[Web4lib] Scanner Recommendations?

Mon May 17 16:41:09 EDT 2010

Matt,

Thanks for the explanation and clarification. I have made images of individual pages for personal use a few years ago, but never thought of using them for document transfer until now. We are looking at options for doc delivery on our campus and your idea is interesting.

Vernell

Vernell Ward
Serials/Gov.Doc. Librarian
OBU Box 61309
500 W. University
Shawnee, OK 74804
405-878-2284
vernell.ward at okbu.edu 
"To ask why we need libraries at all, when there is so much information available elsewhere, 
is about as sensible as asking if roadmaps are necessary now that there are so very many roads."

---Jon Bing, 2009. American Libraries 

>>> On Monday, May 17, 2010 at 3:32 PM, in message <4BF1A7D6.90304 at farrwood.com>, Matt Russell <matt at farrwood.com> wrote:
Hi Vernell, 

Whether you use a scanner or a digital camera the result is a bitmap image of the page.  If you want to group them into a single multi-page PDF then you just use a pdf creator (like adobe or  and tell it which jpg (or tif) files you want to combine and in which order.  Scanner software which automatically creates PDFs is just doing this combining step for you. 

Of course, this results in a fat file, but only a little bit fatter than the original image files.  And, the result isn't a searchable PDF since the file only contains bitmaps.    In order to turn the scan or digital camera image into a smaller, searchable PDF you'd have to perform OCR on the image to convert it to text, then (usually) spend time cleaning it up and restoring formatting information.  This is normally a very tedious process, but it's the same whether you scan or shoot with a digital camera.  

Cheers, 
Matt

Vernell Ward wrote: 

Great idea, but I am puzzled by the details. How do you group the pages together for an article in a magazine or chapter in a book? Do you use Adobe or ...?

Vernell Ward
Serials/Gov.Doc. Librarian
OBU Box 61309
500 W. University
Shawnee, OK 74804
405-878-2284
vernell.ward at okbu.edu 
"To ask why we need libraries at all, when there is so much information available elsewhere, 
is about as sensible as asking if roadmaps are necessary now that there are so very many roads."

---Jon Bing, 2009. American Libraries 

>>> On Friday, May 14, 2010 at 10:37 AM, in message <4BED6E2E.3080902 at farrwood.com> ( mailto:4BED6E2E.3080902 at farrwood.com ), Matt Russell <matt at farrwood.com> ( mailto:matt at farrwood.com ) wrote:
We have found that, rather than paying the high price for an 11x17 
scanner, we use a good digital camera for images more than 8.5x14.  
There are several advantages to this:

* Cost - a reasonably good digital camera (like a Canon T2i for $900  
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/675618-REG/Canon_4462B003_EOS_Rebel_T2i_Digital.html) 
has 18MP, which is over 5000 pixels in the long direction.  That 
resolves a 17" image into over 300 dpi, which is just fine for all but 
the most demanding archival work.  The eye cannot resolve 300dpi.    For 
$300-$500 you could get a 12MP camera.  If you pay more than $500 you 
will be able to capture in RAW format, which avoids compression and 
color balance artifacts.  For really good quality and a flat field (eg. 
no barrel distortion at the edges) you could pay $250 more for a good 
50mm macro lens. 

* Depth of field - A DSLR (digital single-lens-reflex) will allows a 
much wider depth of field than a scanner, so that bound books can be 
shot with the text in focus as it curves into the spine.  Also, textured 
objects can be better captured. 

* Speed - Scanning 11x17 takes a LONG time.  Shooting it is a snap.  
Shooting a book is literally click, click, click.  Shooting artwork, 
maps, etc. is so much quicker than scanning.

* Versatility - Having a nice camera around can be handing for lots more 
than just capturing large images.  The T2 also lets you shoot high def 
video. 

For a scanner, we use the Epson V700, which is exceptionally good, works 
well with Linux and XSANE and costs only $500. 

/Matt Russell/
Lawrence History Center
www.lawrencehistory.org 

Bob Rasmussen wrote:
> Apparently you haven't received a flood of responses, so I'll jump in. 
> Here's what I know of the scanner market:
>
> 1) Almost all lower-cost scanners are limited to 8.5" width; usually 14" 
> height. If you want 11x17" you're in a much more rarified market.
>
> 2) For 8.5x14", there are some low-cost auto-feed units, even with duplex 
> (2-sided scanning). I like the HP Scanjet 5590.
>
> 3) If you want 11x17" and auto-feed, good luck!
>
> 4) Most if not all scanners will turn the light off.
>
> 5) Whether it scans to PDF depends entirely on the software that's 
> included. Note that some software produces only image PDFs, which are not 
> searchable. To search a PDF, something has to have performed Optical 
> Character Recognition on it.
>
> I hope that helps.
>
> On Tue, 11 May 2010, Pruntel,Alison wrote:
>
>   
>> Hi - Apologies in advance to my posting to several listservs.
>>
>> Our public information coordinator is looking for a new flatbed scanner. My familiarity with scanners is basically zilch. She currently uses an HP Scanjet 8250 that is on its last legs. She scans images, etc., as well as written correspondence/documents (i.e., letters received by our director who wants an ecopy, etc.) . In an ideal world, she'd like a scanner that:
>>
>>
>> *         Scans black and white as well as color;
>>
>> *         Can scan to PDF;
>>
>> *         Creates clear/crisp photo scans;
>>
>> *         Accomodates documents up to 11 X 17;
>>
>> *         Autoloads documents (her current scanner is manual);
>>
>> *         Relatively fast and quiet;
>>
>> *         Comes with software, but don't necessarily need photo editing software;
>>
>> *         Doesn't keep lamp on all the time/is energy efficient;
>>
>> And did I mention that she also wants something cheap? I believe her budget is under $2K, but we'd look at the best option for us, would consider various price ranges.
>>
>> Thanks for any/all responses,
>>
>>
>> Alison Pruntel
>> Electronic Resources Librarian
>> Fauquier County Public Library
>> 11 Winchester Street
>> Warrenton, VA 20186
>> 540-349-2770 (voice)
>> 540-349-3278 (fax)
>> FCPL Web Site: http://library.fauquiercounty.gov 
>> My Blog: http://fcpleresources.blogspot.com 
>> New Stuff at FCPL: http://www.wowbrary.org/nu.aspx?p=2786 
>>
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>>
>>
>>     
>
> Regards,
> ....Bob Rasmussen,   President,   Rasmussen Software, Inc.
>
> personal e-mail: ras at anzio.com 
>  company e-mail: rsi at anzio.com 
>           voice: (US) 503-624-0360 (9:00-6:00 Pacific Time)
>             fax: (US) 503-624-0760
>             web: http://www.anzio.com 
>  street address: Rasmussen Software, Inc.
>                  10240 SW Nimbus, Suite L9
>                  Portland, OR  97223  USA
>
>
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