Annotating Images with a Smartphone App

Purpose

The smartphone/tablet app Notability was used to facilitate documentation and labeling during a large-scale paintings collection survey. Each painting was photographed with the smartphone/tablet camera, imported into Notability, and annotated with a color-coded key to indicate major types and levels of damage. These annotated images were then incorporated into an existing documentation database. Print-outs of the annotated images were attached to wrapped paintings as caution labels, alerting anyone handling the paintings to the most vulnerable areas. This proved to be an efficient way to create on-the-fly condition notes and produce a quick visual reference for future conservators. This method could easily be adapted for triage in disaster response situations, large-scale surveys across multiple storage locations, or anytime there is a need for labels cautioning handlers about an object’s condition.

Authors

Stephanie Gowler
Project Conservator
Northwestern University Library
1970 Campus Drive Evanston, IL 60208
847-467-4469
stephanie.gowler@northwestern.edu

Susan Russick
Special Collections Conservator
Northwestern University Library
1970 Campus Drive Evanston, IL 60208
847-491-3840
susan-russick@northwestern.edu

Publication: 2016

Description

1. Take photograph of object using smartphone or tablet.
2. Open Notability app and create a new note.
3. Import photo of object.
4. Add a caption to the photo with identification number.

Import photo and add a caption with identifying information.

5. Import custom-designed key into the same note, placed just below image of object.

Custom “stoplight” key for type and severity of damage.

6. Use the pencil and highlighter tools to annotate the image.

Choose pencil or highlighter tool, select size and color, and draw directly on image with finger to mark areas of damage.

7. Export completed note as PDF, either via email or cloud storage account.

Completed note may be exported and saved as a PDF.

8. Upload PDF into object record in documentation database.

Annotated image is uploaded into documentation database alongside other treatment photography.

9. Print color copy of PDF and attach to object housing.

Print-out of annotated image is attached to wrapped painting alongside identification label.

Materials, Tools & Supplies

Smartphone/tablet
Color printer
Page protector sleeve
Packing tape

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