VERY interesting issue, Allison. This brings all kinds of 21st-century questions to mind. Our mechanical answer to your question (and Frances Francis, correct me if I'm wrong) is that in the Media module, we created a Media Type called "a study image" to indicate the digital snapshot of the work of art. Also called "reference images," we then know that this image was not taken professionally or scanned at reproduction-quality resolution. However, just a few of the questions I think of are: 1. Do the 19 digital files have a value? Will you insure them? Can they be given an appraisal value for tax purposes on the gift? 2. Does the artist consider the digital file the "artwork," or the prints generated from them? Is the artist overseeing the print production or approving color balance, etc.? The definition of "original artwork," which has traditionally been defined as a work made by or under the direct supervision of the artist, comes into question here. Perhaps your exhibition prints should be handled in the same way as, for example, posthumous etchings from original plates or modern casts of ancient sculpture. 3. Will your production of prints from the digital files be limited, or editioned, in any way? If not, one could create and accession new objects indefinitely, so yes, I think it does matter. Laurie Hicks ________________________________ From: The Museum System (TMS) Users [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Smith, Allison Sent: Wednesday, July 27, 2005 4:40 PM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Cataloguing digital images, and surrogates made from original transparencies Dear TMS users - Our museum was recently gifted 19 digital images, which currently reside on our server (we scanned them from original slides, and returned the slides to the artist). I have assigned accession numbers to the digital scans, and am starting to catalogue these as digital images into TMS. Here's my dilemma. Printed surrogates of these images will be created, and likely used for exhibition purposes. We have a similar problem in that we own original transparencies, which I've catalogued as such into TMS, but we have had photographs made from these transparencies, which are being used for exhibition. I'm wondering how best to track these surrogates, and make sure that information about them makes sense for checklists and wall labels. I am thinking that I will need to create a separate TMS record for the surrogates, instead of linking them on the media tab (as one would most surrogates), since the data (medium, dimensions, object name) used for the checklist and wall label, should (logically) reflect the print facsimile, and not the original scan/transparency. However, the accession number for the gifted scan/transparency, should probably be used on the checklist/label...and not the number assigned to the facsimile/surrogate (does anyone have an opinion about this?). AARRGGHH! Has anyone ever had a similar situation? How did you deal with it in TMS? Does anyone think that instead of accessioning the digital scans, I should accession the first set of prints we make from them? (this doesn't seem right...but...does it really matter?) Thanks for any and all opinions, and advice. Allison .................................................................. .................................................................. the warhol: Allison A. Smith Collection Manager / Database Administrator 117 Sandusky Street Pittsburgh, PA 15212 T 412.237.8345 F 412.237.8340 E [log in to unmask] <mailto:[log in to unmask]> W www.warhol.org <http://www.warhol.org> W www.warholstore.com <http://www.warholstore.com> The Andy Warhol Museum One of the four Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh .................................................................. .................................................................. They always say time changes things, but you actually have to change them yourself -- Andy Warhol .................................................................. ..................................................................