I picked up on this topic a little late. It sounds as if many
listers feel they have to directly scan the documents. It's far
quicker to use a (good) digital camera to photograph the pages and
then download to your computer. I have a flat bed scanner but, for
genealogy, use it mainly for old photo preservation and
rehabilitation. Nearly every library will allow non-flash
photography and that's all you need with a decent digital,
I took several hundred pages at the Library of Congress in under a
half hour the summer before last using a hand-held Nikon Coolpix 5700
(which can be specially set for fluorescent or incandescent
lighting). In order to get squarely over the page, it may be
necessary to place the document on the floor. Otherwise, you can
operate in the middle of a reading room without really disturbing
anyone.
Jack Fallin
Walnut Creek, CA
On Jun 2, 2006, at 9:00 PM, Automatic digest processor wrote:
> There are 6 messages totalling 274 lines in this issue.
>
> Topics of the day:
>
> 1. FW: Scanners -- again
> 2. VA-ROOTS Digest - 29 May 2006 to 1 Jun 2006 (#2006-91) (3)
> 3. save as?
> 4. Lyons Family in Virginia - Late 1700's
>
> To subscribe, change options, or unsubscribe please see the
> instructions at
> http://listlva.lib.va.us/archives/va-roots.html
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Date: Fri, 2 Jun 2006 00:28:55 -0400
> From: J A Foster <[log in to unmask]>
> Subject: FW: Scanners -- again
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Foster, Jeff [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
> Sent: Thursday, June 01, 2006 10:11 PM
> To: J A Foster
> Subject: RE: Scanners -- again
>
>
> Given this is a one time project of only several hundred Documents any
> $49-$79 Flatbed scanner should do. Once you get into a grove you
> should
> be able to scan 30+ documents per hour manually. For about $199 you
> can
> get a flattbed with an auto hopper capable of feeding multiple sheeta
> through automatically. However, the source documents would need to be
> consistant in size, shape, etc to feed reliable.
>
> As for the file type if disk storage space is not an issue .Tiff is a
> good choice. BitMap (.BMP)files will take up a lot of space. JPEG
> (.JPG)
> would require the least space.
>
> Also, The Degredation with .jpg file would only be an issue if the
> file
> was going to be edited and save often. Simple copying the original
> file
> will not change it. If you opened the image to correct a blemish and
> then save the overall picture can loose some clarity when being
> compressed again the second time. If the images will not be modified
> after being scanned .jpg is a good choice as well.
>
> The time required to scan and save in each of the file formats will be
> insignificant. At most 10 seconds variation between slowest and
> fastest.
> The resolution selected is what makes the difference between a scan
> taking 20 seconds or 2 minutes. For Text document a low 300DPI
> resolution should be suficient. Maybe not though. Higher resolutions
> would allow not only reading of a document but analysis of the
> paper and
> handwriting if ever required. Remember the higher resolutions will
> also
> make the files size much larger. A 20 second 300DPI .JPG file might be
> 75K verses a 2 minute 1900DPI .jpg scan swelling to 12MB.
>
> Hope this helps.
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: J A Foster [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
> Sent: Thursday, June 01, 2006 9:23 PM
> To: Foster, Jeff
> Subject: FW: Scanners -- again
>
>
> Jeff,
>
> Can you help this guy out.
>
> Dad
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Research and writing about Virginia genealogy and family
> history.
> [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of Henry Wiencek
> Sent: Thursday, June 01, 2006 9:08 PM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Scanners -- again
>
>
> Dear Friends,
>
> Last August I asked advice about buying a scanner and external cd/dvd
> burner
> for my wife , but it turned out that the museum in question forbade
> scanners! Grrr. So the decision was put off, until now.
>
> Today I went out and bought an Epson Perfection 4490 Photo, for the
> specific
> purpose of scanning several hundred historical documents (mainly
> letters,
> handwritten). I have succeeded in scanning a document into my laptop,
> so I
> know that everything works, but my question is: what format should I
> use?
> JPEGs deteriorate with multiple copying--right? (That's what the
> Epsons
> instructions say.) Should I use BITMAP or TIFF? A major factor
> is the
> time required to make an individual scan. Since we have hundreds of
> documents to scan, we don't want this to stretch into July, but we
> also
> want
> good-quality files in a format that is widely usable. My test runs on
> both
> BITMAP or TIFF seem to take about 20 seconds per scan. Does that
> sound
> right? Sorry to be such an ignoramus.
>
> Any suggestions will be most gratefully received.
>
> Henry Wiencek
>
> To subscribe, change options, or unsubscribe please see the
> instructions
> at
> http://listlva.lib.va.us/archives/va-roots.html
>
> To subscribe, change options, or unsubscribe please see the
> instructions at
> http://listlva.lib.va.us/archives/va-roots.html
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Date: Fri, 2 Jun 2006 01:26:03 EDT
> From: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: VA-ROOTS Digest - 29 May 2006 to 1 Jun 2006 (#2006-91)
>
> In a message dated 6/1/2006 11:57:09 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
> [log in to unmask] writes:
>
>
>> Any suggestions will be most gratefully received.
>
> Hi Henry,
> I saw your post and thought I could be some help to you in
> regards to
> which picture format to save your pictures. I will try to explain
> so you can
> make an informed decision, but basically it boils down to what you
> are planning
> on doing with the pictures.
> I would suggest that you save the pictures in Jpeg format. ALL
> computers
> (even Macs) can open Jpeg files.
> THe Jpeg quality will not deteriorate if you are only opening
> it to look
> at it, print or share it. Loss of picture quality comes from repeated
> editing. You can also prevent this by keeping the picture in your
> editing program
> until you are completely finished editing.
> I would suggest that you also make a backup CD of your files
> after doing
> all that work scanning. THis will also prevent the loss of picture
> quality.
> Plus its nice to have in case your computer gets PMS.
> But here's probably the best reason to save as a Jpeg file. If
> you have
> a DVD player that plays picture files...you can take the back up CD
> and put it
> in the DVD player. (You cannot do this with TIFF or Bitmap)
> Why watch them on your TV you may ask? If the documents you
> are taking
> pictures of or scanning are letters, census and anything you may
> need to
> magnify to be able to read...it works great.
> Most DVD players will play jpeg files but not te other
> formats. So if
> you have saved some pictures in other formats and want to change
> them, you can
> get a free converter by going to www.google.com and typing "bitmap
> to jpeg
> converter" in the search bar. Hope this helps you decide. Debbie
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> To subscribe, change options, or unsubscribe please see the
> instructions at
> http://listlva.lib.va.us/archives/va-roots.html
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Date: Fri, 2 Jun 2006 05:23:24 -0700
> From: Alice Owens <[log in to unmask]>
> Subject: Re: VA-ROOTS Digest - 29 May 2006 to 1 Jun 2006 (#2006-91)
>
> Hi to the list
>
> Thanks for a very good question and response re
> scanning documents. Even I could follow and
> understand (tee hee).
>
> Another question re scanners...DOCUPEN Scanner
>
> The advantage is that this is very small tool and
> could easily be carried in purse or brief case.
>
> I have read with much interest and communicated with a
> representative of this scanner, but can't find anyone
> who has one or has used one to scan images as found in
> the old county record books. I would think this
> scanning would have to be scanned as a graphic image
> rather than translating the old handwriting to "typed
> text", but I don't understand this technology at all,
> so that is why I am posting this query.
>
> This is a brief description of what it does:
>
> "Scans text and graphics at up to 200 x 200 dpiScan
> text and images up to 8 inches wide and 36 inches long
> Dual-roller guiding system for smoother scans 2 MB of
> flash memory; automatic USB-powered battery charging
> systemWindows compatible; USB interface cable
> included"
>
> The representative tells me to buy it and try it - if
> it doesn't work, return it. None found locally in my
> area, would have to order by www and would really like
> to know more about it for my specific purpose prior to
> purchase.
>
> Thanks for reply.
>
> Alice in Fluvanna
>
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> To subscribe, change options, or unsubscribe please see the
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>
> ------------------------------
>
> Date: Fri, 2 Jun 2006 10:06:12 -0400
> From: Jill Johnston Oliver <[log in to unmask]>
> Subject: save as?
>
> Hello,
> Thanks to ya'll for sharing some of your computer knowledge with
> us. We all
> probably have had wondered how to best preserve and share
> documents, pics
> and such. I know I havc.
> Thanks,
> Jill
> Oliver
>
> To subscribe, change options, or unsubscribe please see the
> instructions at
> http://listlva.lib.va.us/archives/va-roots.html
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Date: Fri, 2 Jun 2006 11:35:20 -0400
> From: Alan Lyons <[log in to unmask]>
> Subject: Lyons Family in Virginia - Late 1700's
>
> I am trying to find anyone who might have information on the Lyons
> family
> in Virginia during the late 1700's and early 1800's. My great great
> grandfather Hamilton Jefferson Lyons was born in Virginia in 1806
> according to the 1850 census. I have positively traced him to Warren
> County, Ohio in 1830 where he married Anna Titus. They named their
> first
> son James Lyons, which I am assuming would have been the name of
> Hamilton's father. I have been told by other family members that they
> thought Hamilton's family was from Augusta County, but have no
> proof of
> this.
>
> To subscribe, change options, or unsubscribe please see the
> instructions at
> http://listlva.lib.va.us/archives/va-roots.html
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Date: Fri, 2 Jun 2006 10:01:51 -0700
> From: Mary Bittick Gallano <[log in to unmask]>
> Subject: Re: VA-ROOTS Digest - 29 May 2006 to 1 Jun 2006 (#2006-91)
>
> There is an article in the current issue of Ancestry Magazine, May/
> June, p17
> about the DocuPen. Says it can store hundreds of images, so you
> don't need
> instant access to a computer or laptop.
>
> DocuPen by Planon
> http://planon.com/docupen_rc800.php
>
> A little pricey - $299.99 - but if it works it might be a very
> handy tool
> when visiting libraries, relatives, etc since it copies in black
> and white
> or color. Does full page letters, documents, photo's in resolutions
> from 100
> to 400 dpi.
>
> I'd also be interested in knowing if anyone has actually had any
> experience
> using one and the results.
>
> Later... Mar
>
> To subscribe, change options, or unsubscribe please see the
> instructions at
> http://listlva.lib.va.us/archives/va-roots.html
>
> ------------------------------
>
> End of VA-ROOTS Digest - 1 Jun 2006 to 2 Jun 2006 (#2006-92)
> ************************************************************
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