Process

Eight steps, in this order, every time. The only part that varies is how long the third one takes.

• Survey

  We come to the material. Extent, condition, formats, anything fragile, anything that must not leave the building. Half a day for most collections.

• Proposal

  Written, itemised, with a capture order and an honest note on what is not worth digitising. No charge, no obligation.

• Collection

  We pack and move it ourselves, in our own crates, and give you an itemised receipt before anything leaves. Material that cannot travel is captured on site.

• Preparation

  Unfolding, surface cleaning where it is safe, removal of rusted fastenings, and a condition note for anything already damaged. Nothing irreversible.

• Capture

  Flatbed, book cradle or copy stand depending on the item. Colour targets in frame at the start of each session; one operator per job.

• Quality control

  Every image checked against the original for completeness, orientation, focus and colour. Rejects are recaptured before the originals go back.

• Cataloguing

  Where instructed: item-level description, consistent file naming, and a sidecar CSV mapping files to items.

• Return

  Originals go back in their own order and boxes, against the same receipt. Files are delivered on two drives, posted separately.

Custody

While material is with us it is stored in a locked, alarmed room, and it is never subcontracted. If a job needs a capability we do not have — very large formats, badly degraded film — we will say so and name someone, rather than quietly sending your collection elsewhere.

Timescales

Survey to proposal

Within two weeks of the visit.

Small job

Under 2,000 images: three to four weeks from collection.

Typical job

2,000–20,000 images: two to four months, with the originals returned in batches if you need access to them meanwhile.

On-site work

Quoted by the day, including our own equipment and lighting.