About Picturae
Collections come in many forms: from coins, books, and photographs to herbarium sheets and entomology specimens. By providing a holistic digitization journey, Picturae transforms a physical collection into a fully digital, searchable, and accessible tool. Digitization is not a one-time act. It is a long-term investment in access, preservation, and relevance. We at Picturae are here to help you get there.
The Future of Collections
Collections are not static. They evolve as new generations of curators, researchers, and audiences care for them. Now is the moment to plan for the future and discover how a body of work can supply answers to today’s essential questions.
How do institutions make collections of remarkable size and variety digitally accessible for research and discovery? Picturae works exclusively with cultural heritage and natural history collections. Drawing on more than two decades of experience, we design custom digitization solutions for institutions world-wide.
Our Approach
Picturae is known for developing purpose-built digitization solutions. We engineer our own imaging equipment and software to meet the specific needs of heritage and biodiversity collections. Our systems are designed for high throughput, consistent quality, and adaptability across material types.
Whether digitization takes place in our studio in the US or on-site at your institution, our workflows are tailored to your collection, your environment, and your long-term goals – ensuring both physical care and reliable digital outcomes.
Our Mission
We believe that understanding the past informs the future. Our mission is to make the knowledge and stories held in collections accessible and usable – supporting research, education, and public understanding through careful digitization and data stewardship. Digitization is about more than access. It is about preserving context, managing complexity, and enabling meaningful connections between collections, institutions, and people. By supporting digital exploration, we help institutions extend the reach and relevance of their collections in thoughtful and responsible ways.
We continue to advance our technologies and workflows to support a wider range of materials and larger volumes; always guided by the needs of the institutions we serve and the responsibility of preservation.
Picturae's History
Boasting over 27 years of experience, we plan and manage our clients’ digitization initiatives from beginning to end, including consulting, concept development, imaging, transcription, post-processing, back-up, and delivery.
1997
Picturae was founded in 1997 by Onno Zaman. He built Picturae with a great entrepreneurial heart.
2012
Naturalis inspires the Herbarium Conveyor, capturing nearly 5 million herbarium sheets in less than 10 months.
2016
The RKD collaborates with Picturae to develop the double sided reflective conveyor.
2017
Picturae Inc opens a permanent US Studio based in Jersey City, NJ in response to growing demand.
2022
Berlin's Museum für Naturkunde pilots Entomology Conveyor.
2023
Picturae splits with its IT division, now Memorix Vitec, to focus on the heart of our offering; digitization.
2024
Picturae announces the creation of the Biodiversity unit to expand our existing and future solutions for Natural History.
Why our Clients Choose Picturae
Proven Experience: We have handled historically valuable collections at a scale few others have.
Quality and Care: We digitize with attention to detail and respect for the character and condition of each collection.
Purpose-Built Technology: Our equipment and software are engineered specifically for heritage and scientific collections.
Customized Solutions: Every project is designed around the unique requirements of the collection and institution.
Trust and Responsibility: We take the care of collections seriously and work closely with institutions to understand their needs at every level.
Building Solutions Together
Institutions are the experts on their collections – their history, structure, and significance. Our role is to translate that expertise into effective digitization strategies. We understand the value of collections, as well as the risks involved in handling and transforming them.
Through transparency, clear communication, and reliable execution, we build trust and long-term collaboration. Together, we develop processes that work today and adapt to the needs of tomorrow.
Contact Us
Whether you are preparing for a large-scale digitization initiative or exploring next steps for your collection, our team is here to support you. Share a few details about your institution and project, and we will respond promptly to continue the discussion.
