Capturing Document Images

Photo by Jakob Owens on Unsplash

​As more information becomes available online for our research, we rarely need to scan a copy from a book or print out a copy from microfilm. Instead, we can capture a digital copy. Let’s look at options for doing this.

If we are lucky, the site where the information is available provides an option to download the image. I prefer to download and then name the file in a way that is consistent with my naming pattern for certain records. For example: “1930CensusNDRichlandCoSMITH family”. The best file naming system is the one that makes sense to you and that you will use!
 
What if the site you’re viewing images/records on does not have its own download option? You can try these:

1. Print to PDF

I like this option if the record that I am printing is larger than the screen view so that I ensure I capture the entire document. When you capture something as a pdf, the clarity of the item remains when I enlarge my view of the file. This is important when translating or transcribing hard to read handwriting.

1. Snipping Tool

I have used the Microsoft Snipping Tool for years. Included with Microsoft Windows, it does an excellent job of capturing information. I sometimes use this tool in addition to the PDF format. For example, if I want to capture the entire document, I use the pdf. If I also want a tighter screenshot of the image, I zoom into the view, making the portion of the document that I wish to capture larger and then use Snipping Tool to capture and save the closeup view.

1. Print

You also can print the image from the site using their print option or right click and choose to print to your printer from the Windows pop up. This is helpful if you prefer the printed page to a digital copy. I would still recommend creating a digital copy for your records.

1. Snagit = The Best Screen Capture Software (Free Trial) | TechSmith

Disclaimer. I have not used Snagit as of this writing. It appears to work like the free Microsoft Snipping Tool but does have added features related to items such as adding text, extracting text, and panoramic scrolling. There is a free trial. If you decided to continue with Snagit there is a first-year fee and then each year, a yearly fee to upgrade and continue to use this tool.

1. Save to your family tree. If you are using Ancestry and Family Tree Maker, you can also attach the document to a specific person in your family tree. I have done this in the past but prefer to download my own copy with my own naming model. The advantage to attaching directly to your tree is that source information is automatically added and can be viewed in reports.

 Of course, when we capture, print, and save files we want to ensure that we are noting the source information and have adhered to the copyright of the site. Have fun experimenting with these to capture digital documents online. It’s a fun time to be a family historian!