Managed Services

We describe as a managed service any service used by the customer on a recurrent basis, which supports him in operating the Picturepark solution. You are considered a service subscriber.

Managed services are as individual as the customer’s requirements. That is why they are defined together with the customer and regulated in an SLA in terms of grade and availability.

Managed services can not only be created by us alone, but also independently or in close cooperation with the customer’s existing suppliers.

Managed services frequently enquired about include:

• Data imports: Importing of delivered images while taking the guidelines applying to the customer into consideration
• Media standardisation: Checking and optimisation of data in relation to editorial, technical and legal aspects
• Metadata tagging: Marking of images in particular with generic metadata in accordance with previous definitions, corporate glossaries
• Quality assurance: Periodic checking of databases with pro-active recommendations for optimisation measures

Contact us for additional information and an offer.

Metadata

One of the main factors in the success of a MAM solution is the speedy and intuitive way in which one particular asset can be found again among thousands. In this respect, where images are concerned, it is not the system that plays the decisive role, but rather the exact type of keywording with metadata, which takes place in accordance with standardised catalogues.

VIT knows all of the relevant concepts for keywording with metadata and has successfully provided assistance for dozens of related projects. These typically include support during the development of keyword catalogues and the keywording of stocks of images in accordance with pre-specified criteria.

During the initial phase an attempt is made to define as manageable a number of company-specific, branch-specific and generic keywords as possible. In this respect, classification by means hierarchical categories has commended itself. The phase ends with test runs of the keywording, the creation of easily portable documentation and the training of all persons responsible for keywording.

During a second phase, if requested, high-grade keywording of the databases is carried out directly by VIT – at exceptionally competitive prices. As a managed service VIT also takes on the ongoing keywording of new assets.

Digitalisation of photographs

Slides or photographic prints with historic value, though often from current shoots, are often stored unused and exposed to the ravages of time in physical archives.  The aim of an archiving project is usually to preserve this material for a long period of time and to make it available in digital form.

Together with qualified partners, VIT offers viewing, development and also long-term archiving of physical archives.  Interdisciplinary know-how from historians and imaging and metadata specialists typically flows into such projects.

During an initial phase the material is viewed and classified and triage of the material to be preserved takes place.  During the second phase, on-site or in our offices, the material is digitalised (scanning), optimised (retouche) and, where necessary, documented (transcription) in relation to meta information.
During a third phase the digital material can be fed into archiving and MAM solutions together with the corresponding metadata.  Historic material particularly worth preserving is also archived on a long-term basis using microfilming or redundant digital memory.