Scanning

Bridgeman Images can work with our Content Partners to scan selections of their archive for reproduction.

We know that photo scanning quality can make the difference between a good reproduction of an image and a truly great reproduction, so at Bridgeman Images we offer a series of in-house and external scanning services for our Partners.

Hunters in the Snow (Winter), 1565 (oil on wood), Bruegel, Pieter the Elder (c.1525-69) / Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna, Austria / Bridgeman Images

With years of experience in handling and scanning content, our dedicated in-house Imaging Team is on hand to advise Partners on the best technology options for scanning works in your collection. All Partners have access to detailed guidance on our minimum scanning requirements for content, listing the file size, colour profile and format that we require for any new images being added to the Bridgeman database. We constantly review our file requirements to ensure that we are setting and exceeding industry standards on digital scanning.

Depending on the format and size of the original works being scanned, our imaging team will suggest either drum scanning or flatbed scanning:

Drum scanners continue to be the tool of choice for high-end film applications because they are capable of capturing very subtle details in film originals, producing exceptionally smooth tonal gradients.

Flatbed scanning produces excellent results both for reflective and transmissive works and offers impressive flexibility when scanning flat items.

Yellow, Red, Blue, 1925 (oil on canvas), Kandinsky, Wassily (1866-1944) / Musee National d'Art Moderne, Centre Pompidou, Paris, France / Bridgeman Images

The Imaging Team also scans content in-house where we have works held physically in our archives. Using state-of-the-art equipment we are able to respond quickly to client requests for larger, more detailed digital versions of works. The team is also able to retouch and colour correct scans, ensuring our clients have access to the highest quality digital files that can be reproduced across print, online and in television and film.

Bridgeman Images also works with experienced external digitisation teams and can recommend professional scanning services to you for managing your own digitisation project.

The Content Partnership Team will be happy to discuss scanning options with you to ascertain which service is best for you; our Imaging Team is always on hand to give advice and feedback on your own scans and to recommend best practice on creating the best possible quality images.

Venice at Dawn (oil on canvas), Easton, Timothy (b.1943) / Private Collection / © Timothy Easton. All Rights Reserved 2023 / Bridgeman Images
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