Digital Philatelic Workshop

Al Gore, Compulatelist

The PDF (Portable Document Format) is now a de facto standard worldwide and there have been many benefits in using PDF. Now, with its widespread adoption, there are a number of programs available at little or no cost that take advantage of this format’s capabilities so this technology is available to all to use. This article will discuss PDF program uses applicable to stamp collecting.

Created by (Adobe), PDF is modeled after the PostScript language (a page description language) and is device- and resolution-independent. Documents in the PDF format can be viewed, navigated, searched, and printed from any computer as well as forwarded to any other computer.

PDFs retain their appearance, as it was created on the originator’s computer, on the destination computer using Adobe’s Acrobat Reader.

Microsoft has announced support for PDF in the next release of Microsoft Office but Microsoft has also announced a competitive format called Metro.

The net is, if you can print it, you can save it in the PDF format to lock in the appearance. Also, PDF files are usually smaller than the native file formats. The recipient also does not have to deal having any special fonts installed on their system to view it correctly.

A newsletter produced in Microsoft Publisher has a typical Publisher .pub file size anywhere from 10 MB to 25 MB depending on the graphics in the publication. A high quality PDF version of the newsletter is only 3 to 4 MB. File size can vary dramatically on the number and types of images and the settings for image compression.

An additional advantage is the PDF can be more than a graphic image of the document. The text and graphics can have an identity so they can be copied from the PDF for use elsewhere.

However, these feature can be disabled by the author. For example, the CD-ROM versions of Scott’s Stamp Catalogue use PDF but it does limit user actions to searching and printing but not copying.

Click to view fake Confederate provisionals.

In addition to creating digital documents from applications like newsletters you can also use PDF to capture hard copy documents. The PDF can simply be a container for a graphic file like a scanned image but you can also pass the image through OCR (optical character recognition) program to convert the document into text with programs such as Adobe Acrobat. This is useful for archiving existing documents or converting them into an electronic format to save space or allow searching.

If you have a box or folder in a closet or file cabinet full of aging clippings from periodicals and journals, you can digitize these to reduce the clutter. For example, if you have been saving the Stamp Identifier articles in Linn’s Stamp News you could scan each article and then combine them into a single PDF to create an electronic book.

Other uses include converting older printed newsletters to a digital format, capturing album or exhibit pages for archival or research purposes in color, or saving backups of important hardcopy financial records.

For information you receive or find through the Internet (e-mail, discussion groups, and Web sites) that you may create printed copies to keep, consider creating a PDF instead. I use this for saving receipts of electronic transactions. One rarely needs a printed copy.

These can be stored on your computer for later use in case of a problem. You can be also to print articles from Web pages to PDF rather than creating a hard copy. The PDF saves the color as well so this also saves on expensive inkjet printing ink.

Fran Adams

To realize a Digital Philatelic Study (DPS) you’ll need a dream and a few questions that result in a goal to achieve that dream.

A Dream

This part can be the most fun and picking your subject carefully will allow you to build your study with less effort. Focus on building a clear-cut DPS; your readers will thank you for it. Unless you’re a seasoned veteran, don’t start with the ‘History of the Egyptian Mail Systems’ or ‘Life on Earth’.

Pick a more modest and manageable subject like the ‘Earliest Recorded Pharaonic Letter on Watermarked Papyrus‘ or ‘Piltdown Man’. In both cases, we’re talking about a limited number of items. A single stamp and souvenir sheet depict Piltdown man for instance as an extreme example.

A clearly definable subject is best.

Three Questions

The next step in defining your goal may be accomplished by answering three questions.

1. Why are you producing the DPS?
   Examples: Personal benefit, benefit of others or simply for fun.
2. What will your DPS be used for?
   Examples: Information distribution, a pocket reference or a competitive literature entry.
3. What are you not willing to compromise in your DPS?
   Examples: Quality of information, production timeline or document size.

The Goal

Documenting your goal is a little more difficult than thinking about it. Not difficult from a technical point of view, but difficult from a motivational point of view. Many of us are lazy to some degree, believing we can remember everything we envision and later sadly realizing we’re not further along with the project for lack of this discipline.

So, how do you document your goal?

I suggest using a small notebook. Make legible and coherent notes in it as you daydream your project together. Don’t worry about the sequence or completeness of your ideas at this point. The main thing is to write down your thoughts and ideas – you will sort it all out later.

Take a week.

Think about the study you want to do for only one hour per day that week and write down ideas as they come along. One hour – then detach yourself.

Doing such a time sensitive exercise will keep your mind fresh for that important hour. No fiddling with your notes and remember the most important point – no idea is too dumb – just write, write, write.

A DPS is not a digital exhibit. Open your thoughts process and allow yourself freedom to include ideas, information or materials not normally seen in a paper-based exhibit limited to 16 pages per frame. Now is not the time to be shy.

Notes may include philatelic material, run-of-the-mill points normally presented for the area, as well as more off-beat items such as: artwork and illustrations (printing presses, etc.), information from references, entire articles related to the subject (with permission of the authors), tidbits of knowledge from a friend, one or two colors associated with the subject, ideas on how you wish to present your creation, a theory you have or a question that needs an answer.

This last one can get you further than you might believe.

Limit this phase to seven days as you’ll get nearly 90% of your ideas during this time. The longer the period, the less productive it is nearer the end.

Fran Adams

The following are points I’ve come to recognize as being helpful in my efforts to produce digital philatelic presentations. Bear in mind that this list is not all inclusive, nor is every personal opinion included; but, it may be helpful to those starting out with their own digital efforts.

1. The viewer is king: Understanding a viewer’s desire to learn leads to a useful digital reference tool or DPS.
2. Clearly define the document’s title, purpose and objectives.
3. There’s always more to discover and include.
4. Technology is not the enemy – don’t fear it.
5. Don’t be afraid to do things differently.

It’s Not the Same Old Thing

It’s absolutely imperative that the viewer feels they are learning something from your DPS. The document must be useful or it’s simply another piece of information that has no lasting impact. This point is often neglected – the viewer is king and as such, we need to deliver something of value to them.

What am I Looking At?

Be clear on what is being shown. A page stating the obvious is sometimes not so obvious. A good statement will provide the clarity needed.

Clear goals help both the creator and the viewer.

Are We Done Yet?

I’m also not sure my digital reference will ever be completely finished, but that’s inherent in the process of information gathering. There’s satisfaction in knowing I can continue the journey at my own pace and skill level, plus it’s a great outlet for my creative side.

I share my digital reference on the Internet and once in a while, I get an e-mail with information on a new stamp release or some other facet of the area. Other collectors are sharing with me as well.

Fears

The future of Digital Philatelic Exhibiting should be bright, but it’s fraught with fears of Photoshop fakes, concerns of ownership, verification, or just plain reluctance to include this exhibiting method in philately’s future. Digital Philatelic Studies however are, simply put, electronic literature. This new breed of literature has far fewer ‘issues’.

Enlargements should include original sizes.

DPS rules bypass the fears in Digital Philatelic Exhibiting and literature is inherently a collection of information from all sources, regardless of ownership. As the DPS is a completely new development, it owes little to established philatelic competition and can develop on its own terms, changing its rules as appropriate to accommodate the future.

The Incoming Tide

More and more collectors are becoming familiar with computers and more proficient with various software programs. Our ability to share information is faster and easier with higher speed connections to the Internet. The avalanche of digital exhibits and title or synopsis pages being posted to the Web today is a good indication that this medium is here to stay and becoming very popular, very quickly.

With the hobby seemingly diminishing, maybe this is another way to help ensure its future among younger generations. Perhaps digital materials for simple studies might also be offered free through our societies and the participants encouraged to craft them, in their own fashion, into new and exciting formats (kids love computers and being creative!).

With a little luck, it’ll be fun and they’ll continue with more serious projects, building on the experience and methods of others until we finally have Intelligent Digital Philatelic Reference Tools that talk to us and search through libraries, etc. on our behalf.

The dream is there for the grasping. So, when can we look forward to seeing your digital effort?