EPISODE 2: "INSIDE DT" EDITION, Ben Cort Talks Technical Problem Solving in Cultural Heritage Digitization

What does it actually take to solve the toughest digitization challenges — in the field, under pressure, and with no room for error?

In this special Inside DT edition of Wider Lens, we sit down with Ben Cort, Digital Transitions’ Cultural Heritage Technical Support Specialist, for a focused, behind-the-scenes look at the technical expertise that powers preservation-grade digitization.

In this episode, we unpack:

• The real-world challenges institutions face when digitizing complex and fragile collections
• What it takes to troubleshoot and optimize high-performance digitization systems
• How technical decisions impact image quality, workflow efficiency, and long-term preservation outcomes
• Lessons learned from working directly with institutions in the field
• The intersection of engineering, photography, and conservation in modern digitization
• Why experience and problem-solving matter as much as hardware and software
• We also explore the human side of technical support — from unexpected edge cases to the mindset required to solve problems quickly and effectively in high-stakes environments.

This shorter Inside DT format highlights the people behind the work — the specialists who help institutions implement, maintain, and evolve their digitization programs.

Whether you’re running a digitization lab, evaluating new systems, or simply want a deeper understanding of what goes on behind the scenes, this episode offers a practical look at the expertise required to do this work at the highest level.

🎧 Listen now to go inside DT — and see how technical problem solving drives successful digitization programs.

And as always, we welcome feedback, comments, and questions. Let us know what you'd like to hear on this podcast, or if you'd like to be a guest. Email us at: widerlens@digitaltransitions.com

Additional Notes from this episode:

• Constantin Brâncuși Art: https://www.wikiart.org/en/constantin-brancusi
• DT's Online Digitization Certification Courses: https://heritage-digitaltransitions.com/dt-digitization-certification-program/
• DT's "Digitization Program Planning Guide" Bundle: https://heritage-digitaltransitions.com/product/cultural-heritage-digitization-planning-bundle-solutions-guide-digitization-program-planning-guide-pdf/

Episode 1: Cliff Harrison, Purdue University Library

What does it really take to digitize the world’s cultural heritage — at scale, at speed, and at preservation grade?

For the inaugural episode of Wider Lens, we’re honored to welcome Cliff Harrison, Senior Manager of Digital Programs at the Purdue University Libraries and School of Information Studies, for a wide-ranging conversation about advancing cultural heritage digitization within an academic research library.

In this episode, we unpack:

• Why “instant capture” fundamentally changed the economics of digitization
• The hidden costs of legacy scanning workflows
• What FADGI 4-Star and ISO compliance actually mean in practice
• The concept of the Preservation Digital Object (PDO) — and why it matters
• How digitization protects collections from catastrophe, conflict, and time
• Why image quality today determines research value decades from now
• The balance between conservation handling and high-throughput production
• How modern RAW workflows future-proof cultural heritage collections

We also discuss real-world case studies — including institutions managing millions of items — and how advances in sensors, lighting, optics, and workflow automation are redefining what’s possible.

Whether you’re a digitization manager, curator, conservator, imaging specialist, or institutional leader, this episode provides a framework for thinking strategically about preservation-grade digitization in a world where demand for access has never been higher.

🎧 Listen now to explore how modern digitization is moving from “good enough” imaging to true digital surrogacy — and what that shift means for the future of cultural heritage.

And as always, we welcome feedback, comments and questions. Let us know what you'd like to hear on this podcast, or if you'd like to be a guest. Email us at: widerlens@digitaltransitions.com

Additional Notes from this episode:

• Cliff Harrison's Contact Information: https://lib.purdue.edu/people/cliff/
• The Neil Armstrong joke from his speech Cliff mentions: https://earchives.lib.purdue.edu/digital/collection/msa5/id/3128/rec/2
• DT's Online Digitization Certification Courses: https://heritage-digitaltransitions.com/dt-digitization-certification-program/
• DT Instant Capture Digitization Systems: https://heritage-digitaltransitions.com/product-catalog/
• DT's "Digitization Program Planning Guide" Bundle: https://heritage-digitaltransitions.com/product/cultural-heritage-digitization-planning-bundle-solutions-guide-digitization-program-planning-guide-pdf/