Overview: Image Delivery Service (IDS)

What does the Image Delivery Service offer?
What is the static delivery?
What is the dynamic delivery?
What digital files are required?

If you need more information or assistance with IDS, get in touch with IDS support staff in OIS by or phone (617 495-3724).

What does the Image Delivery Service offer?

The Image Delivery Service (IDS) delivers digital images that are stored in the Digital Repository Service (DRS) to web browsers. In general, images available through this service have been converted from photographs, slides, prints, and other two-dimensional media held in special collections throughout the University. IDS can secure images to the Harvard community (i.e., those with a Harvard ID number and PIN) when appropriate. The Image Delivery Service has two flavors: static image delivery and dynamic image delivery.

What is static delivery?

Static delivery allows web access to an image in the DRS, similar in functionality to putting an image on a web server. Most commonly used for JPEG and GIF images, this method can deliver any image deposited in the DRS back to an end-user. This service currently delivers many of the digital images described in the VIA catalog, but it can also serve images cataloged in HOLLIS, OASIS, or any other catalog or web site that supports URL linking.

Here's an example.

What is dynamic delivery?

Dynamic delivery allows delivery of many different versions of a particular image, ranging from a thumbnail to beyond a full-size screen image, back to the user from a single file in the DRS. This feature can greatly diminish the number of images deposited in the DRS for the same functionality as static delivery. Dynamic delivery also gives users access to an interactive interface for exploring the image, which includes the ability to zoom, pan and rotate.

Here's an example of four versions of an image: thumbnail, small, medium and large as well as the interactive interface - all rendered dynamically from one file in the repository.

What digital files are required?