[Rockhounds] Printed Mineral Labels

Sat Mar 20 16:33:32 PDT 2021

Hey folks,

I've been thinking about this a lot over the last few years - finally
tackling the need to systematically catalog my collection before I forget
everything.  I got a bunch of business cards printed and use those. I got
double sided - one side with 4, the other with one label. In future I'll do
single sided, 1/4, 1/2 and full size.

First and foremost, labels - gluing permanent labels to a rock is a pretty
universally good thing(tm) - there are exceptions, ofcourse, but in general
it combats specimens being separated from labels - an inevitability.

But that doesn't actually help if the associated catalog is unavailable.

I'm dissatisfied with all the mineral databases I have seen so far - they
all lack atleast one set of functionality that I'd like to see.  Almost
every one gets the actual data right - good location metadata, good
reference data for species, capacity for image storage, etc.  BUT there are
some features I'd like to see..

1) cross platform - able to be installed on all OS's.
2) cross database - published schema that allow importation into multiple
DB back ends
3) transportability - can be moved to a new platform with ease
4) much better display options - my current best bet is a web interface
with variable levels of dislay depth (for private/ugly/ photos as well as
gallery modes a la Mindat)
5) separation of image storage from DB and image metadata (a la OMERO) -
facilitates cloud storage of images e.g. s3 or dropbox, etc.

bonus points for being federatable - for individual catalogs on the
internet being able to see each others content to make a much larger photo
record.

It's early days for me yet but I'm hoping to build something like:

mysql/mariadb mineral database
s3 or google drive image storage
wordpress front end (because SO MANY themes)

Note one of my base assumptions is that cataloging and photography go hand
in hand - if you have a specimen separated from it's label, having a
photograph helps immensely.

Aside: if you've read this far, maybe you will be interested in my FB/MeWe
groups dedicated to helping one photograph and catalog ones specimens. Come
look at the pretties. Contribution is voluntary.
*https://www.facebook.com/groups/specimenaday
<https://www.facebook.com/groups/specimenaday>*

*https://mewe.com/join/specimenaday <https://mewe.com/join/specimenaday>*

On Sun, 21 Mar 2021 at 09:53, Axel Emmermann <axel.emmermann at telenet.be>
wrote:

> OK, my middle name is Pinocchio, but once you get the hang of it... no
> more fuzz! Just tick the selection boxes of the specimens you want to label
> and it's done!
> Even for a fluorescence collection.
> I print the labels in black on slightly yellow fluorescent paper.
>
> My next experiment will be writing them with a fluorescent pen attached to
> a CNC. That's one label at a time but should produce great results.
> I already tried cutting fluorescent plastic.
> My CNC also has a beats of a 10 Watt blue laser... maybe cut out text from
> wooden labels and glue those to fluorescent paper... But that stinks up the
> place.  Works only outside making fair-weather-labels.
>
>  Axel
>
> -----Oorspronkelijk bericht-----
> Van: Rockhounds <rockhounds-bounces at rockhounds.drizzle.com> Namens Tim
> Fisher
> Verzonden: zaterdag 20 maart 2021 20:05
> Aan: 'Rockhounds at drizzle.com: A mailing list for rock and gem collectors'
> <rockhounds at rockhounds.drizzle.com>
> Onderwerp: Re: [Rockhounds] Printed Mineral Labels
>
> Anyone who calls Access easy is a liar :D
>
> Tim Fisher
> Http://OreRockOn.com
> Email nospam at orerockon.com
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Rockhounds [mailto:rockhounds-bounces at rockhounds.drizzle.com] On
> Behalf Of Axel Emmermann
> Sent: Saturday, March 20, 2021 9:28 AM
> To: 'Rockhounds at drizzle.com: A mailing list for rock and gem collectors'
> Subject: Re: [Rockhounds] Printed Mineral Labels
>
> The easiest way imho is to have a database in MS ACCESS and print the
> labels
> directly from there...
>
> Axel
>
>
> -----Oorspronkelijk bericht-----
> Van: Rockhounds <rockhounds-bounces at rockhounds.drizzle.com> Namens Gene
> Hartstein
> Verzonden: zaterdag 20 maart 2021 15:25
> Aan: Rockhounds at drizzle.com: A mailing list for rock and gem collectors
> <rockhounds at rockhounds.drizzle.com>
> Onderwerp: Re: [Rockhounds] Printed Mineral Labels
>
> I use Microsoft word to make mineral and fossil labels. You have a huge
> selection of fonts, colors and font sizes. With some knowledge of the
> program, you can customize label size, for example making labels for perky
> boxes. You can also print on standard Avery labels, for labels to stick on
> gem box edges or coin holders. You can also add images and print on various
> paper weights, from ordinary paper to card stock.
> And you can save the label file in case you get more of the same stuff.
> Gene Hartstein
>
> Sent from my iPad
>
> > On Mar 20, 2021, at 9:43 AM, hammerron <hammerron at hotmail.com> wrote:
> >
> > I have been handwriting onto poster board (is that the right term, or
> perhaps card stock) to make labels for the mineral specimens for my
> collection.  You can see how I typically have done it in the third picture
> here:
> >
> > http://hammerron.com/minerals/cataloging.htm
> >
> > Or here:
> > http://hammerron.com/minerals/cataloginglabel.JPG
> >
> > My question is this.  I am considering using a printer in the future
> rather than writing by hand.  My thoughts are that it will be easier to
> read, and I can use a smaller font when it suits me.
> >
> > Would anyone have any thoughts on how I should best go about this?  Any
> thoughts on the best paper stock, printer, printer ink, etc?  I am also
> wondering if it is advantageous to print stick on labels and then stick
> them
> onto cardboard stock.
> >
> > regards,
> >
> >
> > Ron
> >
> >
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-- 
Dr Paul van den Bergen