Scanning newspapers.

[eamo]

I have a load of old political newspapers and pamphlets and want to put them on to a digital format. Memory stick, cd rom, or such like, just to make it possibly to put them on-line. A lot of them are too big for a standard scanner, so I was wondering if there is somewhere that would do such a job. Also would it be an expensive process.
Thanks in advance for any help you could give.
Wont be on line until much later so dont think I am ignoring any replys.
eamo

[Seán Ryan]

Hey Eamo.

You don't need to use a scanner. Use a digital camera. Put the settings on the camera to as high as they'll go, put something flat behind the paper and shoot in sunlight for best lighting.

[fluffybiscuits]

I have a load of old political newspapers and pamphlets and want to put them on to a digital format. Memory stick, cd rom, or such like, just to make it possibly to put them on-line. A lot of them are too big for a standard scanner, so I was wondering if there is somewhere that would do such a job. Also would it be an expensive process.
Thanks in advance for any help you could give.
Wont be on line until much later so dont think I am ignoring any replys.
eamo

Not sure if you are in Dublin but try Reads of Nassau St

Failing that you might get a cheap scanner on Ebay

[eamo]

Thanks Seán, thanks Fluffy.
Will try the digital camera first, I have borrowed one but the infernal contraption has a mind of its own. It is a 7.0 mega pixel praktica with a bad attitude. It thinks it is smarter than me, well I'll show it who is the smartest camera 'round here and it aint you Mr praktica. No SIR!!
Will report progress (if any).

[Andrew49]

Hey Eamo.

You don't need to use a scanner. Use a digital camera. Put the settings on the camera to as high as they'll go, put something flat behind the paper and shoot in sunlight for best lighting.

On the camera set focus to infinity for a whole scan ... macro for close-up. Also Face-Detect works! If in bright sunlight set EV to -2.0.

It is possible to scan a newspaper page using an A4 and/or A3 scanner but it's tedious. You'd also need a Graphics/Paint program (Gimp) to size and join up the scans.





If you have a digital movie camera you could film each political newspapers and pamphlet with the camera attached to the PC - and take a PrintScreen. Once the settings on the camera are to your liking there shouldn't be a problem.

[eamo]

If you have a digital movie camera you could film each political newspapers and pamphlet with the camera attached to the PC - and take a PrintScreen. Once the settings on the camera are to your liking there shouldn't be a problem.

Thanks Andrew, I after a titanic struggle I got the better of the camera and it is now more or less doing my bidding. I am working my way page by page through the stuff, some of it I haven't seen in many years. Will put some of it on PW. But I recon Ceder lounge archives might be the best place for the bulk of it.

[C. Flower]

Thanks Andrew, I after a titanic struggle I got the better of the camera and it is now more or less doing my bidding. I am working my way page by page through the stuff, some of it I haven't seen in many years. Will put some of it on PW. But I recon Ceder lounge archives might be the best place for the bulk of it.

Cedar Lounge is a great resource.

And of course we will appreciate anything coming our way.

[eamo]

Thank you all for your help. I did not realise I was such a hoarder of political stuff until I decided to see if any of it might be of interest. There is loads of the stuff. I am hoping Ceder Lounge will archive it.
Here is a small sample in no particular order, a very small and random sample.
If anyone wants to see more, or is interested in the inside content of any papers here let me know and I will put it on here. Or maybe the history section would be better.
If collecting all this stuff does not make me a certified, card carrying anorak, well I will just give up.

http://i835.photobucket.com/albums/z...g/PIC_0242.jpg
http://i835.photobucket.com/albums/z...0/PIC_0065.jpg
http://i835.photobucket.com/albums/z...g/PIC_0234.jpg
http://i835.photobucket.com/albums/z...g/PIC_0206.jpg
http://i835.photobucket.com/albums/z...g/PIC_0097.jpg
http://i835.photobucket.com/albums/z...g/PIC_0093.jpg

http://i835.photobucket.com/albums/z...0/PIC_0230.jpg
http://i835.photobucket.com/albums/z...g/PIC_0221.jpg
http://i835.photobucket.com/albums/z...g/PIC_0113.jpg
http://i835.photobucket.com/albums/z...g/PIC_0240.jpg
http://i835.photobucket.com/albums/z...g/PIC_0073.jpg
http://i835.photobucket.com/albums/z...g/PIC_0225.jpg
http://i835.photobucket.com/albums/z...g/PIC_0243.jpg
http://i835.photobucket.com/albums/z...g/PIC_0244.jpg
http://i835.photobucket.com/albums/z...0/PIC_0224.jpg
http://i835.photobucket.com/albums/z...0/PIC_0218.jpg
http://i835.photobucket.com/albums/z...g/PIC_0105.jpg
http://i835.photobucket.com/albums/z...g/PIC_0238.jpg
Just noticed no CPI stuff here. I have old copies of their paper Unity, and Irish socialist if anyone wants to see them.

[Spectabilis]

Amazing stuff Eamo. Well done.

Here's the draft of the design for your certificate

[C. Flower]

This is very interesting stuff, Eamo.