Digitization is an increasingly important part of collection management and collections-based research. Imaging and digitizing specimens allows access to collections without in-person visitation, limits risk of loss or damage caused in shipping and transport, and increases efficiency by allowing the collections user community to better focus inquiries or loan requests. Having publicly accessible digital records, that are populated with high quality, standardized data and images, opens up a collection for new and innovative uses. In lichen collections, where specimens can be small, cryptic, and/or piecemeal, there is an urgent need for imaging best practices and standards to maximize the usability of images both now and in the future. Establishing and implementing these practices is particularly urgent given that the resources (time, effort, support and expertise) required to image lichen specimens mean there is a low likelihood of reimaging the majority of collections in the future. Moreover imaging can cause wear and tear to fragile specimens. Images must be high resolution, with specimens accurately placed to display the key characteristics required for identification and ideally be aesthetically pleasing. This poster will present guidelines aimed at maximizing the usefulness of images captured during lichen digitization based on experience gained from a large-scale project on Appalachian lichens.