Represent an Original and Restored Photo in Omeka S
By ImgHeal · Updated
In Omeka S, an item can describe a physical photograph while attached media provide its digital views. Use this distinction to publish an untouched scan and a restored viewing copy without pretending they are two historical objects or one unchanged file.
Explore this topic: Share restored photos
Define the historical object
Give the physical print a stable identifier and describe its known provenance, date range, and uncertainty. Decide whether another print of the same portrait is a separate object with a different ownership history or inscription. Keep those distinctions in the source inventory before creating the online record. Omeka's item model supports relationships rather than requiring every digital file to become a separate object. Write a short local rule explaining what one photo item represents so contributors apply the model consistently.
Describe each attached representation
Attach the source scan and the accepted restoration as distinct media. Give them plain titles such as untouched front scan and restored viewing copy, including the object ID where useful. Add file-specific descriptions after upload, following the media workflow. Record which source produced the derivative and explain significant generated changes. Do not place the restoration's processing date into the historical scene-date field. Retain the source files in your archive outside the publication system so the website is not their only preservation location.
| Record role | Example | Keep distinct |
|---|---|---|
| Item | Physical print PH-0001 | Object history and identification uncertainty |
| Source media | Untouched front and back scans | Capture-specific information |
| Derivative media | Restored viewing JPEG | Editing disclosure and source relationship |
Review the public comparison
Open the item in a signed-out visitor view and inspect the media labels, order, source description, and rights note. Ask whether someone could download the restored file without recognizing that it was edited. Improve its accompanying description if necessary. Keep the original and derivative relationships readable when a gallery shows only one media item at a time. An ImgHeal result can support family viewing, but publication should not imply that its reconstructed face, writing, or color has been authenticated as part of the original photograph.
Check this workflow
- Define the physical object first.
- Label source and restored media separately.
- Review the comparison as a signed-out visitor.
Sources and further reading
- Omeka S: ItemsDocuments object records, linked resources, visibility, and site inclusion.
- Omeka S: MediaExplains attached files, descriptions, primary media, ordering, thumbnails, and media ownership.
Questions about this restoration task
Must I create a new historical item for every file export?
Not necessarily. Model the physical object and its digital representations deliberately; use separate item records when the objects or research meanings are actually different.
Continue with a related guide
Try a restoration on a copy of your photo
Keep the original scan. Upload a separate digital copy, review ImgHeal’s generated result, and decide whether it suits your needs.
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