motion-picture technology, a wide variety of motion picture film processes, tips for material identification, and basic knowledge on film formats and soundtracks. Also included is practical advice for film examination, a glossary of technical terms, and critical information needed for long-term preservation. Most notably, this poster is seen as an educational tool for understanding and ultimately preserving motion picture film materials.

Click for enlarged views of the poster.

Published by the Image Permanence Institute and developed with contributions from recipients of the both the AMIA Image Permanence Institute Internship in Preservation Research Award and recipients of the Image Permanence Institute L. Jeffrey Selznick School of Film Preservation Internship Award.

Order your poster today!

IPI Awarded Major Sustainability Grant

The Image Permanence Institute at Rochester Institute of Technology has received a $580,174 grant for a major research project dealing with sustainable preservation practices in libraries. The grant comes from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), a federal agency.

Many libraries maintain tightly controlled, energy-intensive environments for their stacks, special collection, and exhibition spaces. For budgetary reasons and because of concern over global climate change, libraries are searching for ways to lower energy consumption responsibly and safely. This project will investigate a promising method for libraries to achieve significant reductions in energy use without compromising the preservation quality of collection environments through a carefully monitored and risk-managed shutdown of air handling units (AHUs) during unoccupied hours. Five prestigious libraries all across the USA will partner with RIT to help determine through actual experiment and documentation whether it is feasible to save energy in this manner. Read More

Care and Identification of 19th-Century Photographic Prints is now available!

Care & Identification of 19th-Century Photographic Prints has been out of print for five years, but demand for this educational, popular text has remained high. Used copies have sold on the web for as much as $400! IPI is happy to bring you a new printing of the original publication for $60.

This book contains everything one needs to:

approximately date a print
correctly catalog by print type
provide a safe enclosure
recognize forms of deterioration
store, handle, and display prints safely
manage the preservation of a large collection
deal knowledgeably with a professional conservator

Order soon – this is a limited run! Order your copy online today.

Graphics Atlas is Now Available

Graphics Atlas is a new online resource that brings sophisticated print identification and characteristic exploration tools to archivists, curators, historians, collectors, conservators, educators, and the general public. Initial development of this resource began in 2006.

Graphics Atlas has two central web applications. The print identification application guides you through a concise set of representations that replicate the experience of identifying prints using common tools (i.e., a loupe and simple stereomicroscope). A second application, the Object Explorer, allows you to browse and compare traits across processes using a set of 18 views made with various lighting techniques and magnifications. Characteristics including size, format, color, texture, sheen, and layer structure are explored logically. The Graphics Atlas contains additional web pages devoted to the history of printing technologies expressed through text, images, and diagrams.

Visit www.graphicsatlas.org to start exploring prints.