* The vast majority of documents we deal with are monochromatic (black and white) and so we don’t normally have any need for full color scanning. We make scans of the odd full color illustration on a conventional flat-bed scanner if we can do so without harming the document. If your needs are for color scans please contact us right away because we can get documents scanned on a full color Bookeye scanner but we have to involve one of our sister companies.

Processing: Either type of scan can subsequently be processed with our state of the art optical character recognition (OCR) software if you require your archived text data to be computer searchable. (Even using our state of the art OCR processes, however, the success of the OCR process is subject to your having a suitable original document or book. Nobody, for instance, can do a satisfactory job of OCR on handwriting.).

Recording: Once the scanning and processing of your data has been completed we make a permanent record of it on a CD which can be read by any reasonably up to date computer equipped with a working CD ROM reader or through an intranet which provides central data access facilities.
We recommend that the data be saved as either one, or as a series of, files in Portable Document Format, or “pdf.” This makes the files easily accessible using the freely available Adobe Reader® program as well as through a number of other standard applications which recognize this universal format. We can also save the data to the CD in a number of other formats if you have specific requirements for this.

You may prefer to undertake the document scanning process yourself or your files may already be in a digital format. If your documents are on paper and particularly if they are bound into book form you may want us to make the scans on our Bookeye scanner.
More like an overhead camera, this excellent machine can scan thick books or large documents up to 25 in. (63.5 cm) x 16 1/2 in. (42 cm) without stress to the book, or the need for dis-binding. The book sits in its normal relaxed open position on the scanner bed.
Good working practice is followed at all times. Old books and documents are always handled carefully and with white cotton gloves. A cushion is used on the scanner bed to protect the spine of old books.

Bitonal scanning

This is simple black and white. On the right: a standard bitonal (pure black & white) scan.
It is ideal for most printed books, including those with illustrations that are line engravings. Exceptions may be where an old printed book is very inconsistent in print density, i.e. a mixture of greys and black.
The end result graphics files are very much smaller than grey scale scans, and therefore more images can be stored on a CD either as graphics files or PDF files.

And by careful configuration of the scanner, we can even scan watermarks in paper! This example shows a watermark with large letters and numbers, and even the fine "wire lines" when the paper was made. Faded ink on old documents is no problem with this degree of control.

Prices Per Page Scan

Note:
1 The rates shown in the above table are provided only as a guide and do not constitute an offer to provide service. We will be happy to provide you with an actual quotation based on the specifics of your job.
2 All example prices are stated in Canadian dollars are subject to the addition of GST and PST if you are resident in Ontario, Canada.
Example prices stated include writing the graphic images to CD, subject to a minimum order value of $200.00 Cdn. - Orders less than this value are subject to a supplementary charge for writing to CD.
For this basic service Graphic images are supplied on CD in TIFF format.

If this scanning is being done in order to create a new facsimile hard copy print of an old book, (rather than for viewing on screen), then an additional image "cleaning up" process may be required*. You may wish to carry out this process for yourself but if you want us to make the images “print ready” there may be an additional charge.

* There are, for instance, frequently shadows and lines in the margins where our normal imaging processing fails to completely remove the image of the page edges and gutter. Also, some older documents have very rough edges (pieces missing) and these may show within the text area of the page. These marks requires hand editing to remove their image. Such effects do not impede the ability to read the document but appear ‘out of place” in the printed page.

Creation of PDF files (for viewing using Adobe Acrobat Reader)

If the archived records are to be viewed using a computer we recommend the images be convert from TIFF image files to one or more PDF format files for use with Adobe Acrobat Reader. Within the basic conversion service we will include the creation of page numbered bookmarks* for the whole document if it is saved as a single file

* bookmarks are labelled, "page 1", "page 2", etc. and may be renamed or deleted by yourself as required using Adobe Acrobat. The bookmarked page numbers may not correspond with the book's actual page numbers, although you may modify this using Adobe Acrobat. (NB: You will have to re-write the CD after you have made changes.)

The typical price for this type of service is $50.00 per PDF file but we will be happy to provide you with a quotation for your specific job.
A complete PDF archive accessibility and bookmarking service is also available. This service can include separation of the images into groups in their own PDF file, the creation of a PDF “contents” page to link all the separate files into a single index and the bookmarking of chapters, sections, etc. using contextual titles or references.

The variety of options available within this service make it impossible to give a typical price. We will be happy to discuss your requirements and provide you with a specific quotation.

Please note: this PDF creation option is only available if specified at the same time as an order for scanning is placed.

Optical Character Recognition

Optical Character Recognition (OCR)* can be done on some printed documents and books at an additional charge. It is not 100% effective with old books that have inconsistent or small type face, but can approach 98% perfect for a good clear type face, even if the book is very old.

* OCR is the name generally used to describe the process carried out by a computer program to analyze a picture of a page, isolate and recognize blocks of text and then identify each character in the text block as a particular letter or number. This is a surprisingly difficult thing for a computer to do considering how easily we humans do it.

The best way of presenting an old book once the text of the contents has been “read” using OCR is to allow the reader to see the original book's pages in PDF format (the scanned images), but to make them searchable. Imagine having the book's page on screen on your computer, but with a hidden page of text behind it. The search looks for a word, or even part of a word or a phrase on that hidden text, and then shines a highlight through to the surface where those words appear on the real page. Its quite clever!
Providing a computer searchable text layer behind your PDF files: price on request.

Contact Us

We are always happy to quote for digitizing old books and printed or hand written documents. We can usually accommodate your specific needs by supplying selected parts of our overall service, even down to the generation of CDs from your own formatted data and the printing of your own title directly* on the CD.

* The advent of high speed CD readers, e.g.52x read speed, is making the practice of using sticky paper labels very dangerous. The label can unbalance the disk to the extent that it may literally explode in the drive. Many blank disk manufacturers are beginning to put warning labels to this effect on their products. We use a process which prints a high quality image directly onto a prepared surface on the disk itself so there is no risk of our disks exploding in anyone’s drive.

Bear in mind though that we are set up to make small numbers (up to several hundreds) of high quality products. If you are looking for someone to make thousands of disks we will not be competitive, we suggest you approach one of the many companies who handle this sort of volume.
Generally speaking, the prices above should give you an idea of what the costs will be but every job has its own “personality” and so the specific costs may vary.
If you would like us to contact you so we can discuss your archiving needs, then simply post us an e-mail with a note of your organization's name and address, your phone number and contact details.