Scanning Options
This page explains what the different scanning options are and what to select.
1a. Standard of Glossy Paper
The first thing to do is separate your books into those with glossy paper and those with standard paper.
Standard Paper
This is the paper type of most novels, biographies, and academic and historical books. If the paper type isn’t glossy, then it’s on Standard Paper.
Glossy Paper
Glossy paper is often found in magazines, cookbooks and text books. It is often shiny, smooth and reflective. If you run your finger down the page it may squeak.
1b. Simple Text and Diagrams or Vivid Images and Photos
Amongst your glossy books, separate them between those that have vivid images and photos in them, and those that only have text, diagrams and charts.
Text and Diagrams
This option is for glossy books that do not contain any photos or vivid images. They may contain simple charts of diagrams. Text books often fall into this category.
Photos and Vivid Images
This option is for glossy books that contain photos and/or vivid images. Cook books, travel books, reference books and magazines often fall into this category.
2. New or old, Black and White/Greyscale or Colour
The next option is to choose between (i) Newer B&W/Greyscale, (ii) Newer Colour and (iii) Older Books with page yellowing or torn pages. Think of it as a hierarchy. If your book contains any page yellowing or torn pages, select that option. If there’s no page yellowing or torn pages but some of the images or text are in colour select the colour option. If there’s neither then go for the black and white/greyscale option.
Page Yellowing and/or Torn Pages
Page Yellowing and/or Torn Pages
Black and White
Glossy paper is often found in magazines, cookbooks and text books. It is often shiny, smooth and reflective. If you run your finger down the page it may squeak.
Greyscale Books
These contain shades of grey, usually pictures or photographs, but may also be text boxes and graphs as well.
Colour Books
These usually contain either colourful photographs or pictures such as this one, or the writing itself may be in colour.
3. Regular or High Resolution
The third main option is to choose between a regular resolution scan or a higher resolution scan.
Regular Resolution
This is 600dpi for b&w scans and 300dpi for greyscale and colour books.
This is more than enough for most books and is suitable for ALL black and white text books.
Higher Resolution
This is 1200dpi for b&w scans and 600dpi for greyscale and colour books.
This option is for books with a high graphic content or if you’re planning on either displaying the scans on a projector or printing them out.
4. What File Types would you like?
The fourth option is to decide if you would like an additional word document.
Searchable PDF
A PDF is the result of the scan. It’s the mirror image of your book and will look more or less exactly like the original.
OCR is run on all our scans by default enabling you to search for key words or dates.
Word File
This £3 option is an extra. The word files are conversions of the PDF and we would recommend proof reading it.
The word file will be fully editable with no restrictions. This option is mainly suitable for books with continuous prose, such as novels.
5. How would you like the spine removed?
The fifth option is to decide if you would like the spine removed with a guillotine (free) or pay a little bit extra to have it removed by hand (and scissors) .
Guillotine
This free option is for books with margins of at least 0.5cm and preferable 1cm. This covers the vast majority of books.
Hand and Scissor Removal
Unfortunately not all books have generous margin space. If your text and/or images go right up to the centre of the book, then you should consider this option.
Here we dismantle the book by hand into segments and cut as close to the glue or stitching as possible with hands and scissors.
6. Rush Delivery
The final option is to decide if you would like rush delivery or not. You have 4 options.
Regular Turnaround Time
Between 10-12 working Days
24 Hour Turnaround
Your scans will be ready either on the day the book(s) arrive or early the next day
1-3 Day Turnaround
Your scans will be ready within 1-3 days from the day the book(s) arrive.
3-5 Day Turnaround
Your scans will be ready within 3-5 days from the day the book(s) arrive.