Art Digitization

What I Digitize

Art digitization transforms high-quality images into smart digital files versatile, organized, and future-ready.

Paintings and Fine Art

Professional, color-managed photography of paintings, drawings, prints, photographs, and mixed-media artworks. The workflow is designed to preserve visual detail, tonal relationships, and color accuracy while producing files suitable for archival reference and high-quality reproduction.

Sculptures and Three-Dimensional Objects

Detailed photography of sculptures, ceramics, decorative objects, jewelry, and other three-dimensional works. Multiple views and specialized capture methods can be used to document form, materials, surface details, and inscriptions.

Antiques and Historical Objects

Careful imaging and documentation of antiques, coins, medals, historical artifacts, and collectible objects. Each item can be connected to its identification record and available supporting documentation.

Rare Books, Manuscripts, and Documents

High-resolution imaging of rare books, historical documents, maps, letters, certificates, and manuscripts, using appropriate supports and handling procedures.

Complete Private Collections

For collections containing hundreds or thousands of items, I establish a consistent digitization workflow covering inventory, photography, metadata, file organization, quality control, and delivery.

A Structured Digital Archive

Professional images become more valuable when they are organized and connected to the information that identifies each object.
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I create a consistent digital structure that helps you locate individual items, retrieve supporting documents, and maintain an organized record of your collection.

Museum-Informed Technical Photography

My experience working with cultural institutions informs the standards and procedures I bring to private collections.

I use professional medium-format digital photography, color-managed workflows, specialized lighting, and appropriate capture techniques according to the characteristics of each object.

High-resolution imaging
Detailed master images for documentation, reproduction, and archival use.

Color-managed photography
Controlled lighting, color references, and calibrated displays to support consistent and accurate color reproduction.

Focus stacking
Combining multiple exposures when necessary to document intricate objects with greater depth of field.

Reflectance Transformation Imaging (RTI)
Interactive examination of surface details under changing virtual illumination, particularly useful for selected reliefs, inscriptions, and textured surfaces.

UV and infrared imaging
Specialized imaging for selected examination and research requirements.

Photogrammetry
Multi-view photography for creating three-dimensional models when appropriate to the collection and project objectives.

Not every object requires every technique.
I select the appropriate method according to the material, condition, intended use, and level of documentation required.

Item Identification and Metadata

Each item can be assigned a unique reference number and connected to descriptive information, including:

Artist or maker
Title or object name
Date or period, where known
Materials and techniques
Dimensions
Description and keywords
Image filenames and related documents
Digitization information and agreed usage rights

Existing information can be incorporated into the archive, with missing or unverified details identified rather than assumed.

Certificates and Supporting Documents
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Relevant certificates, invoices, provenance records, condition reports, and other documents supplied by the collector can be linked to the corresponding item.
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This creates a more complete digital record and reduces the need to search across unrelated folders, paper files, and separate databases.

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A Digital Collection You Can Access and Use
Depending on the size and requirements of your collection, the completed archive can be delivered as an organized file structure, a searchable database, or a dedicated digital interface.
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The objective is to make your collection’s digital records practical to use, not simply to store them.
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Possible solutions include:
An organized archive of master images, derivatives, and documents.
A searchable inventory connected to individual items.
An image-based digital asset interface.
Access to high-resolution images and related files.
A private digital catalogue for collection review and research.
Selected digital presentations for galleries, advisors, exhibitions, or publications.

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For collectors who require additional functionality, I can help develop a tailored digital solution around the collection’s workflow and privacy requirements.

How the Process Works

01. Collection Assessment
We discuss the collection, its size, object types, existing documentation, priorities, and intended uses. This establishes the appropriate scope and level of detail.
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02. Digitization Plan
I define the imaging methods, inventory structure, metadata fields, file formats, quality-control requirements, and delivery arrangements.
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03. Professional Photography
Each item is photographed using the agreed technical workflow. Additional views and specialized imaging are included where required.
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04. Documentation and Organization
Images are connected to their item records, descriptive information, and available supporting documents. Files are named and organized consistently.
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05. Quality Control
The delivered files and records are checked against the agreed requirements for image quality, completeness, identification, and organization.
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06. Digital Archive and Delivery
You receive the agreed digital assets, documentation, and archive structure, with optional storage arrangements, training, and digital access solutions.

Strategic Benefits to the Collertors

investing in this level of digitization provides returns in three specific areas:

Preservation & Risk Mitigation
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‍Digital Substitution: By creating a "Digital Twin" with forensic accuracy, the need for physical retrieval of the object is reduced by up to 80%. Researchers can answer questions regarding condition, text, and technique using the digital file.
‍Condition Reporting: The Gigapixel and UV/IR files serve as a "state of record." Future damage or degradation can be measured against this baseline with pixel-level precision.
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Academic & Curatorial Authority
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New Discoveries: Computational imaging (RTI/IR) frequently reveals details invisible to the naked eye—faded signatures, erased text, or tooling marks—generating new scholarship and publishing opportunities for the Museum.
‍Global Access: Publishing FADGI-compliant images establishes the Museum as a leader in open access, attracting international attention and scholarly collaboration.
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Revenue & Sustainability
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Licensing: 100MP+ Hasselblad files allow for premium licensing (billboards, high-end art books) that standard DSLR captures cannot support.
‍Print-on-Demand: Gigapixel resolution allows for the creation of "life-size" or "macro-detail" prints for the museum shop, creating a new revenue stream.
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George Shahda

Art Collection Digitization for Collectors

Professional Imaging. Structured Documentation.
Long Term Digital Value.

More Than Photography

Discuss Your Collection

Professional Art Photography

Gigapixel image, ultra high resolution

Advanced Editing & Color Correction

Advanced Metadata Tagging

On Location photography

Explore every angle

Advanced Editing

360 Degree Photography

What I Digitize

Complete Private Collections