KROVETS-PRO standards for digitizing traditional art (hereinafter referred to as the “KROVETS-PRO Standards” or “Standards”) were developed by NGO “KROVETS” based on our experience in digitizing traditional art collections and on the needs of target audiences. In our publication “Responsible Collecting: Digitizing Collections”, we address the digitization process; however, without detailed requirements for each category of exhibits and without illustrative examples. KROVETS-PRO standards are designed to unify and detail the digitization process for each category of exhibits, and to provide specific requirements for the minimum number of photo-shots and the layout and appearance of each photo-shot for each category of exhibits.

The purpose of KROVETS-PRO Standards is to provide a true and fair in all significant respect visual photographic representation of exhibits from each category of traditional art ("digital copy") to meet the needs and expectations of the main groups of users of the photographic reproductions (target audiences).

Users (target audiences) are:

■ MUSEUMS/COLLECTORS - identify and describe their exhibits using photo reproductions

■ INTERESTED PARTIES/ RESEARCHERS - research traditional art using photo reproductions

■ CONTENT CREATORS - create their own content inspired by photo reproductions

■ PUBLISHERS/MANUFACTURERS of ethno/museum/souvenir/printing/handmade products - publish photo reproductions, make replicas of exhibits or their parts using photo reproductions

■ OTHER USERS - legally use photo reproductions of exhibits

Detailed description of the target audience and their needs in the publication “KROVETS Platform (chapters 7-8)”

The core principles of KROVETS-PRO Standards, necessary for creating a "digital copy" that provides a true and fair in all significant respect visual photographic representation of exhibits from each category of traditional art, are:

■ DIGITALIZATION IS A FORM OF PRESERVATION - digitization is a way of preserving physical exhibits, the quality of the "digital copy" is critical for preserving the exhibit, digitization cannot be done arbitrarily;

■ RELEVANCE - it is necessary to take so many photo-shots for each exhibit and choose such layouts so that, based on the photo reproductions, it is possible to see everything worth noting on it without physical contact with the exhibit;

■ COMPLETENESS – it is necessary to make mandatory “standardized basic photo-shots” for all exhibits of each exhibit category, by which the exhibits can be compared with each other, as well as “additional photo-shots” to capture everything unique and non-standard in each exhibit (this is the same as the need to have mandatory standardized fields for description and non-standardized fields for unique parameters to ensure a complete description of all parameters of the exhibit);

■ CONSISTENCY AND UNIFIEDNESS – photo reproductions of all exhibits must be consistent and unified, so that these photo-shots can be used to compare exhibits from different collections and museums without “readjusting the optics” (this is the same as the need to use standard thesauri for standardized fields, so that exhibits can be compared with each other using these fields);

■ RELIABILITY – based on the photo reproductions alone, it should be possible to fully and reliably describe the exhibit (fill in all standardized and non-standardized fields) on the website https://krovets.ua/en, or to correct inaccuracies in its description. The description of the exhibit must contain a reliable list of all existing parameters and characteristics of the exhibit, and all these parameters and characteristics must be visible on the photo reproductions;

■ SUFFICIENCY – based on the photo reproductions alone and the description, it should be possible to make a full-fledged replica of each exhibit in case of loss or damage to the physical original.

KROVETS-PRO standards for each category of exhibits contain the minimum required list of photo-shots and requirements for mandatory and conditionally mandatory (mandatory if a condition exists) photo-shots that must be taken to achieve the PURPOSE (a true and fair in all significant respect visual photo representation of exhibits from each category). Bare implementation of the rules may not be enough to achieve the PUROPSE, therefore, when determining how many and which photo-shots need to be taken for each exhibit, it is worth applying the core PRINCIPLES, which provide the true and fair in all significant respect visual photo representation of exhibits from each category to meet the needs and expectations of the main groups of users of photo reproductions (target audiences). Compliance with the core PRINCIPLES may require digitizers to apply professional judgment while choosing solutions that meet the needs of users.

KROVETS-PRO Standards regulate exclusively:

■ the minimum number of photo-shots required for a reliable visual representation for each group of exhibits

■ set up requirements for each photo-shot to ensure reliable visual representation of each group of exhibits

Applying KROVETS-PRO Standards is a mandatory prerequisite for publishing exhibits on the website https://krovets.ua/. KROVETS-PRO Standards can be used not only for the purpose of publishing digitized exhibits on the website https://krovets.ua/en, in which case it is worth assessing the appropriateness of KROVETS-PRO Standards to the purpose and context in which they are planned to be used.

Applying KROVETS-PRO Standards for other categories of exhibits is possible if KROVETS-PRO Standards ensure a reliable visual representation of such categories of exhibits.

KROVETS-PRO standards declare the minimum set of requirements to ensure a true and fair in all significant respect visual photographic representation of exhibits from each category of traditional art, and in no way limit the exceeding of these minimum requirements.

KROVETS-PRO standards do not regulate the image quality requirements for the photographic reproductions - we recommend applying existing guidelines, in particular:

■ Metamorfoze

■ FADGI

NGO "KROVETS" will respectfully consider any comments and recommendations regarding KROVETS-PRO Standards. Please send your comments and recommendations to the addresses listed in the CONTACTS section and: krovets@hotmail.com.

All rights to KROVETS-PRO Standards belong to NGO "KROVETS". KROVETS-PRO Standards are intended for free public use. When reposting, it is mandatory to indicate the official title of the Standards "KROVETS-PRO" and post the full text of the Standards, or each particular Standard.