Editorial policy

This page explains how HeirloomMath guides, archival reference tables, and interactive client-side calculators are researched, mathematically verified, and maintained. It applies to every page on HeirloomMath. The editor responsible for all content is [TO FILL: author name] (editor profile).

Core editorial principles

1. Show the exact equation and work through real arithmetic. Whenever a guide or calculator states a quantitative relationship—such as optical scan resolution and print magnification (M = W_target / W_in), uncompressed raster file size (W_px × H_px × C × (b/8)), ITU-R BT.709 luminance (Y = 0.2126R + 0.7152G + 0.0722B), the 4-case 8870 gravestone borrow constant (K = 8800×b_M + 70×b_D), Julian Day Number (JDN) shifts, Sewall Wright’s Coefficient of Relationship (r = m × 2^−(g_A+g_B)), or Donnelly-Coop Poisson segment counts—we publish the full formula and step-by-step worked examples.
2. Cite primary archival, statutory, and scientific standards. We rely on official federal and technical publications, including the Federal Agencies Digital Guidelines Initiative (FADGI Technical Guidelines for Digitizing Cultural Heritage Materials, 3rd Edition, May 2023), National Archives and Records Administration regulations (36 CFR Part 1236 Subpart E), Library of Congress Recommended Formats Statements (RFS) and Personal Archiving guidance, US Census Bureau decennial enumerator instructions (1790–1950), the British Calendar (New Style) Act 1750 (24 Geo. 2 c. 23), National Park Service Preservation Brief 48 (Preserving Grave Markers), CISA data backup guidance, ISO 8601 date formatting standards, National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI) definitions, and International Society of Genetic Genealogy (ISOGG) / Shared cM Project v4 statistics.
3. Enforce strict historical and facial fidelity in AI prompts. We never recommend unconstrained generative AI "beautification" on family portraits or unverified AI paraphrasing of historical wills and deeds. Our prompt templates enforce explicit Facial Geometry Locks (preserving original eye spacing, bone structure, and age lines) and Diplomatic Transcription Uncertainty Brackets ([?guess?] or [illegible]).
4. Remain strictly outside legal, probate, clinical, and appraisal advice. Our calculators and guides address optical digitization math, historical calendar arithmetic, genealogical record indexing, and conservation workflows. We never provide legal title or probate opinions, clinical genetic counseling, paternity testing verdicts, or fine-art monetary appraisals.

First-hand testing and “Field test pending” blocks

Many digitization and paleography guides benefit from empirical hardware benchmarks—such as measured per-frame scan times with infrared dust removal (ICE) enabled vs. disabled, histogram comparisons on physical 1970s Kodacolor prints, or side-by-side AI transcription accuracy counts on county probate microfilms. Until a specific benchmark has been completed on our own equipment, the guide displays a visible yellow Field test pending box describing the exact measurement protocol to be added. We never fabricate test logs, scanner timings, or family anecdotes.

How we use software and AI utilities

We use software scripts (including Node.js mathematical verification suites and Python HTML auditors) and AI drafting assistants to help structure outlines, cross-check boundary conditions in calendar and pixel equations, and proofread prose. Every published guide and calculator is reviewed by a human editor who verifies all cited statutory dates, checks every formula against primary federal standards, and checks the stated scope of the tools. Calculations and histogram inspection run locally; optional AI restoration and transcription send a chosen image only after explicit consent. See our AI upload policy.

Review schedule & updates

Each guide displays its publication date and most recent substantive update date. We review our guides and calculators whenever federal digitization guidelines (such as FADGI or NARA rules) are revised, when new decennial census records open under the 72-Year Rule, or when a reader reports an issue.

Corrections policy

If you spot an arithmetic error, a broken external link, or an ambiguous explanation in either our Photo & Slide Digitization Planner, our Tombstone, Census & Kinship Calculator, or any of our 12 long-form guides, please contact us via the contact page. Confirmed errors are corrected promptly and noted on the page.

Editorial independence

HeirloomMath currently carries no advertising, affiliate links, or sponsored product placements. If display advertising is enabled in the future, editorial decisions and calculator equations will remain completely independent of advertisers.