Will Trade Entire 19th Cent. Collection For Advice / Suggestions Re: Card Scanning

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Posted By: <b>Jon &amp; Jennifer</b><p><img src="/images/happy.gif" height=14 width=14> Okay, maybe not the ENTIRE collection. How about all the 1990's Scores?<br /><br />Until recently, I used a digital camera to upload card photos (with very poor results most of the time). But I came across an old thread within this board where someone suggested using a scanner, rather than a camera. [We just bought a relatively inexpensive scanner within the last week -- a Canon LiDe 500F -- wow, what a difference.]<br /><br />Despite my love & affection for this great new toy, I'm STILL having some serious problems getting decent scans. Could someone PLEASE let me know what I'm doing wrong or offer some suggestions??? The scans of card faces/fronts are a breeze, but I've found it literally impossible to get a clear & sharp scan of most vintage card BACKS. Blank backs or backs with large or bold print are not a problem, but cards with small, fine, or light tinted text turn out very blurred and totally illegible -- despite everything that I've tried thus far to reconfigure the scanner settings. I'm obviously doing SOMETHING wrong, because everyone else seems to be able to get scans of the same or similar issues that look fantastic. <br /><br />Any thoughts/suggestions/advice would be GREATLY appreciated. I'm sorry for the slightly off topic post--hopefully someone will be able to point me in the right direction before it gets deleted!! <img src="/images/happy.gif" height=14 width=14><br /><br />Thanks,<br />Jennifer

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Posted By: <b>Josh K.</b><p>Jennifer,<br /><br />I believe that there is an old thread on the subject of blurry/out of focus scans. If your scanner is, as I believe, one of the real thin canons, there may be nothing you can do. Some of the thin profile scanners have problems scanning slabbed cards (the scans are a bit out of focus because the scanner can't differentiate b/t the slab and the card in the slab). An Epson Perfection scanner would solve that problem (they are a bit bulkier, but most models are fairly inexpensive). <br /><br />Unfortunately, if your problem is with unslabbed cards, Im not sure what the cause would be.

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Posted By: <b>Jon &amp; Jennifer</b><p>Thanks, Josh. I'll try to locate that thread on the board. <br /><br />BTW, these are all slabbed cards that I've been scanning. Since the scans of the card fronts have been turning out just fine -- and only the card back/text portion comes out blurry -- I thought that maybe I didn't have the scanner settings configured properly to compensate for the fine/small print. (Like I said, I've tried different settings...I found myself sitting here at 2:00 a.m., muttering and cursing with each disappointing scan, and began to seriously consider just GIVING them all away, just to not have to scan another @#$*@(#$* vintage card back.) <img src="/images/happy.gif" height=14 width=14>

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Posted By: <b>Josh K.</b><p>glad to help (hopefully). btw - when will I be receiving my sweet 1990 score cards? <img src="/images/happy.gif" height=14 width=14>

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Posted By: <b>David Vargha</b><p>I know you've already bought the scanner, but I always advise getting HP. I have my second HP scanner, an HP Scanjet 3970 and it works great and is simple to use. It couldn't have been more than $100 out the door. Most collectors I know use an HP scanner.<br><br>DavidVargha@hotmail.com

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Posted By: <b>jay behrens</b><p>to make fine print more legible, turn up the resolution. After you've made the scan you can resize it so it isn't so big.<br /><br />Jay<br><br>I've just reached Upper Lower Class. I am now officially a babe magnet for poor chicks.