High resolution jpgs

[goldberg988]

I am looking at some Andre Caplet manuscripts on BnF/Gallica. I can download jpgs using the multi scan downloader, they are about 7MB per page. I can convert to PDF using GIMP (probably not the best method) and then it's 10+MB per page. The jpgs are greyscale/monochrome and high-resolution. What is the best procedure here? Just live with huge files, since it's a manuscript? Convert to monochrome (I feel a lot of detail gets lost since they are manuscripts)? A better way to convert greyscale to PDF without losing too much detail, and reducing file size? Thanks

[coulonnus]

Please provide a specific Caplet's work and I will see what I can do.

[goldberg988]

Here's one. Happy if you can help; but also would still like to know how to do the process myself? Thanks

https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/btv1b100718419/#

[coulonnus]

Look at https://imslp.org/wiki/Paroles_%C3%A0_l ... ndr%C3%A9) when it becomes available. I'll provides technical details if you like it.

[goldberg988]

Yes, I would love the technical details! Thanks

[coulonnus]

Well, several posts will be necessary ! Be ready to manipulate the command promp language which I may no longer call the DOS. From https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/btv1b100718419/ click "En savoir plus".
Store the line "Identifiant : ark:/12148/btv1b100718419" somewhere

If there are less than 5 images edit a batch file called curlgallica.bat with
curl https://gallica.bnf.fr//iiif/ark:/12148/bpt6k10291515/f[1-5]/full/full/0/native.jpg -o q#1.jpg
replacing the big bpt string with that of the present gallica page.

Type curlgallica.bat into the command prompt window. This will create the 5 first images of this score.

But if there are more than 5 images the gallica server is exasperated by your requests and screws up images above No. 5

A workaround is to set a 10-s delay time between the images. Create this batch file :

set lienbnf=<your bpt number>
@FOR /L %%A IN (1,1,%1) DO (curl https://gallica.bnf.fr//iiif/ark:/12148/%lienbnf%/f[%%A-%%A]/full/full/0/native.jpg -o "p#1.jpg"
timeout 10)

replacing %1 with the number of images.

This creates a set of .jpg images, each one about 3 MB size.

I'll continue when you succeed at this stage.

[coulonnus]

Each jpg should have a size about 4000x5000

[coulonnus]

Then an important step is finding the right threshold to convert jpg images to monochrome. Select an image which has many 16th notes and natural sharp.

Run this batch: @FOR /L %%A IN (10,5,95) DO magick p%1.jpg -compress group4 -threshold %%A%% p%%A%1.tif
dir/on p??%1.tif

entering the image number.

This will provide a set of monochrome tif files with monochrome conversion thresholds 10%, 15% etc. The 2 first digit represent the theshold. Examine the tif with a 50% theshold. Are the tiny vertical lines of a natural sign visible? Aren't the gaps between the beams too filled? Find the tif with the best result. Remember the best threshold. Often it is that where the tif size begins to increase in the list.

Then read https://imslp.org/wiki/IMSLP_talk:Scanning_music_scores. Choose a procedure, reading what to install. My favorite procedure in No. 5.