Products & Services Research Copies

Research Copies

Research-quality copies are a cost-effective way to assess imagery before purchasing a higher-resolution Scan on Demand product. They are ideal for verifying image content, confirming coverage, or identifying the most suitable photographs for your project.

Where available, research copies are supplied from NCAP's microfilm holdings and provide a lower-resolution version of the original image.

How it works

Research copies (72dpi) can be requested through NCAP's Scan on Demand Service.

Once your request has been received, we will provide a quotation and a research licence for your order. You may then choose whether to proceed with or cancel your order before any work begins.

Delivery Times

Orders of up to 25 research copy images are typically delivered within 5 working days of licence approval and payment being received. 

Larger or complicated orders may take longer to complete, and can take up to 10 days to complete. In these cases an estimated delivery date will be provided as part of your quotation.

Recall Fees

A recall fee applies to cover the retrieval of collections required to produce your research copy. Charges are applied per archival item recalled (such as a microfilm cassette or print box), rather than per individual image. 

Any applicable fees will be clearly detailed in your quotation before work begins.

Moving to High-Resolution Imagery

If the research copy confirms that the image meets your requirements, you can then place a Scan on Demand order for a higher-resolution scan from the film or print, where available.

How To Start a Scan on Demand Order

Research-quality Copy Pricing EX VAT INC VAT
Single frame £5.00 £6.00
Recall fee (per item) £4.00 £4.80
Research licence fee £0 £0

IN THIS SECTION

A black and white aerial photo of a very heavily bombed area of land. What land is visible is dark grey, and almost obscured with numerous white bomb craters. A road can be seen running from the bottom left corner to the top right.

Scan on Demand Services

Order images from the NCAP Collection which have not yet been digitised and made available on our online portal.

A room filled with runs of white tables. On each run of tables are closed flatbed scanners flanked by pairs of film reels. Rolls of film run through the scanners. Two people in blue lab coats operate the scanners and look at computer screens.

Archival Digitisation Services

The National Collection of Aerial Photography offers expert archival scanning and digitisation services to a wide range of clients.

A figure in a white and black jumper leans in from the bottom left of the frame. The top of their head and the whole tabletop that is in front of them are visible from our vantage above. There are two black and white images of landscapes on the table top. The figure is wearing white gloves and appears to be positioning the images under a beige viewing apparatus which has two transparent viewing lenses. There are two cardboard boxes of images on the tabletop - one with more black and white images piled in it, and another with a white sheet in it.

Image Sales and Licensing Use

When using images from the NCAP Collection you will need to know the intended use in order to purchase an appropriate licence.

A figure in a dark blue lab coat stands with their right side to us. They are wearing purple gloves, and a black and white mask. They have their arms stretched into a desk top cabinet which has transparent plastic front and sides, and a white frame. A vacuum cleaner hose feeds into the cabinet. The figure grasps a brush and holds up an image to examine it. There are other pictures and boxes in the cabinet.

Subject Specialist Consultancy

NCAP employs specialists in imagery analysis, data management, and collections care. Specialist support consultancy is offered in a variety of areas.

A figure in a black jumper leans into the frame from the far right. They lean on a tabletop and are holding a computer mouse. On the desk there is a screen with a colour aerial photograph displayed on it. There is also a black, cylindrical canister which has white labels on it, and a document lying on the table.

Paid Search

If you are not familiar with navigating non-digitised collections or if you are short on time, NCAP provides a convenient solution.

A figure leans into the frame from the left. They have short blonde hair and wear a dark blue top. They have their back towards us, and are working with a large white boxy machine with a display screen. Under the screen a film runs between two spools. The image on the screen is of a monotone landscape. A colour aerial image is displayed on the wall and is partially obscured by the screen.

Search Room

Request to make an appointment in the NCAP Search Room to access and consult catalogued aerial imagery.