[ Jill Bear wrote to Terry Smythe:

> I was interested in your MMD post about putting literature on the
> web.  I have a copy of the Duo-Art catalogue, from some time in the
> 1920s, which I may be able to scan for you.  What settings are you
> using?

Thank you for your kind offer, appreciated.  By chance I have this
catalog and will be scanning it and posting it on my web site.

The scanner I am using is an HP 4670 "See Thru" scanner, extremely
well suited to scanning rare books and pamphlets.  I scan at 300 dpi,
directly into Acrobat 8.1.2, then save as PDF with search and
extract capabilities.

For oversize documents on my web site, such as huge broadsheets,
I use a conventional Mustek A3 flat bed scanner with lid removed.
For a typical oversize document I will end up with two to four
graphic images that I can then knit together in Paint Shop Pro 9,
then import the final image into Acrobat.

If a document is text and/or a mix of text and line drawings, I will
scan in black & white, 300 dpi, tinkering with the threshold for best
quality image, directly into Acrobat.

If the document contains black & white continuous tone photographs,
I will scan in grey scale, 300 dpi, tinkering with brightness/contrast
for best quality image, directly into Acrobat.

If a document contains colour images, I will scan in 256 colours,
300 dpi, tinkering with brightness/contrast for best quality image,
directly into Acrobat.

For rare, possible fragile books, I always use the HP 4670.  It makes
possible nothing more damaging than simple page turning.  Conventional
flat bed scanners can inflict brutal handling and damage to rare books,
should be avoided at all costs.

Hopefully, you might consider adding to this open access on-line
library with additional original literature that comes your way.

Regards,

Terry Smythe
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
http://members.shaw.ca/smythe/rebirth.htm