Get into the game with Opus! Long have the complexity and high startup and operating costs of digitization projects kept most libraries, museums and archives on the sidelines. Opus leverages today's high-performance, low-cost computers to obliterate those barriers with its paint-by-numbers digitization system that produces the highest quality digital collections possible at less than 1/3 historic startup and operating costs. In as little as one day, Digital Library Systems Group (DLSG) installation and training staff will leave you with a fully operational digitization system. Follow up training sessions via the Web ensure that your staff is producing multiple beautiful digital books per day in no time, complete with hierarchical metadata.
With the new low prices and high-performance of the latest book scanning hardware, complete digitization labs are surprisingly affordable.
The digital archives that Opus creates can be accessed without proprietary software. Using its Compose Collection and Create Collection capabilities, Opus can create an unlimited number of digital collections in nearly unlimited formats (derivatives) any time in the future. Simply select the desired volumes and data formats and let Opus create your collection(s) unattended overnight.
Opus' automated data migration facility makes it easy to transfer multiple copies of your digital archive to new media every three to five years, ensuring that no data is ever lost. In addition, during data migration, Opus will automatically convert from outdated data formats to any new standards that might emerge in the future.
The Define stage locks object-level metadata to each volume prior to scanning via a barcode tracking sheet that is kept with the volume. The scan operator simply scans the tracking sheet, then the volume. Metadata templates can also be selected in this stage.
The Scan stage supports virtually every type of scanner at the highest quality possible, including ultra-large scanners that produce ultra-large, multi-gigabyte images.
The first Opus Archive stage automatically archives raw, unmodified images prior to any image treatment. Image treatment can be performed at any time in the future with different parameters and new algorithms.
The Automatic Image treatment stage can determine book skew, create consistent margins, eliminate book curve, fan and gutter, and smooth backgrounds. Opus Image treatment functions are not limited by file size.
The Manual Image treatment stage provides for careful, quick review of each image for scan quality and autoimage treatment results. Bad scans are flagged for rescan, and image treatment problems are corrected with its very easy, efficient graphical interface.
Archive stage automatically archives images treated by the prior two stages. Multiple versions of treated images can be maintained.
The Automatic metadata capture stage captures metadata that was specified in the metadata template, stores it in a nonproprietary XML format and passes it to the Manual Metadata Entry stage.
This stage provides an intuitive hierarchical graphical interface for entering the metadata specified in the object's template, from object level to page and sub-page level, with an unlimited number of elements at each hierarchical level.
The third and final Opus Archive stage automatically archives the captured and keyed metadata in a non-proprietary format. Whenever objects are output by the Compose and Create stages, the metadata is transformed to the desired output format.
stage allows unlimited numbers of digital collections to be exported repeatedly with different image and metadata specifications. Each digital collection can include any number of objects from the archive. Format, size, clarity and metadata can vary widely.
This stage provides unattended output of entire digital collections comprising many volumes. Since image resizing, etc. can be very time intensive, this stage can be performed overnight.
Opus takes the tedium out of image treatment by providing users with an interface that is wholly dedicated to processing images for archive, preservation and access. Even problem images can be fully processed in seconds. Prior to manually reviewing and adjusting images, Opus performs image treatment functions automatically. If any automatic image treatment function requires additional adjustment, Opus allows the user to graphically 'assist' Opus and make adjustments in seconds.
Automatic image treatment removes skew, adjusts the border, and eliminates fan and gutter. The treated image may be further refined by manual treatment.
Book curvature produced from scanning tightly bound books may be realigned using Opus' sophisticated book curve correction tool. Text and photos are returned to their original alignment and orientation.
Opus allows for the output of a large variety of derivatives. Controlling threshold optimizes the clarity for each type of derivative which, in turn, produces the highest quality image for that output request.
Artifacts of all types may be removed from an image while retaining the underlying variations in shading. Fingers, blemishes, stains or even handwritten notes may all be removed to produce an image that closely resembles the original. Opus enables you to publish both the treated and untreated image.
Photostats and negatives are easily inverted revealing an otherwise unreadable document.
Content Stabilization is a general term for automatic and manual varieties of image treatment that can be performed during or after scan time with the purpose of producing clean, clear and consistently formatted digital images.
Book curve, skew, fan, gutter and black edges are automatically adjusted to render clean, consistent margins of uniform size and text position for a clean, professional look.
Content Stabilization is typically applied automatically in batch after scan time and includes features like:
One or more of the image treatment features above can be applied to a single image, to selected images, or all the images in a given batch. Manual Content Stabilization allows users even more precise control of the image treatment listed above and can be applied to one, many or all images in the same group.
Opus' hierarchical metadata capture is controlled by templates that can be created and modified to fit virtually any requirements. Input field characteristics include :required/optional, repeatable/one occurrence only and other characteristics that can be specified when templates are constructed of modified. Opus provides several generic templates to capture the data necessary to create virtual library output formats.
Opus provides a straightforward graphical interface for creating and modifying hierarchical templates. The templates carry the characteristics of XML elements and attributes. Data entry rules such as required/optional and single/multiple can be assigned to each field. During metadata capture and entry, Opus enforces the rules, thus simplifying metadata entry and reducing errors.
In addition, the Opus hierarchical metadata input facility allows users to scroll back and forth through the images of an object (e.g. pages of a book ) while reviewing and entering metadata.
Composing collections couldn't be easier. Select the digital volumes that comprise the desired digital collection in minutes with Opus Collection Composer. Simply name the collection and begin adding objects by browsing the digital archives managed by Opus. A simple click of the mouse adds a volume to the collection.
Digital archives are reusable assets, especially when managed by Opus. Once you have created your archive, you can use it anytime to compose and automatically create new and different collections, course curriculum materials, etc. Online digital content and print-on-demand add to the many digital formats.
Opus has a library of script files for common XML, flat file and other output formats for the metadata and associated images of digital objects (e.g. METS, MODS, Dublin Core).This script library is expandable with an unlimited number of custom formats. In addition to selecting the desired output format(s) for the metadata , the clarity , size and output formats of the images can be specified (e.g TIFF, JPEG, PDF, PNG, etc.).
DLSG staff technicians can assist in modifying existing formats and creating new custom output formats.
The most exciting and immediately usable format that Opus creates is a Web-ready output that provides the experience of browsing the virtual stacks, selecting a digital book, opening it and turning the pages, as through the printed book were in front of you.
One of Opus' most popular file format outputs of the images is PDF and PDF/A. Opus Image Treatment function publishes PDF images with consistent sizes. When coupled with Opus metadata output the PDF is presented with bookmarks hyperlinked to the section within the images, making content search extraordinarily easy. Opus' OCR function adds full text search giving the user the ultimate search tool.
* CONTENTdm is a trademark of OCLC SharePoint is a trademark of MicroSoft Corporation DSpace is a trademark of Massachusetts Institute of Technology PDF and PDF/A are trademarks of Adobe Systems Inc.