The digitalization project

Digitalizing Leonardo

The work of digitalization was entrusted to Veneranda Biblioteca Ambrosiana and Mida Informatica, in partnership con Metis Systems, after a long and rigorous selection, with quality tests carried out in various national and international companies.

Further confirmation of the choice of supplier of this service came from the Ministry of Cultural Heritage and Cultural Activities, the Istituto Centrale per il Restauro e la Conservazione del Patrimonio Archivistico e Librario (Central Institute for the Restoration and Conservation of the Archive and Library Heritage) of Rome and the Regional Heritage Department.

“Digitalization,” underlines Dr. Don Francesco Braschi, head of the project for the Biblioteca Ambrosiana,” is carried out in full respect of the most advanced procedures with regard to the integrity of the material digitalized, as well as the methods of processing of the files and the conditions of safety for backing up and storage.”

Beyond the original

The images obtained have achieved a quality that is unrivalled and superior to any currently existing reproduction, to the extent that it has permitted the magnification and study of details that are invisible to the naked eye.

“The project,” continues Don Braschi, “was achieved thanks to a strategic partnership with Metis, the manufacturer and supplier of the scanner used (Metis DRS 5070 Book model), and MIDA Informatica, a company specialized in services for Cultural Heritage, which took charge of the scanning and processing operations using specially trained staff.

The skill, the emotion, the privilege.

The entire project cycle was painstakingly taken care of by the professionals of Mida Informatica, who are specialized in the service of high-quality digitalization of books and ancient documents, historic archives and photographic funds.

The project was developed beginning with precise procedures for handling the original works and managing the names of the images, the process of storing the files, the optimal calibration of the scanner and the digital signature of the images to verify their consistency over time.

“Working in the field of cultural heritage,” states Sergio Bellini, owner of Mida Informatica, “is a privilege because it offers the opportunity to see unique, extraordinary works at first hand. The excitement on seeing Leonardo’s original words was unique. It was extremely satisfying to see our continuous commitment guaranteeing quality recognized.”

Serving Cultural Heritage

Mida informatica is a service company specialized in cultural heritage management and promotion projects, with services that are directed mainly at museums, historic archives, companies, municipalities and public and private organizations.

Mida Informatica’s collaborators include graphic designers, art historians, computer technicians, communication experts and photographers. The multidisciplinary make-up of the team highlights our strong point: the ability to offer targeted, precise solutions with high added value due to the close interaction of different professions.

The quality in planning, realizing and providing services has been recognized by Cermet, which has certified our way of working in accordance with the international UNI EN ISO 9001:2000 standard.