Transcribing Scanned Source

What Do I need to know before I start transcribing?

Transcribing from the scanned images is very similar to transcribing from the original film, and there are just a few administrative points that you need to be aware of. If you are new to transcribing you might want to read Information for New Transcribers first. Experienced and new transcribers may like to take advantage of some hints and tips which will enable you to make the most of the scanned images.

Please register with a Scan syndicate before starting to transcribe from the scans.
Only transcribe the pages allocated to you. If you do other pages you are simply duplicating somebody else's effort.
Read and understand the file naming conventions.
Report any pages which are badly or incorrectly scanned to your Syndicate Coordinator without delay.
Contact your syndicate coordinator if you need any further assistance.

Scans can be downloaded from the following links:

Scans are provided ONLY for transcription purposes. Downloads are monitored, and excessive usage will result in access being withdrawn.

BIRTHS
MARRIAGES
DEATHS

Header Details and File Naming Conventions

The latest transcription software systems, WinBMD and FreeComETT, both automatically enter the Header Details, so this section is retained purely for explanation.

Header Details

Enter the part of the directory name immediately following the Month as the Scan/Source reference
The Scan/Source reference will begin with one of;

ACDB-
ANC-
DB-
EW-
Fiche-
JM-
LDS-
LOMEL-
MKL-
NFHC-
OFHS-
ONS-
UKC-
UKD-

Source Files

Files are stored with a name of the format 1837M3-A-C-0134x.gif (1837 Marriages, Quarter 3, Index A-C, Page 134)
Where the index covers the whole quarter, the initial letters from that page will be shown in place of the index range 1866M3-G-0134.tif
A few pages are scanned in two halves, in such cases the upper half is suffixed x and the lower half y. There should always be an overlap between the two halves.
In a very few cases the page may even be in 3 parts, suffixed x,y and z, or 4 parts, suffixed w,x,y and z
Where the original film is unevenly lit, it may have been scanned twice, using different contrast settings. The additional copies are suffixed -rescan. Once again, you should download all copies.
Note that whilst the page number used by FreeBMD is sometimes the same as the page number used on the original index page, many index pages are not numbered, and in many cases the numbering of the image files may not match the originals. In such cases, your allocations and file naming should match the file name, not the original page name
Files are produced in TIFF GIF and JPEG formats according to the format used by the originator of the scans

Data Files

Transcribers are recommended to use one of two recently-updated transcription methods, WinBMD and BMDVerify (for Microsoft Windows only) or FreeComETT (for all operating systems including Window, Mac and Linux). Details of these are included in the List of Transcription Software.

Hints on getting the best from the scanned images

Save the files on your local hard disk, and view them in a graphics package, rather than in your browser. This allows you to zoom in on the image, and to adjust it for better visibility. A suitable free graphics viewer for Windows - Irfanview - is available at http://www.irfanview.com.
If you have a high quality laser printer, it can sometimes be easier to read from a print of the file.
Using a graphics package to zoom in excessively can make transcribing more difficult. Always try looking at the image at a variety of resolutions.
Some pages benefit from adjusting the brightness and contrast.
Some pages are easier to view as a negative (white on black) image. Some images have been loaded as negatives for this reason.
Some parts of the image may be improved by use of the Sharpen or De-speckle functions.
Pages with very poor contrast are sometimes easier to read if colourized with a dark yellow or dark green tint.
Because of the speed at which images are scanned, it is possible that a particular image may not have been scanned at the ideal contrast level. If the image is very hard to read, email the Syndicate Coordinator to ask for the page to be re-scanned. Make sure you specify exactly which page requires re-scanning.

Information for New Transcribers (FAQ)

The items listed below are the questions I am most often asked. If you have additional points which you think should be here Email me

Q	A
What software do I need to download the scans?	Recent versions of WinBMD and FreeComETT will download your scans automatically once the relevant information has been entered. If you wish, you may also use your ordinary internet browser, and possibly a graphics package capable of reading `GIF`, `JPEG` or `TIFF` files. See the Hints and Tips for information about the sort of features your graphics package should have.
How big are the images?	Obviously the images vary in size, but most are about 1 MB in size.
What software do I need to transcribe the data?	Transcribers should use one of the two recommended transcription methods, WinBMD and BMDVerify (for Windows only) or FreeComETT (works with all operating systems as it uses the web browser already installed on your computer). See the List of Transcription Software.
How do I get my first allocation?	When you register with the syndicate, you will be allocated a page to transcribe and upload.
How do I get more allocations?	Your coordinator will tell you how to get more allocations when he sends you your first allocation.
How do I access the scans?	Click on the appropriate alphabetic range in the scan table or follow the instructions given by your co-ordinator.
What about entries that are hard to read?	If you have difficulty in reading some entries, you should read the information about representing uncertain characters on the Beginner's Help page. If you are transcribing from handwritten material, you may also find the page about reading Victorian handwriting useful.
What do I call my file?	The latest transcription software systems, WinBMD and FreeComETT, automatically create the correct file names.
What do I do with my file once I've transcribed it?	The latest transcription software systems, WinBMD and FreeComETT, are able to upload completed files to FreeBMD. In rare cases, you may need to upload the file. Contact your Syndicate Coordinator. Help on this process can be found in the Beginner's Help page.

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