A pictorial index organizes the visual content of a work or database, listing images, illustrations, maps, charts, or other visual elements in a structured way. Entries may be arranged alphabetically, thematically, or by image type, and often include descriptors that reflect the subject matter or context of each visual. This allows readers to locate specific images or explore groups of related visuals efficiently.
What’s involved in pictorial indexing:
- Reviewing the complete set of images, illustrations, maps, charts, or other visual elements in the work
- Creating entries that reference the image’s location in the publication (e.g., page number or figure number)
- Writing clear, consistent captions or descriptors for index entries
- Grouping images by subject, theme, or type to aid discovery
- Establishing a controlled vocabulary for image descriptions to ensure consistency
- Aligning format and style with publisher or designer specifications
- Cross-referencing related images for thematic connections
- Delivering the index in the preferred format (standalone, integrated with the main index, or provided as a separate list of illustrations)
- Flagging missing, misplaced, or duplicate images during indexing
- Creating separate indexes for different visual types (e.g., maps, diagrams, photographs)
- Supplying metadata or keywords for use in digital editions or image databases
- Linking digital images to index entries in ebooks or online formats
- Providing alternative text descriptions for accessibility compliance
- Developing a thematic taxonomy for organizing large or complex image collections
For this service, I typically work on:
- Academic and nonfiction - all disciplines
- Publication types - exhibition catalogues, reference books & materials, scholarly & research journals, scholarly books, trade books
- Content domains - academic databases, archival collections, industry-specific platforms
- Platform/content types - online journals and serial publications, institutional repositories, digital encyclopedias or reference works, course libraries, intranets or knowledge management systems, image databases
To request my resume or a complete list of projects, please get in touch via email or through the contact page.